HENRY COUNTY, PATRICK PARISH.
The county of Henry was separated from Pittsylvania in the
year 1776, and the parish of Patrick from Camden in 1778; but no
steps, we believe, were ever taken to build churches and procure
ministers. Our fathers were then in the midst of the war, and
every thing was unfavourable for such an enterprise. Patrick Henry,
after whom both the county and parish were probably called, was
then, I believe, a delegate from this part of the State, having his
abode and much land here. Some of his descendants are here to
this day. Some readers were probably exercising their functions
in private houses in this county, but we hear of no settled pastor.
The first efforts at the establishment of the Church, in later days,
were made by the Rev. Mr. Webb, while a teacher of youth, candidate
for the ministry, and lay reader at Henry Court-House.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Wade, a native of the
county, and descendant of some whose names have hitherto
appeared among the vestrymen of adjoining parishes. During
his ministry a church has been erected at the court-house, and
the foundation of a promising congregation laid. He occasionally
officiated in Franklin county. No parish was ever established by
law, or otherwise, in either Franklin or Patrick, until of late years,
when one was erected in the former, where there is a prospect of our
having a respectable settlement, as we trust, before many years.
