Note: the following is an excerpt from the Centennial Celebration (1883
1983) pamphlet.
NAOMI
MAKEMIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY
Henrietta F. Jacob - Historian
There are two dates on our Church Bulletin, the year 1699 and 1883.
The history of Presbyterianism in Onancock goes back to the year 1699.
Francis Makemie, the God-fearing Presbyterian born at Ramelton, County
Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1658, came to Onancock in 1687 bringing his
young bride, Naomi Anderson, to a house given them by her father which
was located on Market Street near the present Onancock Wharf. This house
was licensed in 1699 as a place for meetings. This was recorded in the
Accomack County Court Record Book 1695-1705, one of the earliest court
records in America of a Presbyterian place of worship. A plaque marks the
spot where the house stood. The date 1883 on the bulletin marks the year
when the Onancock Presbyterian Church was organized, later being named
the Naomi Makemie Church in memory of Francis Makemie's beloved wife. Twenty-one
ministers have served this church since 1883.
The first record telling of the organization of the church is found
in the old Session Book 1 and is as follows:
THE ONANCOCK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
For several years prior to the organization of this Church, the
Rev. John G. Anderson, pastor of Makemie Church at Accomack Court House,
preached in Onancock with a view to develop the Presbyterian interest in
town. In the year 1883, the M.E. Church South disposed of their church
building and it was bought by the Presbyterians. In the same year, Mr.
Anderson judging the time had come for organization of a Presbyterian Church
in Onancock, applied to the Presbytery of East Hanover for a commission
to effect the organization. This commission consisted of the Rev. J. P.
Smith D. D., the Rev, R. D. Stimson, the Rev. John G. Anderson, and Ruling
Elder Dr. Edward Anderson of the Belle Haven Church.
In July 1883, this commission organized the Onancock Presbyterian
Church, members of the Makemie Church joining in the organization. This
was a group of twelve, one of which was a Negro, a colored man by the name
of Sheppard Horsey. Four of the twelve were men and eight women.
Another recording from the old session book:
In September following, Mr. Robert H. Miles, who had been forward
in the work of forming this church, was elected a Ruling Elder, was ordained
and installed by the Rev. J. G. Anderson.
In March 1884, Mr. Anderson left Accomack County and this little
church was thus early in its history without a pastor. In November of this
year, 1884, the Rev. William Chinn entered upon his duties as successor
to Mr. Anderson. A few days after Mr. Chinn arrived, Mr. Robert H. Miles,
the beloved ruling elder of this church left for Florida on account of
failing health. He died the following spring. By this bereavement the church
was left without a session,
During the years from 1883 to 1885, the Onancock Presbyterian Church
was transferred to the Norfolk Presbytery. The first recorded statistical
and narrative report to them from this church was approved a a meeting
of the Presbytery in Portsmouth in April 1895. It is found in Session Book
1:
April 1, 1895 - Statistical report to Norfolk Presbytery to meet
in Portsmouth, Virginia, April 18th:
Elders
.. 0
Deacons
.. 1
Total Communicants .... 28
Adult Baptisms
.
... 2
Teachers in S.S
.
. 18
Scholars in S.S.
... 125
It was customary at this time for the pastor to write a narrative concerning
the spiritual life of his congregation and present it to Presbytery for
approval. This is the first narrative recorded in the session book:
Narrative to Presbytery
for the year ending April 1, 1895
The pastor and one deacon are faithful-we have no elder
A good attendance on all services
Improvement of church marked - attendance good and in- creasing
No special service - gradual growth
Deportment of members good - spirituality of church has increased
Members faithful to work in Sunday School
Catechism instruction is encouraged and practiced
Family worship good
Fidelity in serving God with their means very good
The community is moral
Sabbath observance good
No instruction of the poor
Community is well worked up by the five churches in town
Nothing due on pastor's salary.
I hereby submit the above report to Presbytery. As we have no elder,
I have no session to act for me.
Signed
Byron Clark, Pastor
Another interesting recording from the old session book:
December 9, 1894 - A congregational meeting was held this
morning and it was decided to purchase a lot from Mr. U. B. Quinby upon
which to erect a church building. The corner lot next to Mr. Quinby's residence
(now Market and Lee Streets) was bought for $900.00.
Byron Clark Pastor and Moderator
Again from Session Book 1:
Nov. 29,1896 - A large congregation assembled this morning to witness
the dedication of the new church edifice. The pastor was assisted by the
Rev. Mr. Hart of the Baptist Church, Onancock, and by the Rev. W. W. Moore,
Professor of Hebrew in Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Moore preach- ed
and after the sermon dedicated the edifice to God by prayer.
Signed
Byron Clark, Pastor
It is interesting to learn that a meeting of the Norfolk Presbytery
convened in Onancock on April 22, 1897. The name Naomi Makemie is recorded
for the first time on April 6,1903.
Speeding through the years of 1910 to 1924. In the year 1924, the
church was without a pastor. Naomi Makemie was affiliated with Powelton
and a call was extended from the two churches to R. Allen Brown, a student
at the Seminary. Again excerpts from the session book, a report to Presbytery
the year now being 1924:
Statistical report to Norfolk Presbytery:
Elders
...
3
Deacons
...
4
Total Communicants
...... 56
Sunday School Officers and Teachers
.... 8
Cradle Roll
.......
2
Home Department
.
..
5
Total Sunday School enrollment
........ 59
It was still customary for the narrative concerning the spiritual
life of the congregation to be presented for approval and this is the narrative
for 1924:
One morning service - 90% attend - no prayer service
No evangelistic service held during the year
Members are faithful in presenting their children for Baptism
Catechisms are taught in Sunday School
Sunday School pupils memorize neither the scriptures or hymns
Worldly conformity does not exist in the church to any marked degree
Salary promised coming pastor $850.00
No evangelistic work done outside the church
Pastor and session have made no effort to secure recruits for the
ministry
Examined by Presbytery in session at Virginia Beach, Va.
W. W. Grover, Moderator
April 1924
During the next twenty years, 1924-1944, Naomi Makemie shared the field
with Powelton Church until 1942. In the year 1944, the field was reorganized
and Naomi Makemie and Belle Haven Churches had the same minister. In the
two-year period between 1942 and 1944, the church was without a minister.
There are no records in the session book of session meetings or statistical
or narrative reports of the church although Sunday School met as usual,
morning worship was conducted by students from the Seminary, and Baptisms
and Sacraments of the Lord's Supper were observed, conducted by ordained
ministers sent t( us by the Norfolk Presbytery. The church at this time
had four elders, six deacons, and a communicant membership of forty-six,
Sunday School enrollment of eighty-two. Pastor's salary for this church
was $840.00 and value of the church property was set at $4,000.00.
After the year 1944, the "beloved community" of Naomi Makemie began
to grow in numbers and there was a need of a place for Christian activities
and fellowship, such as a place for youth meetings, classroom instructions
and Family Night Suppers. On Sunday, May 20,1956, at the morning worship
service the new Educational Building was dedicated.
The following year, an important event occurred, one of the highlights
in the history of the church. On December 8, 1957, Naomi Makemie became
a self-sufficient church, dissolving relationships with Makemie and Clark
churches; and remained so for three years when the field was re-organized.
Five years later, a home was built for the ministers who will serve this
church, Naomi Makemie's first manse. Date of completion July 16,1962.
OCTOBER 30,1983 - The church has six elders and eight deacons on
the rotation system and a total membership of one hundred eleven. The worship
service each Sunday morning in the sanctuary with special music by the
choir, Bible study classes, class rooms open for instruction, and the Presbyterian
Pilgrimages each year are now a part of the life of the church. The field
is shared with our neighbor church, Makemie in Accomack.
There are many memorials throughout the church building given by
relatives and loving friends. The handsome stained glass windows in the
sanctuary were made in Germany and purchased from Gerhardt in Baltimore,
Md.
The first organ was a reed organ pumped by hand. The present organ
is a Moeller pipe organ and was installed in the Spring of 1947 at a cost
of$3,295.00. The organ was dedicated in March 1947. Professor Charles M.
Showard, an accomplished organist from Chincoteague, Va. gave an interpretive
organ recital at this evening service.
The history of Naomi Makemie is being preserved at The Historical
Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches located at Montreat,
North Carolina, and in the archives of the Union Theological Seminary.
Many years ago the Women of the Church provided a binder and now the history
is neatly bound and labeled at the Foundation. The history of our church
is also microfilmed and kept in the Virginia State Library Archives Divisions.
The anniversary celebration of October 30, 1983 is "Heritage for
Tomorrow" and may be summarized in Presbyterian language:
"Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever".
