Organization of the Christian Church

Organization of the Christian Church is a Virginia historical marker in Surry County, dedicated 2017.

Rte. 10, half a mile west of the intersection with Rte. 31

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Late in the 18th century, arguments over governance threatened to split the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. James O’Kelly, leader of a group that disputed the authority of bishops, withdrew from the church’s General Conference in 1792. After efforts at reconciliation failed, O’Kelly and like-minded ministers cut their ties with the church in Dec. 1793 and called themselves Republican Methodists. They met here at Old Lebanon Church in Aug. 1794 to organize the new denomination. Emphasizing congregational independence and individual interpretation of the scriptures, they adopted the name Christian Church. The denomination was a forerunner of the United Church of Christ, founded in 1957.

Maps this old were drawn largely by eye, so places on them can sit miles from where they really are. The pin is ours and marks the marker's location today.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1755 · Virginie, Maryland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1794 · Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1796 · State of Virginia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1807 · Map Of Virginia (lower right sheet) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1818 · Map of Virginia, 1818 (lower right sheet) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Map Of Virginia (lower right sheet), 1807, covering the location of Organization of the Christian Church, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Map Of Virginia (lower right sheet), 1807, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Organization of the Christian Church

Historical maps covering this location

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