By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
A quiet, contemplative spot with tall shade trees and a scattering of tombstones, "The Sacred Lot" on Middle Street in Port Royal was home to two churches, both long vanished. The first, built of brick in 1820 and the oldest church in the historic town, must have been beautiful with its 12 windows. Here Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist ministers took turns preaching until 1880 when, now known as "The Methodist Church, South," a violent storm blew part of it down and the remaining walls had to be demolished. Surviving the storm however was the lectern Bible, safe in its wooden case and inscribed "Presented to the M.E. (Methodist-Episcopal) Church South at Port Royal, Va., by the Ladies Relief Society, May 30, 1874."
Three years after the horrific storm, the lectern Bible was given a new home when a small frame church of Victorian design was built alongside the old stone foundation. This was also called "The Methodist Church" until it was sold, its Methodist population sharply declined, in 1927 to Port Royal Baptists who, continuing in the town's interdenominational tradition, called it "The Union Sunday School Church." After the creation of Fort A.P. Hill in 1941, which closed 11 churches, a number of Baptists now without a church built Memorial Baptist Church, in 1944, nearby on Water Street, naming it in honor of the closed churches.
The old frame church was left behind. Too small to hold all the displaced Baptists now at Memorial, it went unused and fell into disrepair. In 1978, though the town preferred to restore it, it was demolished. Today Port Royal resident Cleo Coleman and members of Historic Port Royal intend to further enhance "The Sacred Lot," where both old churches stood, with benches and dogwoods. The old lectern Bible survives to this day, safe in the home of Phyllis and Bill Carpenter at nearby "Edmont," where it awaits a new home in the future Port Royal Museum.