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Bellamy Church was founded in 1795 by the Rev. Joseph Bellamy in his home which stood in a field adjoining
the lot upon which the first building later was erected. The date is taken from the head stone placed at the grave of
Parson Bellamy in the church yard. He and his wife, Nancy , donated the land on which the first church stood.
The first building, a frame structure measuring 18 x 20 feet, was constructed in 1810, but misfortune struck in 1831 when,
according to a quarterly conference report, the building was burned to the ground by a "vile incendiary".
The Rev. William Eastwood, a local preacher, stood by the burning embers and
led the challenge to build a new brick church by pledging the first dollar for that purpose. The project was completed
and ready for use in 1833. The building still stands behind the present sanctuary as a monument to the religious zeal
and spiritual concern of our predecessors.
"Old
Bellamy", as it is frequently called, was remodeled a number of times in the 19th century. For about 100 years
it had a frame-built vestibule and steeple; however, with the wooden addition removed, its exterior appearance today is about
the same as when first built over 200 years ago. There is no record of the original cost but it is presumed much of
the material was donated. An interesting sidelight is given in the record which states that a certain Isaac Brownley
contracted to do all of the carpentry work for the sum of $248.
Around the turn of the century, just before the age of the automobile, three chapels were established in neighboring
communities of Signpine, Cappahosic, and Clay Bank and served by the church. All were closed in 1936, and it is believed
most of the members came back to the present church.
In
the latter part of the 1920's the need was recognized for a new, larger church. Under the leadership of the Rev.
O. M. Clarke and building committee (J.H. Martin, chairman; H. H. Howard, Jack Teagle, W. H. Trevelian and W. D. Weaver) a
new edifice was constructed and the first service was held in the building in July 1930. The building contains the present
sanctuary and forms the central part of the total building today.
For a decade, the old church building was neglected, then altered on the inside and used as a museum for many years.
The building was later renovated to provide classrooms. These served well for several years until replaced by an addition
to the new building. Planning began in 1994 to enable the Methodist Youth Fellowship to use the old church for its meetings
and activities.
Since building the new church in 1930,
there have been several significant building additions and land acquisitions. In 1970 it was envisioned that two wings
on both sides of the sanctuary would be needed. The east wing containing classrooms was completed in 1971 during the
pastorate of the Rev. C. Katon Gray. The west wing was added during the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Earl D. Martin.
It included additional classrooms, a large fellowship hall and kitchen, pastor's study and administrative offices.
Dr. Martin and his successor, the Rev. Ronald T. Davidson, were untiring and effective in their leadership to see the project
completed and paid for. The total cost was about $320,000 and the membership displayed its usual generosity and dedication
in bringing all of these things to fruition. A new parsonage was purchased in 1976 at a cost of $37,500 and the old
parsonage was sold to the Rev. C. Katon Gray upon his retirement. The new parsonage was sold in November 1999 and the
money placed in the Parsonage Fund with proceeds to provide for the pastor's housing/heating allowance.
Bellamy's Sunday School, organized in 1828, continues as a strong and
vital influence in the life of the church. In recent years new classes have been formed to meet the ever-changing needs
and interests of the congregation.
For over 80 years
the women of Bellamy have been active in missionary work, concerned with the needs of women, children and youth in the community,
the nation and around the world. In 1918 Mrs. Nora Vaden was elected as the first president of the Society. Today
the Bellamy United Methodist Women's Unit consists of three circles: Lola Bland, Fannie Robinson and Virginia Robins.
The Nan Pointer Teen Circle, organized in 1998, disbanded in 2001. Over the years many of the Unit's members have
served as officers of the Rappahannock District United Methodist Women and since 1995 Nan Pointer has served as a Virginia
Conference United Methodist Women officer.
A United
Methodist Men's Unit was formed in 1980 and remained active for a number years before disbanding. Another was formed
in the spring of 1994 but was inactive until 1999. In 2000, a strong and active unit, the United Methodist Men built
and presented to the church a picnic pavilion. The UMM are in the community doing repairs and building handicapped ramps,
railings, etc. for those in need.
The XYZ (Extra Years
of Zest) Club, organized in 1981, is still active. They hold monthly covered-dish meetings combining good fellowship
and informative programs. Proceeds from an annual bazaar go toward meeting many church needs.
Three members of the Bellamy congregation have become ministers of the gospel.
They are the Rev. W. L. Jones, The Rev. J. T. Mills, and the Rev. James Clements.
In the last decade the church's vision for missions has expanded in numerous ways. The congregation has
given generous support to the Society of St. Andrew Potato Project and the Heifer Project. Food, Clothing and devotional
booklets have been distributed to the needy in the area. Young people have participated in the Harvest of Hope project
of the Society of St. Andrew. Several adults volunteered to a work team sent to Florida to help rebuild hurricane-damaged
homes. From 1992-1994 a major mission outreach was the Corn Project. Volunteers planted and harvested five to
seven acres of corn, which was distributed in Gloucester County and through Food Banks to the needy in Newport News and Richmond.
When Hurricane Floyd created a devastating flood, which destroyed many homes and businesses in the nearby city of Suffolk,
church members responded immediately and generously with food, clothing and financial aid to help their neighbors and later
many assisted in the clean-up and rebuilding of homes. A tape ministry is provided for shut-ins.
Bellamy, a covenant church, supported Dr. David C. Jensen, who was the National
Medical Director of the Bolivian Methodist Church. We later supported Anne Kolbe, and now support Clara Biswas, a missionary
serving in Cambodia.
In 1999 several members participated
in training and preparation for the Stephen Ministries program and in 2000 Bellamy UMC became a Stephen Ministries Church
with a strong on-going program.
Renovation of the "Old
Church", built in 1833, was begun in the summer of 1998 and was ready for occupancy by early summer of 1999. The first
floor is handicapped accessible and has a large meeting room with a small kitchenette; the second floor provides three extra
classrooms. Some area of this building is used almost daily.
The church sanctuary sound system has been modernized to meet audio/video needs and monitors were installed in the
nursery and Fellowship Hall. The church acquired a van which meets the transportation needs of youth and others to church
related activities. Paving of the grass covered parking lot was begun in 2001 and completed in 2002. A new, highly
visible, sign has been places in front of the church and the old granite stone marker moved to a location beside the Old Church.
With each challenge we have encountered, we
became stronger in our faith. We may provide links to other sites that provide more detail on our church history or particular
events in our past.
We invite you to become a part of the church today and a piece of its history tomorrow.
We invite you to become a part of the church today and a piece of its history tomorrow.
Pastors who served Bellamy
Church form 1869 to Present
James C. Martin 1869-1873
Oscar Littleton 1873-1876
George
E. Booker 1876-1880
H. C. Cheatham 1880-1881
James C. Martin 1881-1886
Thomas H. Campbell 1886-1887
C.
C. Wertenbaker 1887-1890
W. O. Waggener 1890-1891
W. H. Gregory 1891-1893
J. D. Hank 1893-1894
J. E. Potts
1894-1898
D. G. C. Butts 1898-1902
J. E. DeShazo 1902-1906
W. R. Crowder 1906-1908
W. E. Sawyer 1908-1912
M. S. Elliott 1812-1913
B. E. Hudson 1913-1916
R. T. Clark 1916-1917
L. D. Stables 1917-1920
J. W. Fizer 1920-1924
M. L. Haga
1924-1927
O. M. Clark 1927-1933
D. G. Trent 1933-1936
F.
O. Briggs 1936-1941
R. L. Moore
1941-1944
R. E. Cardwell 1944-1947
Clarence England 1947-1951
V. B.
Anthony III 1951-1955
B. T. Clarke
1955-1961
L. K. Knowles 1961-1964
M. E. Wooten 1964-1968
K.
Gray 1968-1974
Randy Rilee 1974-1980
Earl D. Martin 1980-1986
Ronald T. Davidson 1986-1994
James
B. Grimmer 1994-1998
Robert H. Woodfin 1998-2001
Robert F. Justis 2001-2005
Stephen T. Vineyard 2005-2009
Kenneth S. Waclo 2009-Present
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