Blog Date: February 21, 2011
Gretna Christian Church 100h Anniversary
Minister: Dwight Mays
111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557
This is an article about a Disciples of Christ Church being built in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and how this started the interest in Franklin Junction/Gretna.
Christian Standard Magazine September 23, 1911 page 30
By H. D. Coffey
Evangelist for Virginia Christian College
Lynchburg, Virginia
A Church in a Day in Pittsylvania County
It is down in “Old Virginia” where three months before we had only one member. The Lord uses many agents to do his work. A Bro. Parker of Rocky Mount, induced a consecrated man by the name of George W. Reynolds of Pittsylvania County, to spend a week with him and hear Brother Hendershot preach. When a sermon on Christian Unity was preached, Reynolds with others accepted it and united with the Christian Church. He went back home and asked the privilege of having a Christian preacher use the Baptist Church for which he had given the site and contributed largely to the building and support of for many years. This was denied, and Reynolds arranged seats in the grove nearby and invited A. F. Ramsey to preach there once each month. The interest was good. Brother Parker and Brother Reynolds bought fifty copies of W. H. Book’s sermons on “What Must I do to Be Saved? And put them to work. Hendershot was to hold a meeting there, but as he could not hold it at the time desired, and as J. Hopwood had recommended the writer in case Hendershot could not be gotten, arrangements were made for the meeting and Ms. May Leake of Virginia Christian College, was engaged as organist, soloist and chorister. Gasoline torchlights were hung in the grove, and the work began.
During the first week we had a few converts. The church being locked against us gave us the sympathy of most of the people. We preached the gospel in love. On the second Sunday of the meeting we preached Christian unity. About forty took their stand with us that day. The meeting continued for another week and closed with 101 additions. Much of this was due to the solos and song service conducted by Miss Leake. We had more than five hundred people at the service several nights. We had the best order and attention to the outskirts of the congregation. Among the converts were many of the best people of the community.
We then began to plan for a church. Brother Reynolds proposed to give the site. We had read in the Standard of building churches in a day, so we decided to undertake it. Many said it could not be done. We thought that what was being done in other States could be done in Virginia. So, with only two weeks from the time we set the day to build, we got busy. Some of the framing timber had been cut. We secured lumber, windows, doors, etc. had hauling done and all things ready. Being acquainted throughout the State, I invited carpenters from different places. On August 23 a few of us met and cut part of the timber and laid foundation. On the morning of the 24th we met and had photographs made at 6:00 a.m. Then we went to work in earnest. We had carpenters enough to manage each department of the work. The frame went up rapidly. Then on each side a number of carpenters began putting on weatherboards, while two other sets of carpenters put on sheeting. It was two o’clock before the tinners could begin. Burt the roof was put on, and lumber dressed, and seats made and put in the church, and we had preaching there that night and several converts. The ladies furnished a splendid dinner. It was estimated that a thousand people were on the ground that day. At night 412 were counted on the seats in the church while more than one hundred could not get seats. The next day we had some little finishing and to take the scaffolds down. A little weatherboarding for one of the gables was lacking, and part of the roof had to be seamed the next day, but the house was built and put under roof and seated in one day.
This is not a “box house” covered with paper or rubber, but a good building 34x35 feet, 19 foot pitch inside, with self-supporting roof, covered with tin, seamed the next day, but the style. All the work is done in workmanship order.
Among the carpenters and tinners who came from other points were J. G. Leake and two sons, with Mr. Pritchett and Mr. Irving, from Albemarle County; J. E. Carter, with his son and a Mr. Fry and Mr. Harris from Spray, N.C. ; John Greer, George W. Harris, Willie Jones, C.G. Campbell, H.O. Crow and the writer from Lynchburg, Va; W.R. Davis, Hampton Oaks and Adison Adkins from Sandy Level; Mr. Parker, from Rocky Mount; Mr. Fox Shelton, Mr. John Shelton and Mr. W. F. Motley, from Sheva; Mr. Tuck and two Messrs. Perdue from Franklin Junction, and B. F. Sublett, from Christiansburg, besides some others whose locality was not known to the writer. I never saw men work better or seem to be happier. Several said, “We would not have missed that for fifty dollars.” All the work of these two days, cutting and building, was given free of charge. This can be done and will be done again in “The Old Dominion.”
We are now in a meeting at Franklin Junction, Va. Ten miles from where this church was built. We are using the Episcopal Church. B.F. Sublett and H. O. Crow singing for me, and we have fine interest. With only to or three members here, we have had about fifty conversions in the days. The Interest is fine. We were told that it was impossible to get a congregation here. But, with the splendid music and the simple “Old Jerusalem” gospel preached in love, we have the church packed and many outside. The people seem anxious for the truth. We hope to build a church here also.
Truly the harvest is ripe in the “Old Dominion” and in the East. During the months of July and August we have had more than 250 conversions. This is only a beginning of what can be done. What are we doing in Virginia.
H.D. Coffey
Evangelist for Virginia Christian College
Lynchburg, Virginia
September 23, 1911
Disciples of Christ Historical Society found this article written by Reverend H. D. Coffey along with another article about the building of Gretna Christian Church which I will post tomorrow.
As you may already know, Virginia Christian College is now called Lynchburg College. A very fine college which is located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Mr. Josephus Hopwood was the founder of Lynchburg College and was the person who had recommended Mr. Coffey for the job as preacher in replacement for Brother Hendershot who could not be there. Lynchburg College has always maintained a close association with the Disciples of Christ Church since it was through the support of Disciples of Christ ministers and businessmen that the school was established. For more information on Lynchburg College see their website http://www.lynchburg.edu/collegehistory
If anyone has information about the other gentlemen in the above article, please contact me and I will in include our blog.
Many thanks to the following:
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
Mark E. Poole Photo
Christian Standard Magazine
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