Goshen: The Early Years

Original sanctuary of Goshen Baptist Church

     Over the past several years, I have had the privilege and honor of writing about four of Spotsylvania's historic churches: Berea Adventist and Shady Grove, Tabernacle and Zion Methodist churches. Today I turn my attention to the first 40 years of Goshen Baptist Church. Recently, Vickie Neely--my friend and fellow researcher--shared with me a church history printed by Goshen in 1972, the 100th anniversary of its founding. Titled "Footprints in the Sands of Time," this booklet was, I believe, written by Evelyn Monroe. Much of what I share here comes from that publication.

1820 map detail of Spotsylvania

     According to "Footprints," Goshen's beginning has its roots in the last Anglican church built in Spotsylvania County, in 1772. This house of worship was called "Burbridges Bridge Church," says the church history. In the detail of an 1820 map of Spotsylvania, "Burbage's Church" can be seen on Catharpin Road north of Todd's Tavern.
     With America's independence, the authority of the Anglican church was swept away in the former colonies. In time, the Baptists began holding services in this building under the leadership of Reverend John "Swearing Jack" Waller (a nickname he earned before his religious conversion). By that time, the "Old Yellow Church," as it came to be called, had 40 members and was pastored by Henry Goodloe. By 1847, the membership began to dwindle, and as the church began to decay its members drifted to other churches in the area, such as Wilderness and Piney Branch. Goshen Church's website adds this detail to its history: "Its first members were part of a segment of the former Piney Branch Baptist congregation which splintered over temperance as a requirement for church membership."

Parmenas Pritchett and family (courtesy of Vickie Neely)

     In this regard, Parmenas Bowker Pritchett (c.1819-1894) was eminently qualified to be one of the principal founders of Goshen Baptist Church. Not only was he a devoted Baptist, he was also a member of the Temperance Society. He and the other former members of Piney Branch who abjured alcohol began to hold meetings at his blacksmith shop (operated by his son Van) and in houses in the neighborhood. (Parmenas's daughter Mollie, shown at far left in the photograph above, married the son of Goshen's other main founder, Nathan Beale Talley, Sr.) Presiding at these meetings was Reverend Melzi Sanford Chancellor.

From "Footprints in the Sands of Time"

     Parmenas Pritchett and Nathan Talley, Sr., together with Reverend Chancellor, drew up a resolution that established Goshen: "At a monthly meeting of Goshen Church on April 27, 1872, Brother Chancellor was unanimously chosen as pastor. The same day the church unanimously chose the name of Goshen by which it is to be called. Signed--A brief record P.B. Pritchett." The following year, Parmenas and his wife, the former Anne E. Downer, deeded three fourths of an acre to James Petigrew Chartters, William F. Scott and William Lawrence Jones, trustees of the church. The first  church was built on that land. Over the years, membership grew at a steady pace:

From "Footprints in the Sands of Time"

     After the retirement of Reverend Chancellor in 1887, these men served as pastors at Goshen: James Mortimer Sizer (1888), Edward Granville Baptist (1889-1893), William Wilbur Sisk (1893-1897) and Decatur Edwards (1897-1910). Elmer Grant Barnum accepted the pastorship of a circuit of Spotsylvania churches in 1911: Salem, Goshen, Wilderness and Eley's Ford. Because of the important role he played in the advancement of Goshen, as well as the civic life of Spotsylvania, special attention will be paid to him here.

"Footprints in the Sands of Time"

     As early as 1901, thought was given to enlarging the sanctuary. In 1905, the Sunday School was organized. William Lee Kent was named superintendent, Thomas Pearson Payne assistant and T.H. Twyman secretary.

     By 1912, serious steps were at last taken to replace the original sanctuary. On April 27 of that year "the building committee talked and planned with the idea of the probable cost of a certain house [of worship] of certain dimensions." The photograph above shows the church as it appeared about 1912. It is thought that the persons in front of the church are Joseph Clarence Mitchell and his second wife, Rosa Graube, on their wedding day.

     Under the guidance of Pastor Barnum, the new sanctuary was built in 1913. In the photo above, the brick Sunday School addition can be seen at the rear. A building fund was started in 1948, and the Sunday School was built at some time after that date. In 1957, a new brick sanctuary replaced the one shown here.
     Reverend Barnum resigned his pastorship in 1924. In addition to his responsibilities at the various churches he served, he also worked as principal at the original Chancellor High School. He served twice in that position: 1922-1924 and 1926-1931. His daughter Mildred, a graduate of Chancellor High, returned to her alma mater as a teacher after her graduation from Mary Washington College. After her mother was killed in a car accident near Wilderness Church in 1928, she continued to live with her father for the rest of his life. Elmer Barnum died September 5, 1951 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.