Zion Chapel Episcopal Church
History, 1825 - 1952
Route 264, Beaufort County, NC
The following is a transcription of the handwritten history found in the Parish Register. Care has been taken to accurately relate what is written there in the order it appears. The original had little punctuation and I may have added a comma here and there to make it easier to read. My Boyd grandparents and my Braddy great grandparents are buried in Zion Churchyard.
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The beginning of Church work in Zion Parish, Beaufort County was so far as we can now learn (the date of the present writing being May 1885) was under God, by an ancient family by the name of Cutler Robert and Lucy Cutler, his wife who came to this state from New England about the year 1738 and settled near Duck Creek on a place now owned by Mr. James J. Cutler, one of their descendants.
Here mainly through their exemplary lives the pious and careful training of their children, the general but constant putting forward by lay-reading and otherwise of the Churchs claims and interests, they laid the foundation of its future development and growth in this community.
But we have no record of the organization of the Parish until the year 1823*. During this year Zion Parish was organized and administered into union with the Diocese of North Carolina under the Rectorship of the Rev. Richard S. Mason who it appears could only give it occasional visits as he was in charge of several other points in this section at the same time.
*The following is a list of the Parishes that came into union with the Diocese before, and during the same year of the admission of this Parish, in the order of their dates
St. Pauls Edenton, 1817.
St. James Wilmington, 1817.
St. Johns, Fayetteville, 1817,
St. Marks, Halifax, 1822,
Christs Church, Newbern, 1817,
Zion Church, Beaufort Co. 1823,
Calvary Church, Tarboro 1819,
St. Thomas, Bath, 1823,
Christs Church, Rowan, 1821
Trinity Church, Beaufort Co., 1823,
Christs Church, Raleigh, 1822,
St. Stephens Oxford, 1823.
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He was very materially aided in his work however by the very efficient services of Mr. Jarvis B. Buxton as a Lay Reader.
In his address to the convention of 1824 Bp. Ravenscroft thus refers to the condition and prospects of the Church here "On the 29th Jany, left Bath for my next appointment at Zion Chapel * on the road to Washington where the usual services were performed to a crowded and engaged audience; and where I baptized six adults, one of them 67 years old, and twelve infants, and administered Confirmation to twenty-four persons."
"Here I must take leave to remark that the lively condition of these two congregations" (St. Thomas, Bath and Zion) "and the deep interest felt for the revival of the Church is owing, under God, to the zealous and presevering and discreet exertions of the two lay readers who officiate amongst them, Mr. Buxton and Mr. Marsh aided by the occasional visits of the Rev. Mr. Mason, an example which I trust will be faithful in encouraging others to go and do likewise."
This was the first visitation of a Bishop to this Parish.
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*What is now 1885- known as Beaver Dam Church two miles from the present Zion Church.
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There are no records now available to the writer showing how many members constituted the congregation at its organization, and very little can be learned concerning it or its subsequent history except what may be gleaned from the journals of the Diocese.
The Parish, though being a rural one and not strong numerically nor financially, its position among the Parishes of the Diocese was a humble and for many years an unimportant one, being generally put with others one or more under the parochial care of one clergyman.
In 1825, it was represented at the annual convention in Washington by Messrs. Jarvis B. Buxton and Timothy Cutler, as lay delegates. And sometime during the year, it came under the ministerial care of the Rev. Jos. Pierson, resident minister at St. Peters Washington.
Bp. Ravenscroft speaking in his convention address of this year, of his visitation to this Parish says ". preached to a large and an attentive congregation".
During 1826 it continued under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Pierson.
The Bp. In his address of this year says "This congregation manifests great zeal".
It may be mentioned also as an item of some interest perhaps that the Parish this year together with St. Peters Washington, St. Thomas Bath, and Trinity Church Beaufort Co. was assessed $70 for the support of the Episcopate - $10 being its
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share, which was paid.
In the convention of 1827, the Parish was without clerical representation, the Rev. Mr. Pierson having died previous to this. Its lay delegate was Mr. Jarvis B. Buxton, who during the year became a candidate for Holy Orders.
In 1828 after the death of the Rev. Mr. Pierson, his successor at St. Peters Washington, the Rev. Geo. W. Freeman assumed the pastoral care of Zion also, giving it occasional services during this and the following year, 1829.
In 1830, the Rev. Phil. B. Wiley became Rector of St. Peters Washington carrying out the same arrangement in connection with Zion as his predecessors.
In Jan. 1831, the Parish of Zion, together with that of Trinity Church Beaufort Co., St. Thomas Bath, and St. Johns Greenville were placed under the Rectorship of the Rev. John H. Norisient, which arrangement continued through the following year, 1832.
In 1833, the Rev. Seth H. Rogers became the Missionary in charge and continuing the following year, 1834.
1835, the Parish was again under the care of the Rector of St. Peters Washington, the Rev. Robt. Shaw.
In 1836, it again forms part of a Missionary district comprised of the Parishes of Trinity, St. Thomas Bath, St. Johns Greenville, and St. Thomas Craven Co. under the ministerial care of the Rev. Harvey Stanly.
This arrangement continued through 1837.
In 1838, the Parish with that of St. Thomas Bath came under the pastoral care of Rev. John Toland
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and continued so until sometime the following year, or until the Rev. M. Ashly Curtis took charge who remarks in his report to the Convention of 1840 "I arrived in the country on the 12th of Mar. and have preached at Trinity, St. Thomas, at Zion, and at St. Johns. In the deficiency of Registers, I have been unable to ascertain precisely the number of communicants in these Parishes. As near as I can ascertain, there are about sixty I the four."
The Rev. Mr. Curtis resigned his charge sometime in the early part of the year 1841.
The Rev. Wm. E. Snowden took charge sometime in the early part of the year 1842 continuing through 1843 and until Feb. 22, 1844 when he resigned. After which the Rev. N. C. Stoughton seems to be temporarily in charge as he sent in a Parochial Report from this Parish to the Convention of 1845.
But at the Convention of 1846, it appears from the Bishops Address that the Parish was then without a minister. There was no Parochial Report to this Convention of 1847.
At the Covention of 1848, there was a Report by the Rev. Wm. Passmore from which we infer that he then or had been in charge.
Again in 1849, there seems to have been no one specially in charge though in a "note" to his Report to the Convention of this year, the Rev. Ferdinand E. White of St Peters Washington
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states that he had visited this Parish once where had performed several official acts.
In 1850, it was again without ministerial care.
In 1851, the Rev. N. C. Hughes took charge who in his Report to the Convention of this year, remarks "In addition to my former Parishes*, I undertook the care of St. Thomas Bath, Zion, and St. Johns Durham Creek".
Rev. Dr. Hughes remained in charge till the end of the year 1856.
This was made important as dating an event of much interest to the members of the Parish as well as contributing no little to its future welfare and general advancement, the completion and consecration of a neat and substantial Parish Church.
The services up to this time had been held chiefly at old Zion Chapel. This I am informed has always been a free Church, i.e. free to all denominations though built at first mainly by Episcopalians. This fact together with its then inaccessibility to a larger portion of the Parish induced the members to seek a more central location and to erect a Church of their own which results were happily attained in the position and structure of the present Zion Church Beaufort Co. N. C.
The building was erected mainly under the supervision of Mr. Henry L. Harvey upon a lot containing about one acre of land donated for this purpose.
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*Which are Trinity, St. Johns Pitt County, and St. Pauls Greenville.
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The building was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Atkinson DD, Bishop of the Diocese on Nov. 14 1856 as the following extract of his Convention Address of 1857 will show. "Nov. 14th (of preceding year 1856), I consecrated Zion Church in Beaufort County at the same time preaching, confirming twelve persons, and administering the Holy Communion. Messrs. Hughes and Geer assisting in the services."
The Rev. N. C. Hughes resigned the Rectorship of the Parish in the latter part of the year 1856 and was succeeded in his work by the Rev. Israel Harding as Minister in Charge being then only in Deacons Orders. Things seem to have gone quietly on nothing specially of interest occurring till the year 1860 when I find the following item in the Parochial Report of the Rev. Israel Harding, Min. in charge to the Convention of that year. "..a handsome communion set and a font have been bought".
We approached now the period (1860) when the gloomy clouds of war hung like a pall over all this hitherto prosperous and happy land when Church and State were alike the sufferers from its ruthless hand.
In the year 1862 this part of the State of North Carolina fell into the hands of the Federal or Union forces, in consequence of which there could be no Episcopal Visitation nor oversight, our Bishop being within the Confederate lines. Nor were
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the Clergy who chose to remain permitted to render the services of the Church as they had been altered and made to correspond with the existing condition of things in the new government. "The Prayer for the President" having been changed by a General Convention of the Church in the Confederate States. The services therefore were everywhere suspended i.e. in the conquered territory. The Church being occupied sometimes by the Chaplains of the Union Army and sometimes for hospital or other purposes.
(The following loose pages appear to be a continuation of the history of Zion Parish recorded on the preceding pages of the register. First page marked (8)) Ordered by the Bishop under the government of the Confederate States The prayer for the President having been changed by a Gen. Con. of the Confederate States the services were everywhere suspended. The Churches being occupied sometimes by the Chaplains of the Union Army & sometimes for hospital purposes..
In consequence of this state of things the Rev. I. Harding retired for the time being from the Rectorship of the Parish preferring to engage in more active work within the lines of the Confederacy leaving the Rev. L Eborn, a Deacon who had lately become associated with him in the work of the Parish, in charge. He remained & performed such official acts as were permitted by the military authorities.
After the close of the war or in 1866, the Rev. I. Harding was again called to the Rectorship of both this & St. Thomas Parish Bath.
From the close of the war in 1865 to 1883, there is little of interest to chronicle in the affairs of this Parish except an occasional change of Rectorship which in some respects was perhaps detrimental to its welfare for as may be expected in such cases it was a portion of the time without any ministerial supervision or care.
It was during this period successively under the care of the Rev. Messers. Luther Eborn, Israel Harding, H. G. Hilton, and Nathan C. Harding. This Rectorship .unreadable frayed page
Loose page marked (9)
separate periods.
In 1883 the Parish called to its Rectorship or rather ministerial care, the Rev R. B. Windley, a Deacon. This act was rendered more important perhaps by its undertaking alone the ministerial support with a view to the establishing of weekly services.
This was thought by some an expedient of doubtful utility as the Parish had hitherto been unable of itself to support a minister & could share the total care only in union with one or more other Parishes usually alike weak & of but little pecuniary ability.
In 1884 a Rectory was built neat & cor(?)ous it answers admirably the objects intended. (This was first occupied Apr. 3 of this year). The year otherwise is without incident of special interest. The attendance at the services we may add has been good fully up it is thought to that of the monthly services as before held.
There is apparently a good churchly feeling generally existing & a general interest in religious matters.
The year 1885 is without incident or special interest. It may be proper to mention though it is painful to do so the occurrence of some difficulties & misunderstandings among our people during this period. These are shadows in the pathway that often retard seriously the progress of a Parish. May God in his Providence counteract the evil and remove the .unreadable frayed page ..
Transcribed by Robert F. Boyd from LDS Film # 0,432,122: Zion Chapel Episcopal Church 1825-1952,
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