BRUNSWICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA - CHURCH HISTORY HISTORY OF PLEASANT HILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH P.O. BOX 550 NOVEMBER 10, 1991 First of all, I don't exactly know why I was chosen to give this history but I count it a privilege and joy to read this to you. I do want to make it perfectly clear that I am not the oldest member of this congregation at this time. It is true I am getting there year by year. Today is Flo's (Florence Keeton) birthday. At 82 years of age, she is one of the oldest active members of Pleasant Hill Christian Church. She has been the Church Treasurer for over 50 years. If I have incorrect information such as dates, people, places, events, or whatever, please see me or call me and let's get it right. Information for this history of Pleasant Hill Christian Church, Brunswick County, Gasburg, Virginia, was taken from church records collected from 1950 where Mr. William F. Ambrose began his ministry until now. Information gathered from various persons, especially Mr. John E. Braswell, Miss Grace Inge and her sisters, and Mrs. Wavie Clary have been used in this history. Near Gasburg, Brunswick County, Virginia, on the hillside, south of Pea Hill Creek a group of people began to meet for preaching in the grove at Tom Shelbourne's home. These were called "bush arbor meetings." Mr. Holland from Perseverance Church, Lunnenburg County, Virginia, came down and held these summer meetings for several years. It is said that Perseverance Christian Church is the mother of Pleasant Hill. Thomas Shelbourne, Thomas Baird, and John Hammack started a move for a church building near Pea Hill Creek. Thomas Shelbourne and his wife, Hattie L. owned 503 acres located at Pea Hill Creek and on August 21, 1878, signed a deed for one and one-half acres on the hill south of Pea Hill Creek to John L. Hammack and Thomas F. Baird, Trustee for the Disciples or Christians Church for the purpose of building a church on the road leading from Harrison Old Shop Place to Clary's Mill. This deed was recorded in the Brunswick County Clerk's Office in Deed Book 41, Page 36, September 23, 1878. This land was donated. The building cost approximately $300.00 and was built by Tom Baird. Preacher Holland was the first to preach in the new building in 1879, with approximately 50 members making up this new congregation. The first and only name of this congregation was and is Pleasant Hill Church; but was sometimes referred to as the Campbellite Church by a few people. In the year 1910 or 1911 the moving of the church building was discussed and in 1912 Plummer T. Hammack, Fred L. Jones, and Edgar M. Baird started the move to relocate because most of the members lived near Gasburg and it was thought that the new site, were we are now, was a better location. On July 10, 1912, a deed dated March 14, 1913 from James (Jim) Stonewall Whitby to P.T. Hammack, Ben Baird, and Fayette Baird, Trustees for the church for a parcel of land near Gasburg, was recorded in the Clerk's office, Deed Book 64, Page 372. This parcel of land was 363 ft. X 354 ft. X 462 ft. and back to the point of beginning. This land was sold as gross and not by the acre. The church building built by John E. jBraswell with Thee Moseley cutting the lumber was completed in 1914 for the cost of approximately $1,000.00. The building was a long single room building with two entrances; one for the men to enter and sit on one side and the women to enter in at the other entrance and sit on the other side, each side having a stove for heat. There was no division for Sunday School classes; however, several classes were held at the same time with pupils having to pay close attention to their teacher only. In the late 20's John A. Love began coming to Pleasant Hill for preaching services once a month. I remember when Mr. Love drove 60 miles from Meherrin, Virginia for the once -a- month service. He would come down on Saturday and spend the night at members' homes. He continued serving this congregation until his death in 1945. After Mr. Love's death, Mr. Brokaw came once a month for a few years and then Mr. Darst came once a month for tow or three years. The church building was never destroyed by fire; however, the church records were in the home of John Hammack and when his home burned in 1907, the records were also burned. Preacher Edgar Lindsey started getting new records together in 1927, and Preacher Love continued this job. It was in 1950 a program was started to remodel and enlarge the house of worship. This work was completed in the same year and the entire debt paid off in 1951, giving the congregation property valued at $45,000.00. Mr. William F. Ambrose, while a student in Atlanta Christian College, came to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, to work as intern under Mr. Lewis Styons. While engaged in this work, he started preaching at Pleasant Hill tow Lord's Day afternoons each month. This continued for two years until he was called to a church in North Carolina. During his absence, Mr. Clyde Wheeler, a student in the school and minister of the East Tenth Street Church, Roanoke Rapids, continued the supply work at Pleasant Hill. Late in the summer of 1952, the Pleasant Hill Congregation called Mr. Ambrose and his wife, Geri, to a full time resident ministry, the first in the history of the church and it was 73 years old at this time. March 15, 1953, was the date of starting the parsonage and it was completed by the end of July of 1953, at a value of $15,000.00 with entire debt being paid within the passage of one year. Later an addition was built to the parsonage which was next door to the church building. Several years later it was moved to the present site. On March 17, 1957, ground was broken for the construction of an educational building and sanctuary remodeling which would have a total value of $30,000.00. At a later date, I believe, 1970, the sanctuary was remodeled again and two class rooms upstairs and two classrooms downstairs were built. Other building projects have taken place over the years. A cookhouse was built for preparing Brunswick Stew and Bar-B-Q and the eating shed, which was between the cookhouse and church, was moved behind the cookhouse to give more parking space nearer the church. A tennis court and outdoor theater building were built, and a new cemetery started. Additional acres were gotten from Lillie Mae and C.T. Williams and Lee and Ora C. Lynch. On December 4, 1977, gound-breaking services were held to start the construction of an additional 8,400 sq. ft. The Building Committee was composed of Myles Moore, Dalton Baird, Randolph Pierce, and Charles Braswell (Chairman of the Board). In September, 1963, Chester and Gracie Braswell gave .44 acre to the church to serve as a road to the old cemetery at Pea Hill Creek. Our present sanctuary, offices, foyer, and classrooms were completed in July, 1978. That year, we celebrated our 100th Anniversary and the dedication of the new facility. At this time three individuals were recognized who had been at Pleasant Hill almost throughout its history: Miss Grace Inge (age 92), Mr. Lee Lynch (age 92), and Mrs. Wavie Clary (age 86). The following preachers served this congregation throughout its history: HOLLAND, WINGO, WILKINS, BELL, MADDOX, WALTERS, GIVENS, POWELL, AUSTIN, DESHIELDS,WADE, WEST, FORBES, LINDSEY, LOVE, BROKAW, DARST, WHEELER, AMBROSE, MOORE, and HAND. twenty-one different men over a period of 113 years. In April, 1964, a resolution was recorded which denied any claims of State or National organization to ownership of thek property of Pleasant Hill Christian Church. It is believed that the baptizing was done in Pea Hill Creek for many years. I know the creek was used in the summer of 1938, when I was baptized. Various baptisteries in Roanoke Rapids, N>C. were used in cold weather. In the early 1950's, Charlie & Lacy Kidd's farm pond was used for baptisms. A baptistery was built within the building when the sanctuary was remodeled. The construction began in 1957. Even though preaching was only once a month for many years, then twice a month, Bible school classes were held each Sunday and the Lord's Supper was observed each Sunday. We have tried to be true to God's instructions in His Word, over the years. The approximately 20.85 acres and the different buildings mentioned only housed the church at various times. We are the church, the living stones as were members of years gone by. From the names listed in this history, we see descendants still in this congregation and also many new families becoming a part of this body throughout the years; all working and serving the Lord together, supporting, encouraging, helping, and loving each other, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. The church came into being approximately 30 A.D. Our congregation, Pleasant Hill Christian Church came into being 113 years ago and I am humbly proud and I know blessed to be a part of it. It is my prayer that Pleasant Hill will continue to stand for nothing; but the truth as found in God's Word until Jesus comes again. COMPILED AND PRESENTED BY GLENNIE CLARY BOWER (Granddaughter of George Washington Clary and wife, Mary Ann Elizabeth Baird Husky) One of the founding families of Pleasant Hill Christian Church Submitted by -Jackie D olby JADolby@aol.com ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************