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Over 135 years
ago, in 1866, a simple arbor was
erected at this very
location on which our church now stands. Members of the Lignum
and surrounding communities would gather on Sunday, to hear the
preaching of Rev. Hillary Hatcher, Rev. Joseph H. Gordon and
others.
The
following year, the demand for a church building
became so great, that two local citizens, A.G. Willis and Chambers
Sisson erected the first church building in only 12 days, this task
done with only a little outside help. Having no church building
of their own at the time, the Stevensburg Church also met there for two
years, until they obtained their church building.
On the fourth Sunday in May of 1874, a meeting was
held at the church and the church was officially organized under a
covenant and articles of faith, adopting the name "Fork Church".
In August of the same year the name "Lael" was chosen. By 1889
the church had grown so large that a new building was needed. In
1890, the building we now occupy was erected at a cost of $1800.
The old building was sold to the Methodist and the proceeds used to
purchase an organ. The basement with Sunday School rooms and the
fellowship kitchen and hall was excavated under the existing building
in 1957, at a cost of $900.00.
Since the organization of the Lael Church to the year 2002 there have
been 17 regular, 5 Interim Pastors, and one regular lay speaker, always
keeping the doors open to those in need and service to the community.
Today, Lael stands as one of the most beautiful churches in the
Commonwealth of Virginia, boasting pristine white siding, a lofty
steeple, al large columned front porch, and a beautiful stained glass
window behind the deep wooden pulpit.
As the brilliant rays of the morning sun illuminate the large white
columns and beckoning steeple, the grass covered acreage of the grounds
are comfortable shaded by majestic oak trees that have stood for
hundreds of years as silent witnesses to the settlement, growth and
countless assemblages of Christian fellowship held beneath their boughs.
written by a Lael
Church member
08-01-03
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