Page 78 - WPA Book
P. 78
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
Presbyterian Church.
2. LOCATION:
In Rockingham County, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Corner of East Market and Federal Streets.
3. DATE:
1817-20
4. OWNERS:
The land on which this church was built came from John Graham through a Grant of 1780, which was a portion
of his daughter Harriet’s inheritance. It was kept in the hands of the Presbyterian Church until 1897, when they
built a new church on the Northeast side of the public square.
In 1897, Wm. D. Bucher purchased the site of the Presbyterians, and it was in his hands up until his death in
1912 when his daughter Ernestine Bucher received this portion of his estate. At her death in 1932, she gave it to
the Masonic order which owns it now.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The Church was built in 1817. It was rebuilt of stone in 1820 when an addition of brick was built. They both
still stand and are used as business sites.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The principal entrance was on the last ten feet on the west-end. There was also a door on the east and south
ends. There were four pews in each corner of the building, each pew having another pew a foot or two below it.
Mr. Carr’s pew was in the northwest corner, and Sam Henry had the pew under his.
Mr. Scott had the southwest corner. The southeast corner was Dr. Waterman’s with Robert Gray’s pew below
his. The northeast was Mr. Jerry Kyle’s.
The pulpit was very high and on the north side of the Church. Under it, a little distance from the floor, was an
enclosure of perhaps six or seven feet where the elders sat. In front of the pulpit stood a man who led the
signing, giving out two lines of the Hymn at a time, the congregation joining in the singing. The rest of the seats
were on the level with the floor.
The high pews were entered by doors. Two steps leading up to the high pews and one step to the low pews.
The communion was administered twice a year. [There were] long high benches for communicants to sit on.
Every communicant brought a small piece of copper called a token and when they were seated at the table laid it
before them. The elders came around and took them all up, then a solemn hymn was sung, beginning with “On
That Dark and Doleful Night.” The Elders, after the singing, handed around the bread and wine. It was certainly
a very solemn ceremony.
The first pastor, was a Mr. Irving. The next a Mr. Davidson, the next pastor was a Mr. Baker, and after him
came Mr. Joseph Smith. Mr. Henderson was pastor at one time.
The new Erection Church was united with this Church. Mr. Speece was a celebrated preacher of that day, and
he preached at the old Stone Church ten miles north of Staunton, Virginia. Harrisonburg’s first preaching
Page 77 of 482
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
Presbyterian Church.
2. LOCATION:
In Rockingham County, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Corner of East Market and Federal Streets.
3. DATE:
1817-20
4. OWNERS:
The land on which this church was built came from John Graham through a Grant of 1780, which was a portion
of his daughter Harriet’s inheritance. It was kept in the hands of the Presbyterian Church until 1897, when they
built a new church on the Northeast side of the public square.
In 1897, Wm. D. Bucher purchased the site of the Presbyterians, and it was in his hands up until his death in
1912 when his daughter Ernestine Bucher received this portion of his estate. At her death in 1932, she gave it to
the Masonic order which owns it now.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The Church was built in 1817. It was rebuilt of stone in 1820 when an addition of brick was built. They both
still stand and are used as business sites.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The principal entrance was on the last ten feet on the west-end. There was also a door on the east and south
ends. There were four pews in each corner of the building, each pew having another pew a foot or two below it.
Mr. Carr’s pew was in the northwest corner, and Sam Henry had the pew under his.
Mr. Scott had the southwest corner. The southeast corner was Dr. Waterman’s with Robert Gray’s pew below
his. The northeast was Mr. Jerry Kyle’s.
The pulpit was very high and on the north side of the Church. Under it, a little distance from the floor, was an
enclosure of perhaps six or seven feet where the elders sat. In front of the pulpit stood a man who led the
signing, giving out two lines of the Hymn at a time, the congregation joining in the singing. The rest of the seats
were on the level with the floor.
The high pews were entered by doors. Two steps leading up to the high pews and one step to the low pews.
The communion was administered twice a year. [There were] long high benches for communicants to sit on.
Every communicant brought a small piece of copper called a token and when they were seated at the table laid it
before them. The elders came around and took them all up, then a solemn hymn was sung, beginning with “On
That Dark and Doleful Night.” The Elders, after the singing, handed around the bread and wine. It was certainly
a very solemn ceremony.
The first pastor, was a Mr. Irving. The next a Mr. Davidson, the next pastor was a Mr. Baker, and after him
came Mr. Joseph Smith. Mr. Henderson was pastor at one time.
The new Erection Church was united with this Church. Mr. Speece was a celebrated preacher of that day, and
he preached at the old Stone Church ten miles north of Staunton, Virginia. Harrisonburg’s first preaching
Page 77 of 482
