Page:Bruton parish church restored and its historic environments (1907 V2).djvu/49



There was a church building in Williamsburg in 1665, which in 1674 had come to be known as the "Old Church." This fact is established by an entry in the vestry book of Middlesex Parish, which directs that a church be built in that parish, "after the model of the one in Williamsburg." How long this building had been in use is not known, but it had grown old in 1674, at which time the new vestry book opens with the order under date "April ye 18th," that a "New church be built with brick att ye Middle Plantation." Land sufficient for the church and churchyard was given by Col. John Page, together with twenty pounds sterling to aid in erection of the building. The beginning of Church life in this building, the foundations of which were unearthed during the excavations made in 1905, is noted in the quaint entry under date "November ye 29th, 1683: Whereas, ye Brick Church at Middle Plantation is now finished, It is ordered yt all ye Inhabitants of ye said Parish do for the future repair thither to hear Divine Service and ye Word of God preached: And that Mr. Rowland Jones, Minister, do dedicate ye said Church ye sixth of January next, being ye Epiphany."

The records of this period tell of the "old Communion Table," which is to be removed to the minister's house and there remain; of the purchase of a "Ring of Bells;" of fees paid in tobacco for registering official acts, and for digging graves in the church aisle and chancel, and of "ye sum of Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Six pounds of Tobacco and Caske," to be paid annually to Mr. Rowland Jones, Minister. Col. John Page has accorded to him "the privilege to sett a pew for himself and ffamily in the Chancell of the New Church," while the rest of the congregation is made subject to the order "that ye Men sit on the North side of the Church and ye Women on the left." Later on it is ordered that "Ye Gallery be assigned for the use of the Col-