Scottsville
Virginia
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Scottsville Presbyterian Church
Church History
In 2007, Scottsville Presbyterian Church celebrated 180 years of worshipping God, preaching the Gospel, and providing a community of fellowship and service to the people living in the vicinity of Scottsville, Virginia. During these 18 decades many different ministers have served the church. The endurance of the church, however, has been largely the result of the dedication of love of its many lay members through the years. For them it has indeed been a spiritual home.
The church was founded on October 18, 1827 in the nearby town of Warren under the care of the West Hanover Presbytery. Its initial membership numbered six. Its first minister was the Rev. Samuel Hurd, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary.
In 1830, through the influence of Peyton Harrison, a prominent lawyer and large land owner in Albemarle County, the church moved from Warren to Scottsville, an important port on the James River. Membership had grown to 16. The Congregation met in the Concord House, which was located on the grounds of the present Scottsville Cemetery.
Peyton Harrison provided the land for a new church building, which was built in 1832. The two-story, brick buildingis a notable example of the Federal 'Temple' style of church construction which was common in Virginia in the early 19th century. It was the first church building within the corporate limits of the city of Scottsville. Church membership had grown to about 40.
Harrison also provided land for a manse and financed its construction. It, too, was located on the site of the present city cemetery. The manse burned in 1901. When it did, the church lost many records documenting its early history.
The church called the Rev. William White as minister in 1832. The following year he led revival meetings at the church. One fruit of the revival was the decision by Peyton Harrison to sell all his land holdings and enter the Presbyterian ministry.
Through most of the 19th and 20th centuries, the church fluctuated in membership. A long succession of ministers served the church, often for periods averaging three to five years. In 1871 the Rev. Thomas D. Bell moved to Scottsville and pastored both the Scottsville and Howardsville churches. A graduate of Yale, he was described as a man of dyanmic personality, learned and a devoted shepherd to his flock.
Bell remained pastor for 18 years until his death in 1889. During his pastorate, the church's membership rose fo 100, the highest in its history. The Sunday Schooll numbered 71 pupils and eight teachers.
By 1924 the church building was in bad need of repair and refurbishment. Funds were tight but apparently they were obtained. An anonymous writer of the Home Mission Messenger wrote in May 1925; "The Church looked attractive. The yard had been cleared of all debris and was in apple pie order. The lawn was just like a carpet of blue velvet, the violets were in full bloom and made a wonderful background fo rthe little brick church."
In 1950 Sunday School rooms were added to the upstairs balcony space. In 1952 total communicants numbered 42, the Sunday School, however, numbered 64 students. The church also had an active youth organization with meals, Bible study, and recreation for young people.
In 1957 boundaries of presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. were changed. The Scottsville church moved for the West Hanover Presbytery (of which it had been a member since its founding) to the Lexington Presbytery. In 1975 it came into the bounds of the Blue Ridge Presbytery. In 1989 it was incorporated into the new Presbytery of the James which was created froma merger of several presbyteries after the reunification of the northern and southern Presbyterian denominations.
In the spring of 2007 the church called its present minister, the Rev. Gordon Lindsey as pastor. He was officially installed on April 15, 2007.
The baptisim of Keegan Harper Brown on July 29, 2007 is representative of the generations who have worshipped and gathered for fellowship and service at Scottsville Presbyterian Church over its 180-year history. Keegan's parents, Doug and Betsy Brown, were married in the church. Her grandparents, Jim and Judy Brown, have been long-time church members.
Current membership of the church numbers 37. Its membership includes a broad cross-section of Scottsville's population, including a number of business and civic leaders and the town Mayor.
In 1925 an unknown member wrote of the Scottsville Presbyterian Church, "It is a pretty little church. I love it and am at alltimes in all kinds of weather ready to serve it to the utmost of my ability." To these words, generations of the church's membership could say, "Amen."
In 2007, Scottsville Presbyterian Church celebrated 180 years of worshipping God, preaching the Gospel, and providing a community of fellowship and service to the people living in the vicinity of Scottsville, Virginia. During these 18 decades many different ministers have served the church. The endurance of the church, however, has been largely the result of the dedication of love of its many lay members through the years. For them it has indeed been a spiritual home.
The church was founded on October 18, 1827 in the nearby town of Warren under the care of the West Hanover Presbytery. Its initial membership numbered six. Its first minister was the Rev. Samuel Hurd, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary.
In 1830, through the influence of Peyton Harrison, a prominent lawyer and large land owner in Albemarle County, the church moved from Warren to Scottsville, an important port on the James River. Membership had grown to 16. The Congregation met in the Concord House, which was located on the grounds of the present Scottsville Cemetery.
Peyton Harrison provided the land for a new church building, which was built in 1832. The two-story, brick buildingis a notable example of the Federal 'Temple' style of church construction which was common in Virginia in the early 19th century. It was the first church building within the corporate limits of the city of Scottsville. Church membership had grown to about 40.
Harrison also provided land for a manse and financed its construction. It, too, was located on the site of the present city cemetery. The manse burned in 1901. When it did, the church lost many records documenting its early history.
The church called the Rev. William White as minister in 1832. The following year he led revival meetings at the church. One fruit of the revival was the decision by Peyton Harrison to sell all his land holdings and enter the Presbyterian ministry.
Through most of the 19th and 20th centuries, the church fluctuated in membership. A long succession of ministers served the church, often for periods averaging three to five years. In 1871 the Rev. Thomas D. Bell moved to Scottsville and pastored both the Scottsville and Howardsville churches. A graduate of Yale, he was described as a man of dyanmic personality, learned and a devoted shepherd to his flock.
Bell remained pastor for 18 years until his death in 1889. During his pastorate, the church's membership rose fo 100, the highest in its history. The Sunday Schooll numbered 71 pupils and eight teachers.
By 1924 the church building was in bad need of repair and refurbishment. Funds were tight but apparently they were obtained. An anonymous writer of the Home Mission Messenger wrote in May 1925; "The Church looked attractive. The yard had been cleared of all debris and was in apple pie order. The lawn was just like a carpet of blue velvet, the violets were in full bloom and made a wonderful background fo rthe little brick church."
In 1950 Sunday School rooms were added to the upstairs balcony space. In 1952 total communicants numbered 42, the Sunday School, however, numbered 64 students. The church also had an active youth organization with meals, Bible study, and recreation for young people.
In 1957 boundaries of presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. were changed. The Scottsville church moved for the West Hanover Presbytery (of which it had been a member since its founding) to the Lexington Presbytery. In 1975 it came into the bounds of the Blue Ridge Presbytery. In 1989 it was incorporated into the new Presbytery of the James which was created froma merger of several presbyteries after the reunification of the northern and southern Presbyterian denominations.
In the spring of 2007 the church called its present minister, the Rev. Gordon Lindsey as pastor. He was officially installed on April 15, 2007.
The baptisim of Keegan Harper Brown on July 29, 2007 is representative of the generations who have worshipped and gathered for fellowship and service at Scottsville Presbyterian Church over its 180-year history. Keegan's parents, Doug and Betsy Brown, were married in the church. Her grandparents, Jim and Judy Brown, have been long-time church members.
Current membership of the church numbers 37. Its membership includes a broad cross-section of Scottsville's population, including a number of business and civic leaders and the town Mayor.
In 1925 an unknown member wrote of the Scottsville Presbyterian Church, "It is a pretty little church. I love it and am at alltimes in all kinds of weather ready to serve it to the utmost of my ability." To these words, generations of the church's membership could say, "Amen."