When the trophies are awarded to church anniversary committees, please send a large one to the 175th anniversary committee of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Fluvanna County. The plans for the D-Day invasion were not as well conceived and detailed! Roberta Harlow and Windy Payne, co-chairpersons and all of the committee planned an outstanding celebration.
Everything—beginning with the weather—was picture perfect for Beaver Dam's great day on Sunday, Oct. 29. After two days of rain and high winds, it was no small gift for the sun to shine through the brilliant fall leaves. Early in the morning some horseback riders traced the route which their forebears had taken to church and arrived just in time for the worship service. Of course, they were just play acting and normally they would come to church in their up-to-date automobiles.
The churchfolks were gathered outside in anticipation of their arrival. Some vintage automobiles also had been parked out front to give an old-time appearance.
This columnist was in period costume as William E. Hatcher, a visiting 19th-century preacher. Some had hoped that the visiting preacher would join in the play acting and arrive on horseback; but they were told that we have to draw the line somewhere and horseback riding does not fall into our job description. However, the active imaginations of the churchfolks made some believe that the visiting preacher had arrived on a magnificent horse named Daisy. (Indeed my historical character really did have a horse and his was named Grace for his church in Richmond.)
Some of the folks walked through the heavy dew of the church cemetery to visit the Confederate camp, a detachment of the 19th Virginia Infantry, Company B, known as The Albemarle Rifles. Through the night some of “the boys in gray” had camped on the property, adding an authentic touch to the antebellum church building. For the service, they filled the back pews in the church.
The congregation took every seat in the old pews downstairs and even the narrow gallery was full. (In the 1950s most of the gallery had been enclosed with glass partitions which afforded space for Sunday school classes; but a narrow edge had been left for just such occasions as the anniversary.) Funeral home fans bearing artwork of the church were provided but little used in the pleasant temperature. (These were reminiscent of the old days when in warm weather they would have been employed with gusto.)
The overhead lights had been purposely dimmed to give an effect of the long ago. A kerosene lamp gave an added touch of authenticity. Many in the congregation wore period clothing. Instead of a choir, the music was brought by someone playing a dulcimer and an autoharp. The hymns—all old standards—were lined out by the song leader.
A welcomed feature from the present was a gospel sing charmingly brought by a guest quartet, Dominion, which is comprised of members of Derbyshire Baptist Church, Richmond. Their rich voices blend in a pleasing manner and their spirited rendition of Have a Little Talk with Jesus produced a lot of toe tapping and wide smiles.
In the worship service, a member play acted as James Fife, one of the early Virginia Baptist ministers who was instrumental in the church's beginnings. Fife was one of the founding fathers of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bob Rockholt snapped a fake beard in place, wore a floppy-brimmed hat and cape and became Fife. He had created several historical portrayals throughout the anniversary year. It is interesting that Rockholt is one of those “come heres” who came to Fluvanna from Northern Virginia and only recently became acquainted with Beaver Dam's history. A long-timer, Roxanne Sprouse donned period attire and portrayed her grandmother, Hettie S. Smith.
The anniversary committee had assembled an historical display. Tom Ellis had created a fabulous model of the church which helped visitors to see the various times in which the building had been enlarged. The original brick church dates to 1855; and a century later, in 1968, a “wraparound” educational space was added to the rear. When the education area was built, a grave was simply allowed to remain in what became a well-traveled hallway. Today everyone passes over Durby Brown Forloines, who died in 1886 never realizing that one day he would rest within the church walls. The handsome columned portico which graces the street side view of the church was actually added only in 1971.
The “dinner-on-the-grounds” was held in the large and attractive fellowship hall which was built in 2000. The meal was one of those mile-long tables laden with all the expected delicacies: fried chicken, ham biscuits, deviled eggs, potato salad, vegetables, and an assortment of pies and cakes. It was enough for a campmeeting.
The tables were decorated with fall arrangements. Mason jars held cut flowers. Little decorative touches here and there indicated that thoughtful and creative minds had been at work.
In the early morning, while standing outside with the others to anticipate the horseback riders, I engaged in conversation with a church member. He shared about his wife's illness and how their fellow church members had responded with loving concern. He also was a “come here” who had found a home at Beaver Dam.
There was nothing play acting in what we were talking about—serious illness, genuine caring and deep sense of community. Pastor Bruce Hunter is not into play acting either when he ministers unto the people of Beaver Dam. It is alright now and then to engage in play acting but reality dictates that churches and the people who constitute them face the real-life 24/7.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.