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AmisstriUr JHrtljniiist (Etfurrlf
Written by J. J. SILVEY
On the 12th day of August 1829, Benjamin Bayse and Ruth his wife, of the County of Culpeper (before Rappahannock was cut off from Culpeper County), sold a piece of land, one-half acre upon which the Methodist Church now stands, to the following, viz.: John Amiss, Elizah Amiss, Joseph Amiss and Thomas Spindle, Trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church. A deed was given by Benjamin Bayse and Ruth his wife, and was recorded by the Clerk of County, Court of Culpeper, and personally acknowledged by the two Justices of the Peace, viz.: Pierce Perry and Daniel Ward on the 2nd day of March 1831, and put on Record on the 18th day of April 1831. Teste by F. T. Lightfoot, County Clerk. So there can be no question raised to refute the assertion' that the Amissville Methodist Church is the oldest Methodist Church in the County of Rappahannock. It is very evident that there was an old Church erected some time between 1829 and 1831. The present building was erected on same ground before * the Civil War 1861 and contractors and carpenters were Billy Baker, Macrus Lawler and Edwin Green, Mr. Green who moved later to Front Royal.
The only Camp Meeting held on the Rappahannock Charge was conducted at Amissville every summer continuously for ten years. The camp meetings lasted for about ten days each year and some of the able ministers of the Virginia Conference attended and conducted services. A Tabernacle was erected to hold at least 1,000 people and a good many tents were constructed and were occupied by families during the time Camp Meeting was running.
The first Sunday School Superintendent that we can recall was Mr. William Spindle, afterwards were Samuel F. Baker, L. E. Hackley, J. Maurice Rowzie and Graham Hackley.
It is evidently true from statistics we have mentioned that Amissville Methodist Church has existed over one hundred years and could with propriety, celebrate its 100th Anniversary at any time.
From 1840 to 1849 the membership included 368 whites and 16 Negroes. The Charge was called Culpeper but in 1871 we find Rappahannock Mission is mentional along with Rappahannock Circuit. - - -
It is very interesting to note that Rappahannock Charge has been on eight different districts, viz.: James River, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Rappahannock, Randolph-Macon, Washington, Alexandria, and Charlottesville.
The first Methodist parsonage on the Rappahannock Charge was in Amissville. The writer can remember when it was occupied hy Rev. Lewis H. Graybill from 1865 to 1869.
The first District Conference held on the charge was at Amissville in 1877 and Rev. J. W. Hildrup was pastor. It might be of interest to note that he was the father of Mrs. T. G. Pullen. There have been two other District Conferences held on the charge. One at Flint Hill in 1890 during the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. McGee and the other at Sperryville in 1928 while Rec. C. L. Salmon was serving the charge as pastor.
Rev. James B. Fitzpatrick was pastor at the beginning of the Civil War. He married a Miss Dear of Washington, Va., who was a sister of Charlie Dear. It is reported that he formed a company, trained them and was later made captain.
The Amissville Methodist Church has the honor- of having been the home church of the Rev. Edward Amiss Roads.
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