State

Formerly known as Pettigrew’s Chapel, this is one of the outstanding historical churches in the State. St . David’s Church If serves as a memorial fo Bishop Charles Pelf itirew. whose services in the educational and religious advancement of brought splendid By НАИНУ A HUT .,110 mile from tin- little town of ( 'reswell, in Wa.hing- ton ( ouiitv. there stand' by the loiid'idc one of Xortli Cnroli ini’» most historic churches. Known in bygone «lay- as Pettigrew’- Chapel, ihi* little ‘Episcopal church Iwa- for ni’arlv a century, now. Urn a-alb-d St. I la vi«|\ Church. Si ilia te«l iu the inid-i *»f a -ci’tion «•ll«*«* «.ccllpical by ill)' noblest tVI'C of Soiilliein planters. St. David’- data- bnck la. 1 71*7. It was in that year dial the tireless missionary nii«J pity- -ieiati. ( 'I i arhs I'elligiew. entne ficrai— I -nke I ‘helps, from Ivleniou. and «•- tablishod bis «'oiintrv sent. anal St. David’s Church. Licensed in 1775 Charles Pettigrew was licensed by ib«- Bishop of London. March I. 177.’». He sailed for America on the last I «oat chartered for passenger serv¬ ice In-fore the outbreak of hostilities between England and her colonics. North Carolina fruit. /-. TUCKER Settling at Kdenton. he diil mission- iny work during the trying times of tin- Revolution, carrying on hi-* inini-tratioiis of good into the swampy lands adjacent t«i Albemarle Sound, and up the navigable river-. He be¬ came known to the scattered -ettler» a- "Parson** Pettigrew, a -obriquet which he carried to his grave. Par-on Pettigrew wn- one of tha- mo.t foreeful Episcopal inns ever t«. live in the So nth. He was horn ill IVniisylvania on Mareb 20. 17 П. but lit- lovi'd Xortli Carolina a- fervently ii- dial any natal son. beginning bis work in life a- a school-toucher, he soon 1к*саше con- v inns I that !u* «‘ould accomplish more giMial a* an Episcopal rector, anal thus was the change made. 1 1 wa- «luring hi- -aintlv labor* around Edenton that be d iscovered, while journeying into the country¬ side, the Eden-like section of country along the shores of Lake Phelp*. He never ceased to love the site, and it was here lie built his home; lovely Belgrade Plantation. Selected as First Bishop After a life full, and rich, there i* little wonder that Charles Pettigrew, the gentle parson, was selected a» the lir-t Bishop of the Episcopal Church iu Xortli Carolina. However, the fates decreed that the appointment, which doubtless must have pleased the aging minister, was not to lie con¬ firmed on earth. Charles Pettigrew dii««l heforp be was «'onsecruted ; «lied quietly at Belgrade Plantation, April S. 1S07. After the death of Bi-Imp Petti- grew, hi- alescendnnt* rulli«*d -tronglv around the religious shrine erected by tha*ir progenitor; they carried on at St. David's even more zcalou- Iv than the founder. It was the lenrm-d Bi-hop Strange who wrote of these |>eaplc: “They were the center of hospitality and wealth and culture and piety, living like princa*- on the banks of Lake Phelps, working their -lav.-." The wife of Charles Pettigrew lived many years after the <l«*iith of her godly husband. She was the accepted matriarch of the Lak«* Pludp- planta¬ tion-. the coign of vantage at historic St. David's. And why -hould she not lef Had u*it her tireless husband conceived tin- church, given the land, erected the building l It lias been -aid that no Bishop of the Episcopal Church ever visited in the immediate part- of Virginia ami the Carolina' who «lid not pay a visit of respect to Mrs. Pettigrew. St. David’s Church i- not a -mull building; the large c»ngr<*gatioiis which Oli«'«* frequented its services ordered otherwise. The bttilalitig, cruciform in shape, has beautiful in¬ terior furnishings, and all the wood¬ work is handcarvcd. The lovely chana-el window has been da-scribed a* a work of art. It is of Mosaic design. ati«l rich and rhaste iu coloring. A Faithful Laborer Beneath the chancel window is a memorial to the builder : “In memory "f Reverend Charles Pettigrew, First Bi-liOp-eleel of the Diocese «if Xairlli Carolina. A faithful and /«*nloti- I a borer in Cod's Viiievaral." The very old Bible at St. David’s, presented bv Annie Blount Shiqiani Pettigrew, was once used to tench the slaves on Belgrade Plantation. The uuti«|iu* chalice and paten, said to be old silver, was presented by Mrs. Jane Carolina- Pettigrew. The Pettigrew family also gave land for я church (Continued on page twenty) to