Page 54 - WPA Book
P. 54
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
The Episcopal Church in Rockingham County
Page Two
The above two chapels appear to have been the first buildings of public worship erected in Augusta County for
the use of the Established Church.
In 1755, the Vestry ordered that the Rev. Mr. John Jones preach at James Neeley’s on Roanoke [rendered as
Roan Oke in original document], at John Mathews, Sr.’s in Forks of James at Augusta Courthouse, at Captain
Daniel Harrison’s, at any place contiguous to Mr. Madison’s, at such times as he shall think proper.
At a meeting in May 1760, the Vestry unanimously agreed to erect a church at Staunton on grounds given by
Beverly, April 3, 1750. A committee was appointed to contract for a brick church to be finished by December
1st, 1752. This building was finished in 1763. Prior to the completion of this church, however, according to the
Vestry book, 20th November 1761, Thomas Harrison’s (Harrisonburg) was designated as a place of worship.
The Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg.
As already indicated, Rockingham Parish was organized before the Revolutionary War. Its larger and more
active service seems to have been in the eastern apart of the county, Port Republic, Cross Keys, &c.;
In 1850, effort was made to revive the work of the Parish and Rev. James B. Goodwyn was placed in charge as
minister, and after him the Rev. John C. Wheat, Vice-Principal of the Virginia Female Institution at Staunton
preached regularly in the parish at great cost of labor and inconvenience to himself.
After the close of the War Between the States in 1865, the Parish reorganized at Port Republic, the Rev. John C.
Wheat still serving as minister, and on March 8th, 1866, a meeting of the members of the Parish and other
contributors was held in Harrisonburg with John F. Lewis, Samuel H. Lewis, Jr., Andrew Lewis, John R. Jones,
William H. Effinger, Frank Boylan, Joshua Wilton, Foxall A. Dangerfield, Algernon S. Gray, Dr. George W.
Kemper, Jr. and Edward S. Stevens. John F. Lewis of Port Republic, and Andrew Lewis of Harrisonburg were
elected wardens and William H. Effinger, Secretary and Treasurer.
The next order of business being the choice of a rector, the Rev. Henry A. Wise (son of Henry A. Wise, former
Governor of Virginia) was called. Mr. Wise accepted the call extended to him and was installed as rector,
serving the parish until 1867, holding Sunday services alternately in Harrisonburg and at Port Republic, with the
service in Harrisonburg being held in Schacklett’s Hall and in the New School Presbyterian Church on the
corner of North Main and East Elizabeth Streets. (This corner is now occupied by the U.S. Post Office and
Federal Court Building).
In 1867, Mr. Wise resigned to accept a call to be rector of Christ Church, Baltimore, Maryland, and in October
the Rev. Thomas Underwood Dudley, Jr., Deacon, afterwards Bishop of Kentucky, was sent by the Bishop of
the Diocese of Virginia, to minister during his deaconate. Services were continued in Harrisonburg. Services at
Port Republic, being discontinued on account of the severity of the weather, which gave two services in
Harrisonburg instead.
In 1868, a vacant lot at the northeast corner of South Main and Bruce Streets was purchased, upon which the
present beautiful, brick church was subsequently built and in which services have been held and the work of the
church carried forward regularly since 1869.
Page 53 of 482
CHURCHES
The Episcopal Church in Rockingham County
Page Two
The above two chapels appear to have been the first buildings of public worship erected in Augusta County for
the use of the Established Church.
In 1755, the Vestry ordered that the Rev. Mr. John Jones preach at James Neeley’s on Roanoke [rendered as
Roan Oke in original document], at John Mathews, Sr.’s in Forks of James at Augusta Courthouse, at Captain
Daniel Harrison’s, at any place contiguous to Mr. Madison’s, at such times as he shall think proper.
At a meeting in May 1760, the Vestry unanimously agreed to erect a church at Staunton on grounds given by
Beverly, April 3, 1750. A committee was appointed to contract for a brick church to be finished by December
1st, 1752. This building was finished in 1763. Prior to the completion of this church, however, according to the
Vestry book, 20th November 1761, Thomas Harrison’s (Harrisonburg) was designated as a place of worship.
The Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg.
As already indicated, Rockingham Parish was organized before the Revolutionary War. Its larger and more
active service seems to have been in the eastern apart of the county, Port Republic, Cross Keys, &c.;
In 1850, effort was made to revive the work of the Parish and Rev. James B. Goodwyn was placed in charge as
minister, and after him the Rev. John C. Wheat, Vice-Principal of the Virginia Female Institution at Staunton
preached regularly in the parish at great cost of labor and inconvenience to himself.
After the close of the War Between the States in 1865, the Parish reorganized at Port Republic, the Rev. John C.
Wheat still serving as minister, and on March 8th, 1866, a meeting of the members of the Parish and other
contributors was held in Harrisonburg with John F. Lewis, Samuel H. Lewis, Jr., Andrew Lewis, John R. Jones,
William H. Effinger, Frank Boylan, Joshua Wilton, Foxall A. Dangerfield, Algernon S. Gray, Dr. George W.
Kemper, Jr. and Edward S. Stevens. John F. Lewis of Port Republic, and Andrew Lewis of Harrisonburg were
elected wardens and William H. Effinger, Secretary and Treasurer.
The next order of business being the choice of a rector, the Rev. Henry A. Wise (son of Henry A. Wise, former
Governor of Virginia) was called. Mr. Wise accepted the call extended to him and was installed as rector,
serving the parish until 1867, holding Sunday services alternately in Harrisonburg and at Port Republic, with the
service in Harrisonburg being held in Schacklett’s Hall and in the New School Presbyterian Church on the
corner of North Main and East Elizabeth Streets. (This corner is now occupied by the U.S. Post Office and
Federal Court Building).
In 1867, Mr. Wise resigned to accept a call to be rector of Christ Church, Baltimore, Maryland, and in October
the Rev. Thomas Underwood Dudley, Jr., Deacon, afterwards Bishop of Kentucky, was sent by the Bishop of
the Diocese of Virginia, to minister during his deaconate. Services were continued in Harrisonburg. Services at
Port Republic, being discontinued on account of the severity of the weather, which gave two services in
Harrisonburg instead.
In 1868, a vacant lot at the northeast corner of South Main and Bruce Streets was purchased, upon which the
present beautiful, brick church was subsequently built and in which services have been held and the work of the
church carried forward regularly since 1869.
Page 53 of 482
