The Historic African American United Methodist Church The

The Historic African American United Methodist Church- The Resilience of African American Religious Life in Antebellum Virginia Irene Grace Hoisington Abstract Methods This work examines the history of the Historic African American United Methodist Church in New London, Virginia as a rare example of the larger theme of bravery and resilience in African American churches of antebellum Virginia. Christian faith played an important role in the lives of many people of color in a multitude of ways, including socialization, and hope in the midst of bondage. The church was originally founded in New London Virginia, a now unincorporated community located in Campbell County several miles west of Lynchburg. The congregation of the church was established when Andrew Holt, a free African American man, donated a small portion of his property for a church in 1851 to be used as a haven for men and women of color to worship. Until the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, very few African American churches existed in Virginia. Private meetings, brush arbors, and other forms of discreet congregation were necessary for most people of color in New London and in Virginia to worship freely and express their faith. Through Campbell County courthouse records, oral history, and other documentation, this historic church provides a rare glimpse into the largely undocumented religious culture of African Americans in pre-Civil War Virginia. This project will add to the story of African American resilience and religious devotion in antebellum Virginia by interpreting the past of the Historic African American United Methodist Church in New London. 1) Conducted background research on laws, customs, and experiences of African American religion in the antebellum south specifically in Virginia. 2) Conducted research on Andrew Holt and the New London African American Methodist Church through Campbell county courthouse records, the Friends of New London Archive, and records in the Library of Virginia’s special collection: Virginia Untold, the African American Narrative. 3) Researched examples of Virginia churches for free African Americans founded before emancipation through repositories of the Library of Virginia, Library of Congress, and the United Methodist Church of Virginia. Introduction The Christian faith played an important role in African American religious life in antebellum Virginia. Church teachings and gatherings offered socialization, teachings for self-improvement, compensations for few educational opportunities, and hope in the promise of salvation in scripture. Afro-Christianity in Virginia in this era was traditional, with many religious people of color falling under the Baptist or Methodist groupings. Black worshippers attended services of white churches, often seated in separate areas. Some metropolitan churches allowed more independence for black parishioners and established separate churches for them to worship. However, religious gatherings of African American attendees were required by law to have a white preacher, board member, or supervisor present. In order to worship free from the watch of white church leaders and the expurgated word of God, black worshippers gathered in secret meetings, often referred to as brush arbors. African American Christians of the antebellum era overcame severe obstacles to worship, showing a resilient dedication to their faith. First African Baptist Church Library of Congress The First African Baptist Church was founded in Richmond in 1841. The photo on top was taken in from of the Church on Bethel street in 1861. The sketch below depicts the church congregation during a large revival in 1874. Conclusions gathered adds to the history of African American religious life in Virginia through a rural perspective. The origins and customs of the Historic New London African American Methodist church are largely consistent with the customs of other African American congregations of Antebellum Virginia, including: The First African Baptist Church in Richmond, founded 1841, Third Street Bethel AME Church in Richmond, founded 1850, Court Street Baptist Church in Lynchburg, founded 1843, and Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church in Norfolk, founded 1840. All five churches were organized before emancipation and had primarily African American congregations. All five churches had white leadership, whether that be a board of trustees, preachers, or supervisors. Although records indicate that the board of trustees of the New London church were white, no records are available on the racial backgrounds of church leaders/preachers specifically. An 1842 court case may indicate an African American church leader, whether that be Holt himself or another person of color. Andrew Holt was charged by the commonwealth of Virginia for “an unlawful assemblage of negroes (sic) at his house. ” The incident implies a religious gathering at Holt’s home led by a person of color. Although the New London church is the least documented of all five churches surveyed, the information Deed of Manumission 1807 Library of Virginia Andrew Holt was Freed in 1807 by his former owner, Thomas Holt of Kentucky. Little is known of Holt’s life before freedom, but he relocated to New London before 1822. Future Work 1. Research African American Life in the community of New London, including Mead’s Tavern and Bedford Alum Springs Hotel property Although African American life in 19 th century New London, Virginia is not thoroughly documented, the actions of several people of color left a remarkable legacy. Andrew Holt, a man born into slavery, is remembered for his vital contribution of the historic African American Methodist Church. 1807 - According to a deed of manumission, Holt became a free man. 1826 -31 - Holt worked as a baker in New London and purchased over 40 acres of local property. 1851 - Holt donated Lot 17 of the New London town plat to allow “Ministers and Preachers belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South…to preach and expound Gods (sic) Holy word therein: for the special, but not exclusive benefit of coloured people. ” 1854 -58 - After Andrew Holt’s death, the church continues meeting. 1930 - the third and current church structure on the property is erected. The church eventually closes in 1990. 2017 - Friends of New London historic nonprofit organization acquires the church property and holds plans for restoration and future interpretation. Research Question: To what extent does the Historic New London African American Methodist Church reflect the circumstances surrounding African American Christian worship in churches of antebellum Virginia? 2. Research the backgrounds early church leaders of the Historic New London African American Methodist Church References New London Town Plat and Last Will of Andrew Holt Campbell County Courthouse Records The 1835 plat shows the land plots owned by Holt in New London, including lots 17, 23, 24, 25, and 26. Holt would later donate lot 17 for the establishment of the African American Methodist church in 1851. In his will, Holt ensures the emancipation of his two sons, Dennis and Burwell, from slavery. Holt also leaves the surplus of his properties to his sons. The church property remined donated to the town for the purpose of the United Methodist Episcopal Church South. The African Church, Richmond, Va. Richmond United States Virginia, None. [Photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed between 1880 and 1889] Photograph. Andrew: Deed of Manumission, 1807, Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. Daniel L. Fountain. 2010. Slavery, Civil War, and Salvation African American Slaves and Christianity, 1830 -1870. Conflicting Worlds. Baton Rouge: LSU Press. Genovese, Eugene D. Roll, Jordan, Roll the World the Slaves Made [First edition]. New York: Pantheon Books, 1974. Holt, Dennis: Petition for Re-enslavement, 1867, Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. Sheppard, William Ludwell, Artist. The first African church, Richmond, Virginia--Interior of the church, from the western wing / drawn by W. L. Sheppard. Richmond Virginia, 1874. Photograph. Strategies for Survival : Recollections of Bondage in Antebellum Virginia. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009. Virginia. Campbell County. Common Law Order Book 7, p. 11, 1842. Circuit Court Records, City of Rustburg. Virginia. Campbell County. Deed Book 15, p. 414, 1826. Circuit Court Records, City of Rustburg. Virginia. Campbell County. Deed Book 18, p. 332 -333, 1831. Circuit Court Records, City of Rustburg. The Historic New London African American Church today. The current structure was constructed in 1930 and served as the congregation’s church building until it closed in 1990. The Friends of New London acquired the property in 2017. Virginia. Campbell County. Deed Book 20, p. 270, 1835. Circuit Court Records, City of Rustburg. Virginia. Campbell County. Deed Book 28, p. 441 -442, 1851. Circuit Court Records, City of Rustburg.