Church and Family History Research Assistance for Berkeley County, West Virginia
CHURCHES:OPECKON (MILL CREEK) (1752)
Opeckon Church, afterward called Mill Creek, was one of the earliest Baptist Churches in the state of Virginia. David Benedict gives the following account of this church:
"Between the years 1743 and 1756, three churches were gathered in Berkeley, Rockingham, and Loudoun counties. The Church on Opeckon Creek appears to have been the oldest of the three, and was gathered and renovated in the following mannr. In the year 1743, a number of the members of the General Baptist church at Chestnut Ridge, in Maryland, removed to Virginia, and settled in this place; the most noted of whom were Edward Hays and Thomas Yates. Soon after their removal, their minister, Henry Loveall, followed them, and baptized about fifteen persons, whom he formed into a church on the Arminian plan. Mr. Loveall, becoming licentious in his life, was turned out of the church, and returned to Maryland; and the church was broken up, or rather transformed into a church of Particular Baptists, in 1751, by the advice and assistance of Elders James Miller, David Thomas, and John Gano, who was at that time very young. Elder Gano gives the following account: "We examined them, and found that they were not a regular church. We then examined those who offered themselves for the purpose, and those who gave us satisfaction, we received, and constituted a new church. Out of the whole who offered themselves, there were only three received. Some openly declared, they knew they could not give an account of experiencing a work of grace, and therefore need not offer. Others stood ready to offer, if a church was formed. The three before mentioned were constituted, and six more were baptized and joined with them. After the meeting ended, a number of old members went aside and sent for me. They expressed their deplorable state, and asked me if I would meet with them that evening, and try to instruct them. They were afraid the ministers blamed them. They had been misled, but it was not their fault, and they hoped I would pity them. I told them I would with all my heart . . ." - Gano's Life, pp. 49, 50.
It was in the bounds of this church that Stearns and Marshall met on their way to North Carolina. At this time, Samuel Heaton was their pastor, and acted in that capacity until 1754, when he removed to Konolowa, Pennsylvania, and was succeeded by Elder John Garrard, who is supposed to have been a native of Pennsylvania, and who became the most distinguished pastor the church had hitherto enjoyed. The Opeckon Church united with the Philadelphia Association soon after its renovation in 1751. (The Philadelphia Association minutes show that the church was constituted on October 20, 1752, with three members.)
The country where the church was organized was thinly settled at that time, and was subject to the inroads of the Indians. Some of the savage eruptions took place not long after Elder Garrard had settled among them; in consequence of which, he and many of the church removed below the Blue Ridge, and resided for some time in Loudoun county, on Ketocton Creek. This evil was overruled for good; for by the labors of Elder Garrard in his new residence, a church was formed called Ketocton, in 1756, and he became their pastor.
Opeckon (Mill Creek) Church was one of the four founding member churches of the Ketocton Association, in 1766, and had 32 members in 1792, according to the minutes of the Ketocton Association.
MARTINSBURG (1927)
Martinsburg Church, in Martinsburg, was organized October 16, 1927, with Elder J. Thompson Power as its first pastor. There were sixteen charter members. The presbytery was composed of Elders J. Thompson Power, T. S. Dalton, R. H. Pittman, B. W. Power, J. W. Brannon, and C. L. Funk, and Deacons J. William Brumback, V. S. Shaeffer, M. S. Buck, H. W. Brumback, H. L. Snyder, J. M. Coverstone, C. G. Boyer, and L. M. McEldowney.
The sixteen charter members were: M. L. Compton, Bruce Compton, A. M. Compton, Carrie P. Compton, Eula T. Cox, S. M. Hiett, Lillie F. Hiett, J. T. Power, Sallie A. Power, Mattie L. Ritter, Zetta Dicks, Katie Ayleshire, Minnie M. Pownall, Florence McBride, Julia Hershey, and T. M. Beahm.
Martinsburg Church became a member of the Ketocton Association in 1928. From the time of its organization until the new building was built and dedicated, in October 1949, services were held in various buildings in Martinsburg. Plans for the new building were started in 1946 by Elder J. T. Power. Actual construction began in the Fall of 1948. Eula T. Cox was chosen as the first church clerk, and M. L. Compton and S. M. Hiett were ordained as deacons.
An overflow crowd of brethren and friends from sister churches met at the dedication of the new church building on the fifth Sunday in October 1949.
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