About 35 people gathered for the service – a bittersweet homecoming for some. “This was once a thriving farm community,” said Kerner, “but not any longer.” The church was founded in 1880 by the Rev. James Solomon Russell, the first African-American priest in Virginia. Russell planted a number of churches in the farm communities of Southern Virginia. While St. Paul’s was always a small church, the shrinking community left it with just six members according to church treasurer Wilson Dortch. Young people moved away for more opportunity, older members passed away. Eucharist was celebrated just one afternoon each month.
While it is sad to see the doors of a church close, the energy and resources that have been put into St. Paul’s can now be redeployed for greater Gospel purposes. St. Paul’s chose “to give up its life for the sake of being faithful to the Great Commission, and to find new places and new ways to extend God’s Kingdom,” said Cunningham, “The life of this particular church and its particular congregation may end today, but the life of the Church, and of each baptized Christian continues.” The faithful remnant of St. Paul’s will join other local congregations in South Hill and Bracey, bringing their faith, wisdom and experience to enrich those communities. Thanks be to God!
You can see pictures of St. Paul's and this final service on our Facebook page.
