In celebration of Juneteenth I'd like to share this story by Elder William Moore.
HOW ANTISLAVERY OF HEDGESVILLE METHODIST CHURCH
HELPED FOUND HEDGESVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. – by Bill Moore
The question was the only item of discussion in Hedgesville in 1850: Is it permissible to ever own another human being? To own a person in the way that you would own an animal. Or to own a person that is considered a part of your wealth?
Hedgesville was a gap in the mountain that was being civilized. On one hill, the Episcopalians had erected a fine brick church in 1816. The largest number of unchurched in the immediate area was the Methodist and approximately 18 years later, they built a hand formed brick church on the other hill. It stood tall and majestic on the hill and could be seen for some distance. It grew a nick name of the “ Red Brick Church” and folks were rightly proud of it.
The founding body, the Methodist Church, US was not as quiet or as settled and ferment was brewing in all the churches. In the New England states a movement began that spread through the country … no matter the denomination, but chiefly espoused by the Methodist.
It was called the Anti-slavery moment and they were vocal, active. And blunt.
THEY WERE OPPOSED TO SLAVERY OF ANY KIND AND FORM, AND FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. The congregations of Methodist churches were asked to take a stand and to declare if they were Anti-Slavery or not.
The little church at Hedgesville had just really gotten started. Within two decades that had made strides. A little cemetery mostly for children had been established, the building was strong, and they had a regular minister who was sent to them by the Conference.
They did the shocking, the unexpected, the unusual and it had profound consequences that lasted until 1894 -- They decided that they were anti-slavery …. And boldly proclaimed it a more than dramatic fashion.
They built their new church in the style and manner of others of the period. There was a door at the side of the church where the slaves could come to worship, but they did not enter the doors of the regular congregation. They took this door and bricked it up on the outside and the inside so that could not happen.
Inside at the back of the room was a balcony. The balcony was one story high and it was for the slaves to look down on the service. To experience what was going on but not be a part of it. They took the balcony and ripped it from the walls and covered the windows.
Now the records don’t indicate if the slaves came into the life of the church but there is a definite statement by the church of their stand on slavery. There was an uproar in the church and records state that those who opposed were “locked out” of the church. The interpretation of that was that they were not allowed to have communion or hold office in the church. They were dispossessed. They had no church of their own.
By 1865 the Civil War had ended and there was a movement to build a church for those who were from the “old brick church” With fervor and determination a drive was on to build a church and they were able to erect the largest free standing log structure in the county. They put it on the other side of the hill in the gap of the mountain. Just so that folks would not forget, they erected a very large, ornate window enclosed balcony on the end of the room.
There were a sizeable number of Presbyterians who lived in Hedgesville who attended Falling Waters and some at Tomahawk. They were invited by the new Methodist Church to join with them to worship and fellowship. They decided to do so. Records do not indicate if they held separate services or were combined ones, but they continued to worship within that Church.
After about three decades of this arrangement, there was a strong feeling by the Presbyterians that they wanted to be on their own. How to do it? They presented their wish to have a church building in Hedgesville to the Falling Waters PC. The Session of that group were not eager and responsive and told the group to equip themselves with conveyances and come to Falling Waters for six months and they would take up the questions again. They did not go.
The ladies of the Hedgesville group decided on their own to somehow finance a building and set about fund raising in the 1890s. They did have a local doctor to be the treasurer of the group, but the direction and purpose was determined by the ladies. They asked for funds from people straight out, they borrowed money, and they gave all that they could. One person to whom they borrowed was Mr. Janney who had been a former Confederate soldier.
They secured the services of an expert builder and carpenter, G. W. Apple , who secured a pattern book of plans and information. The church pattern selected by the ladies was a New England clapboard design and may have been a direct link of those folks from that area who were so stalwart in the anti-slavery movement.
It can be said that the anti-slavery activity at a Hedgesville Methodist Church was the correlation and link to getting a Presbyterian Church built nearly four decades later. -- Elder William Moore
Friends,
I want to personally invite and welcome you to join us for worship at Hedgesville Presbyterian Church. Our Sunday services begin in-person at 11 am and livestreamed on Facebook at 11:10 am. http://facebook.com/hedgesvillepc
We hope and pray that you are able to join us... All Are Welcome!
The Peace of Jesus Christ be with you!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Vanessa Smith
Pastor
