Page 70 - WPA Book
P. 70
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church South
Page Two
salary of fifty pounds for the first year. The rules of the school were in accordance with the usual strict
standards of the day. No games or instruments of play were tolerated, ruffles and powdered wigs were
forbidden. School hours were from eight o’clock in the morning until six in the evenin, in the summer time with
shorter hours in the winter. The strictest religious discipline was observed and black servants were admitted as
scholars, though they were seated and classified by themselves. Thus Methodism in Harrisonburg from the
beginning made education and culture her handmaidens and bequeathed to her children the high standard of
intelligence and piety that has characterized her membership ever since. Then as now, she numbered among her
followers a large number of the most influential, intelligent, and consecrated people of the community.
The first conference in Harrisonburg was held by Bishop Asbury in the old stone house just across the street
from the Bruce Street side of the present church building, beginning its session June 3, 1794. This old stone
house, still standing, was the original home of Thomas Harrison, founder of the town, and was the first house
built upon his arrival and locating here.
Men then in their youth were in attendance at this conference, who in later years were destined to become great
preachers and to wield a guiding influence in the affairs of the church, particularly Richard Whatcoat,
afterwards Bishop. Stephen George Roscel was the preacher and host to the conference.
The first church, 1789, built by the Methodists was as said on a lot given by Robert and Reuben Harrison,
and located at the corner of what is now North High and Water Streets, described on the original plot of the
town as lot No. 12 on the southwest side of the square.
The second church, 1806, built by the Methodists was on the same lot on which the first was built which had
become too small to accommodate the growing congregation and work of the church. This second building was
completed by August 10, 1806, at which time it was dedicated by Bishop Asbury, he preaching the first sermon
in the new building.
A partition as high as the backs of the benches separated the sexes, who never sat together, not even man and
wife. Here, Bishop Asbury held conference in 1809, beginning Friday, March 2nd, Bishop McKendree being
present also and Christopher Frye, the preacher in charge and host to the conference. The Bishop says: “the
conference wrought with order and industry, had preaching three times a day, on Sunday had preaching in
German as well as in English, and closed the labors of the conference on Wednesday in great peace.”
This church was used for worship until 1852 and after that for fairs, public gatherings, and as a drilling place for
military companies. It served its day and generation well and fell with a crash on Sunday, September 19, 1865,
being kind to the last by warning the boys who at the time were playing in and about it of their danger in time to
get away. A description of this church will be found in item 5.
Bishop Asbury made a number of visits to Harrisonburg, both holding conferences and preaching, at least some
ten or a dozen times. His second conference here was held in 1809, at which time he says “traveling and local
preachers ordained, preaching three times a day, had preaching in German also and a sermon at night. On
Wednesday we closed our labors in great peace.” Bishop McKendree was also there. There were forty-seven
preachers.
In 1815, he made his last visit to Harrisonburg and died while on a journey through Virginia, in Spotsylvania
County, about sixteen miles from Fredericksburg, in 1818.
Page 69 of 482
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church South
Page Two
salary of fifty pounds for the first year. The rules of the school were in accordance with the usual strict
standards of the day. No games or instruments of play were tolerated, ruffles and powdered wigs were
forbidden. School hours were from eight o’clock in the morning until six in the evenin, in the summer time with
shorter hours in the winter. The strictest religious discipline was observed and black servants were admitted as
scholars, though they were seated and classified by themselves. Thus Methodism in Harrisonburg from the
beginning made education and culture her handmaidens and bequeathed to her children the high standard of
intelligence and piety that has characterized her membership ever since. Then as now, she numbered among her
followers a large number of the most influential, intelligent, and consecrated people of the community.
The first conference in Harrisonburg was held by Bishop Asbury in the old stone house just across the street
from the Bruce Street side of the present church building, beginning its session June 3, 1794. This old stone
house, still standing, was the original home of Thomas Harrison, founder of the town, and was the first house
built upon his arrival and locating here.
Men then in their youth were in attendance at this conference, who in later years were destined to become great
preachers and to wield a guiding influence in the affairs of the church, particularly Richard Whatcoat,
afterwards Bishop. Stephen George Roscel was the preacher and host to the conference.
The first church, 1789, built by the Methodists was as said on a lot given by Robert and Reuben Harrison,
and located at the corner of what is now North High and Water Streets, described on the original plot of the
town as lot No. 12 on the southwest side of the square.
The second church, 1806, built by the Methodists was on the same lot on which the first was built which had
become too small to accommodate the growing congregation and work of the church. This second building was
completed by August 10, 1806, at which time it was dedicated by Bishop Asbury, he preaching the first sermon
in the new building.
A partition as high as the backs of the benches separated the sexes, who never sat together, not even man and
wife. Here, Bishop Asbury held conference in 1809, beginning Friday, March 2nd, Bishop McKendree being
present also and Christopher Frye, the preacher in charge and host to the conference. The Bishop says: “the
conference wrought with order and industry, had preaching three times a day, on Sunday had preaching in
German as well as in English, and closed the labors of the conference on Wednesday in great peace.”
This church was used for worship until 1852 and after that for fairs, public gatherings, and as a drilling place for
military companies. It served its day and generation well and fell with a crash on Sunday, September 19, 1865,
being kind to the last by warning the boys who at the time were playing in and about it of their danger in time to
get away. A description of this church will be found in item 5.
Bishop Asbury made a number of visits to Harrisonburg, both holding conferences and preaching, at least some
ten or a dozen times. His second conference here was held in 1809, at which time he says “traveling and local
preachers ordained, preaching three times a day, had preaching in German also and a sermon at night. On
Wednesday we closed our labors in great peace.” Bishop McKendree was also there. There were forty-seven
preachers.
In 1815, he made his last visit to Harrisonburg and died while on a journey through Virginia, in Spotsylvania
County, about sixteen miles from Fredericksburg, in 1818.
Page 69 of 482
