Old Chapel Church facts for kids
The Old Chapel Church, also known as the "Snow Creek Chapel," was built in 1769. It was a small church, called a chapel of ease, for the main Church of England parish in what is now Penhook, Virginia, in the United States. Chapels of ease were built so people who lived far from the main church could still attend services easily.
Building the Old Chapel Church
The Old Chapel Church was about 32 feet long and 24 feet wide. It was built as a frame house, meaning its main structure was made of wooden beams. The roof was covered with clapboard, which are overlapping wooden boards. Inside, it had a wooden floor, a pulpit (where the minister stood), a desk, a small table, and benches for people to sit on. It also had two doors and five windows.
Many churches in Colonial Virginia (before the American Revolution) were built this way. Over 100 frame churches like this existed in Virginia back then, but today only four are still standing. One famous example is St. John's Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia), where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech.
Experts have found special features that show the church's old history. For example, it has a door near the communion table, which was common in churches from the 1600s and 1700s.
An old roadbed near the church is thought to be part of the historic Pigg River Road. This road was an important route through Franklin County, Virginia. The Old Chapel Church became a well-known landmark along this road.
In 2017, the Old Chapel Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. The governor of Virginia also called it a "Virginia Treasure" because of its cultural value.
"The King's House"
During the time of the American Revolution, the Old Chapel Church was sometimes called "the King's House." This was because the King of England owned the land and the church, as he was the head of the Church of England.
Also, this church was a place where local taxes were paid to the King. People often paid these taxes with tobacco. There's a story that the British also stored gunpowder and weapons here.
Church Members and Leaders
The early church was part of Antrim Parish, which later became Camden Parish. This happened as new counties like Franklin, Pittsylvania, Patrick, and Henry were created from Halifax County.
In the early days, people had to pay a tithe to support the local church. A tithe was a payment, usually a portion of their income or crops. Most adult white and Black males had to pay this tithe by law.
Some of the early ministers included Reverend Foulis, Reverend Alex Gordon, and Reverend James Stevenson. Later, in 1771, Reverend Lewis Gwilliam became the minister. During the American Revolution, some people thought he might be loyal to the British King instead of the American cause.
The Old Chapel Church had some important members in its congregation:
- John Pigg, for whom the Pigg River was named.
- Colonel William Witcher, a military officer who led local troops in battles like the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
- John Donelson, whose daughter married future President Andrew Jackson.
- Hugh Innes, a judge who represented the county in important government meetings, including the first revolutionary convention.
After the American Revolution, the church was used by Primitive Baptists until 2009. Today, the church building and land are privately owned.
