Building On Faith
FIRST CHURCH (1794-1834)
The first church building was erected during the summer of 1794. It stood about fifty yards south of the second edifice. The graves of the Wiggers (Gerhardt, Catherine, Barbara, and Julian E. Wiggers) and the Fricks (J. Andrew and his wife, Annie Frick) mark the site where the church stood. It was built of logs hewn on four sides and fitted closely together. The principal men engaged in this work were: Peter Schumpert, Ulrick Mayer, George Hamiter, and Thomas Frick II. Mr. Herman Sulton, a millwright by trade, was in charge of the hewing of the logs and the building operations. The timber was cut on the church land.
This first building is said to have been 25 x 35 feet. It was not until some years after the building was completed that it was ceiled with planed pine boards. There were two front doors, one on either side. Since no glass was available, the windows were small and equipped with shutters. In the interior, at the south end, there was a pulpit platform constructed of logs, with steps ascending from one side. The pews were split logs
with peg legs.
This primitive church, modest though it was, served the congregation for forty years. It was then sold to
Thomas Frick II, and the proceeds were used in building the second church.
SECOND CHURCH (1834-1888)
Judge C. M. Efird: "On the 31st of March, 1834, the congregation decided to build a new house of worship. Jacob Wheeler, Jacob Mayer, Jack Harman, John Seas, and Jacob Bowers were appointed to the building committee. There was subscribed in cash by the members and other liberal individuals $633, besides some small collections not included in this sum. A great deal of work was also subscribed to, for which there is no estimate. A neat edifice, 35 x 45 feet, was immediately built of sawed lumber. This building was painted in the summer of 1854."
This church was a two-story structure with a gallery in the back and on both sides. A high, goblet-shaped pulpit stood at the east end, with a sounding board above, fastened to the wall, and steps ascending along the wall to the pulpit. There were three doors, one on each side and one at the west end. The men entered through the right-side door and the women through the left-side door, since, according to the custom of that day, the men were seated on the right side and the women on the left side of the church. The door at the end was for the slaves who were seated in the gallery.
This building was re-covered in 1866. The shingles and labor were donated; 20,700 shingles were given, but only 12,900 were needed. The others were sold for $22.23. The cash donation was $28. The total financial cost was only $50.23. Mr. D. H. Wheeler, who was chairman of the committee, furnished the lumber for the scaffolding without charge. Before the 1870 Synod meeting, some repairs were made, and a fence was put around the cemetery.
THIRD CHURCH - Second Enlarged (1888-1926)
This was not in reality a new church edifice but an enlargement of the old building. This was done during the summer of 1888. Those in charge of the building operations were Calvin Cannon and David Cannon. Those assisting in the work were: Adam Long, Simeon Miller, Adam Frick, and others.
An addition of 10 feet was built at the front of the church, with steps leading to the gallery from either side and a porch with doors opening into the main auditorium. The gallery was extended over the porch. The side doors were removed. A small, round-shaped annex was added to the east end for the pulpit platform. In front of the pulpit, the elevated altar was surrounded by an altar-rail. These improvements were made before the Synod meeting in 1888. Incidentally, this edifice still stands just as it did when enlarged. This church was re-covered once more in February 1918. The singles were cut from the church timber. A. S. Frick and D. W. Frick sawed the shingles with the help of thirty men. Sixty helped to cover the church. Twenty men and women cleaned the churchyard.
FOURTH CHURCH (1926-1944)
A new and more up-to-date church had been contemplated for several years. At a council meeting held March 13, 1922, the matter was considered, and the officers voted to enter upon a building program. A committee consisting of N. S. Derrick, W. D. Cannon, and H. L. Shealy was appointed to investigate the cost. The matter came up for consideration from time to time, but no definite action was taken.
On June 1, 1924, a congregational meeting was held, and a committee was appointed for further investigation. A report was made on July 6, and on the eighth of July, the following committees were appointed to proceed with building operations. Building Committee: Rev. D. L. Miller, H. L. Shealy, M. L. Wheeler, P. B. Lindler, L. B. Frick, and R. E. Amick. Finance Committee: S. L. Amick, L. E. Frick, K. D. Lake, and S. Y. Fulmer. o. A. Kleckley was elected treasurer of the building fund.
On July 2nd, 1925, the contract was given to Messrs. J.E. Cannon and D. A. Cannon, contractors, for $7,475. Besides this, much labor was subscribed. The timber on the church land was cut, and the lumber was used in this building. The lumber cut over and above what was needed for the church was sold, and the proceeds were applied to the building fund.
The groundbreaking service was held on July 16, and the first brick was laid on August 3. The cornerstone service was conducted on August 23. One year later, the church was completed, and the opening services were held on August 15, 1926. The cost is estimated at $40,000.
Some indebtedness was incurred, and over the years, it was liquidated. On May 3, 1936, the church was dedicated. In 1943, the new pews were bought and installed. The funds from the Wheeler estate, supplemented with contributions from the members, were used in the purchase of the pews. The Hymn Tablets are made of materials taken from the first two church buildings. The tablet on the back of the pulpit is made of boards from the first church. The back of the Lectern is made of a plank taken from the second church building.
This brick building of Gothic and cruciform in style has a seating capacity of about seven hundred, including the balcony over the front entrance. Beautiful and symbolic stained glass windows soften the light from without. An atmosphere of reverence and beauty pervades the interior of this house of worship. The entire edifice, together with the altar and chancel arrangement, reflects the true evangelical type of Lutheranism.
