History

Childrey's History

On a hill above Childrey Creek in the northern portion of Halifax County stood a log schoolhouse. It was here, in 1783, that 30 people of the surrounding area began meeting for worship services led by Elder Obediah Echols. Out of this small beginning came Childrey Creek Church which was to be affiliated with the United Baptist of Virginia.

The Revolutionary War ended in this same year and the future looked promising. With optimistic vision, this group erected their first house of worship in a grove of oak trees not too far from the schoolhouse. Then, one year before the Bill of Rights establishing religious freedom wasadopted and four years before George Washington was inaugurated as our first president, Childrey Creek Church was constituted on February 22, 1785 with Obediah Echols as their first pastor. Worship Services, or “Divine Services” as they were called back then, were held on the fourth Sunday of the month and on the Saturday preceding this.

Most of the settlers in this area were farmers from Scotland and Ireland. Some were large landowners with slaves and servants to do much of the work on the farms. Farming was the main way of life and most farms were self-sufficient. All of the food for every resident of the farm had to be raised on the farm. Clothing was made at home. Only the most wealthy hired a seamstress to do the sewing for their families.

Of course, in 1785 everyone had to travel by foot, horseback, or by carriages and wagons. In the winter months, if there was snow, travel was sometimes by horse drawn sleighs. It was probably because travel was difficult and lifestyle was more rugged that the farmers elected to meet twice per month. At the “Meeting House” there were hitching posts and trees to tie the horses to during the worship services and other meetings. When all day meetings were held, such as during “Protracted Meetings” (now called Revivals), food was taken for the horses as well as for the people. The Meeting House was heated using wood burning cast iron stoves in the winter and cooled in the summer by open windows and doors.

During the protracted meetings there were all day meetings with morning and afternoon services and dinner “on the grounds.” This term originated from the fact that dinner was literally on the ground. There were no tables, so dinner was served from dishes placed on the ground on top of blankets and spreads. (This is also where the term “putting on a spread” comes from!) These meetings were typically held once per year and many came into the fellowship of the church “by experience” and baptism. Baptism took place in Childrey Creek and the converts were often baptized the same day “they had given their experience.”

The membership of the church was made up of both whites and blacks. Some of the blacks were free, but most were servants. Many of the servants were allowed to become members. By 1790 the church membership had doubled at which time there were 73 recorded members. This membership oscillated very little throughout the eighteenth century.

In 1801 and 1802, significant revivals took place which added another 100 members to the church role. J. Owen served as an elder during this early period. The exact dates are not known. The people of Childrey Church planted “Tombs Baptist Church” which was later named Ellis Creek Baptist Church, and was affiliated with Childrey until 1812. Some point prior to 1824, Elder Nathaniel Lovelace also served as pastor. Elder John Jenkins was one of the pastors before 1833 who was known as an eloquent speaker. During much of Childrey Creek Church’s history, the church was led by a pastor and multiple elders. In 1833 the church membership had grown to 209; 107 whites and 102 blacks. At this time Elder John Hubbard was pastor of the church. There was a great working of the Holy Spirit during October and November of 1839 during which time 65 people were received into the fellowship “by experience” and baptism.

Church discipline, based on the Word of God, was taken very seriously. The roll was called of all males each month when meetings were held. Those that were absent were to be at the next meeting and give reason for their absence. If they were not present at the next meeting, a committee of one or more was appointed to go to see why they were absent. If they returned and their excuse was accepted, they remained in fellowship with the church. If the excuse was not accepted, the church would excommunicate them. At times the excommunicated would come before the church and ask forgiveness and be restored to the fellowship. Some examples of church discipline are as follows:

·        A sister was excommunicated for stealing and lying.

·        A brother was brought before the church for grinding a barrel of corn on the Sabbath. He made confession to the church and was forgiven.

·        A brother came before the church acknowledging that he had had “too much spirits” which caused him to do and say more than he should, and he was very sorry. He was forgiven and held in fellowship.

·        A sister was absent which led to a committee visit.   It was reported that she “grieved at her conduct” and she would not do so again. The church forgave her and she remained in fellowship.

·        One brother was excommunicated for not paying his debts honestly and “running away from this county.”

·        One brother came before the church and confessed that he had drank too much Christmas eggnog and prayed for the church to forgive him. The church did.

·        In 1860 a member was excommunicated from fellowship because of his “unchristian conduct.”

In 1842 a new place of worship was constructed. Building material for the new “House of Worship” was brought over from London, England. It was “well built with two doors at the front of the building and well lit with many windows. There was a division down the center of the room and the men sat on one side and the women and children on the other.” In June 1844 the church decided that they were in favor of beginning Sunday School and there has been from this time forward. At this time Elder Joel Hubbard was the pastor and Elder Morton and Elder Spring would “preach for it.”

Through the Civil War the church suffered as the country suffered. During these years William Rodgers served as pastor with the only males present being old men and boys. When the Civil War ended April 9, 1865, everyone struggled to make a living. William Tyree became pastor as the community and the church struggled to recover. Destroyed bridges, railroads, roads and the loss of family members made the transition difficult.

I will highlight some of the events throughout the next 140 years:

·        In 1868 Childrey Church helped organize Shiloh Baptist Church for the black members of the congregation. All the slaves had been freed after the war and they built a log church “to have their own place of worship.” The first pastor was Afrisan Johnson.

·        In 1875 William Tyree resigned as pastor for health reasons and Whit Williams took his place. He resigned in 1878 but his resignation was not accepted so he continued to serve as pastor until 1882!

·        In June 1875 four men were appointed to take care of repairs to the meeting house. They were called deacons. (The first mention of deacons was in 1848 when two were appointed, but upon examination one was rejected because of an offense toward a family which resulted in his excommunication.)

·        During this time period there was an unusual happening. It is recorded that a black brother by the name of Patterson “would preach for us tomorrow.”

·        At a meeting in July 1899, thirty people were received into the church and baptized and six were restored to fellowship.

·        In 1900 the church purchased some land adjoining the church in order to begin its cemetery.

·        In 1910 plans were made to construct a new house of worship. It was dedicated on the 5^th Sunday in April 1911. This is the present building which will seat 400.

·        Prior to 1925 Childrey had at least 18 pastors over the course of 140 years. Since 1925 (79 years) Childrey has had ten pastors.

· Jerry Stanfield became the 29^th pastor of Childrey Baptist Church in 2007.

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