Sussex-Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History.....Barrett reunion, 1961 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Reunion at Old Church Turns Attention to Founder One of the very first Christian Churches built in this section is Barrett's Church, which was well established before 1808 and for generations has served as the famly reunion place for the Barrett Family. Last Sunday, some 100 members of the John Burwell Barrett family assembled at the church grounds to hold their annual reunion with worship services in the morning followed by the traditional picnic luncheon. The history of this local church, Old Barrett's, was published in detail in The Wakefield Enterprise, June 21, 1917, which revealed that the first house was erected on the farm of Reverend Burwell Barrett. He and his wife gave the deed in 1823 for the lot on which the church had been built many years before. The church was well established before 1808 and was visited by Rev. Joseph Thomas on his preaching tours in Eastern Virginia. It may have been the very first Christian Church that was built in this section. Rev. Burwell Barrett was the pastor on Sunday, and like many others of the primitive churches, it was used in the week as a school-house with the pastor as teacher. The early members were the pastor and his family; Polly Harnes and her mother, the Travises, Wellonses, Cokers, Stephensons and others. The preaching Sunday was the 4th Sunday in each month, and has been so most of the time of the church's existence. As was the custom the larger girls kept the church and school-house in order; the older boys kept the fires in the winter time. In 1888 the present building was erected. The records of the church for the most of its life have not been found. The history of the local church and its customs were similar to those of other churches in this section. A great many of the people walked to the church, and in the summer time carried their shoes and stockings in their hands until they were near the church and then put them on. Leaving the church, they were taken off and carried back home again. There were two sections in the old church. One for the masters and the other for their slaves. This latter custom continued until after 1865, when the colored people met under a willow tree in the church yard and organized their separate congregation. At first, many of the vehicles were ox carts, then a few stick gigs were used, and later buggies and finally automobiles. The Eastern Virginia Christian Conference has met at Old Barrett's five times: 1820, 1830, 1838, 1878 and 1917. Its membership as 75 in 1933. The church is the mother of Mars Hill which was of short duration, and of Oak Level that later fell into the hands the Methodist Episcopal Church and then became extinct. Burton's Grove, another daughter, is still good condition, with a memrship of 51 in 1933. While this church has a peculiar location, it has done more to furnish leadership for the Christian Church in this section of Virginia than any other church and has produced some of its greatest leaders. Rev. Burwell Barrett, the organizer and builder, was one of first ministers in this section to cast his lot with the Christians, had to go to work to build up the house in this community and area. He was not only a minister, but was a public-spirited man. So closely associated was the name "Barrett" and the Christian Church in Virginia in the early days that in some places the Christians were called "The Barrett Society." His son, Rev. Mills Barrett, born in 1788, became the leader of his church. He was converted in 1809 under the preaching of Rev. Joseph Thomas at his father's house and began to preach as the companion of Rev. Thomas, the white pilgrim. Rev. Mills Barrett was followed by his two sons, Stephen S., and Mills B. Barrett. Rev. Stephen S. Barrett was licensed in 1843 and ordained in 1846. He was instrumental in organizing Berkley (in the vicinity of Norfolk) in 1847. Rev. Mills B. Barrett began to preach at 18 and was ordained at Antioch in 1850. Out of 66 sessions actually held, Rev. Burwell Barrett, his son and grandson had been in the chair 16 times. [photo, captioned:] Old Barrett's Church - established in 1808 - as it appears today John BARRETT family reunion, 24 Sep 1961, Barrett's Christian Church - founded 1808 by Rev. Burwell BARRETT, "Sussex-Surry Dispatch" (Waverly, VA), Vol. 84, No. 39, Thurs., Sep. 28, 1961, p. 1 Additional information: Barrett's Christian Church is located on Barretts Church Rd. (Rt. 605), just on the Sussex Co. side of the line with Southampton Co., about half a mile west of Barrett's Corner - the intersection of Rt. 605 with Wakefield Rd. (Rt. 628). A report by Major W.E. MacClenny, on the organization of the Christian Church South, focusing on its early ministers & missionaries, given to the 36th regular session of the Southern Convention of Congregational Christian Churches, Reidsville, 2 May 1944, and published in the "Suffolk News- Herald," May 3, 1944) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/nansemond/chr_chs.txt A more in-depth history of the Christian Church South, also by Prof. MacCLENNY, focusing on founder Rev. James O'KELLY, ("Suffolk News-Herald," Apr. 4-8, 1941) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/history/chr_ch.txt Newpaper articles (text corrected) at: https://virginiachronicle.com/ Ancestry.com Beal family tree (Fenton Harrison) gives John William BARRETT (1808 - 1860) as the son of Rev. Mills Burwell BARRETT (1788 - 1865). Many of their descendants, including Rev. David Palmer Sr. (1876 - 1966), a missionary to Puerto Rico, are buried in Antioch Christian Church Cemetery. Antioch list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/cemeteries/antioch.txt Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #20: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html Antioch Christian Church, near Windsor, is the mother church of the remaining Christian congregations in Isle Of Wight Co. - Mount Carmel, Isle Of Wight & Windsor. (King, "Historical Notes on Isle Of Wight County," p. 317 &c.) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/history/barrett.txt