The Northern Neck's White Marsh United Methodist Church, which recently closed after 210 years, didn't change much over the centuries. The churchyard and its cemetery can be seen reflected in the window panes of the historic sanctuary. rdt View More Images from this story View and ORDER more photos.

Long decline of White Marsh congregation ends in 'agonizing' decision to close Northern Neck church.

By FRANK DELANO
The Free Lance-Star

Date published: 9/2/2002

Second in a series on the struggles of two small, rural churches.

Yesterday: The end of White Marsh

Today: An 'agonizing' decision

Tuesday: Hopes for revival

WHITE MARSH CHURCH remains nearly the same as when it was built in 1848, except for a small addition with bathrooms added in the 1950s.

Growth, remodeling and expansions have altered many churches of similar age and style, but such growth never came to White Marsh.

Suggestions of its decline go back to 1935, when a writer in the Richmond Christian Advocate said of White Marsh, "A great many other churches have formed from this old church, which has greatly weakened her."

In 1967, a bulletin for a homecoming service explained that White Marsh had thrived up until World War I, but the passing of the steamboat and the building of new roads and bridges had opened up a "world tremendously changed" to this once-isolated peninsula.

"From World War I, the decline started. Our young people when they become of age leave and go elsewhere to pursue a livelihood," the bulletin reported.

"At the present, we have a membership of 82 with an average church attendance of 30. We hope for a new day at White Marsh when more people will move into our area."

In 2001, White Marsh reported 54 members to the Virginia Conference. Average Sunday attendance was 12.

There were no new members, no transfers from other churches, no baptisms, no leaders, no children, no Sunday School, no choir, and no members of the United Methodist Men, Women or Youth Fellowship.

After that report was compiled, church leaders studied membership rolls and deleted 29 people who had moved away or hadn't been heard from in years.

Rudy L. Smith is superintendent for the Virginia Conference's Rappahannock District, which encompasses 62 churches on the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. A minister for 33 years before becoming superintendent two years ago, Smith explains his job as "pastor to the pastors."

"I supervise them and make appointments. In that sense, I'm more like a boss than a pastor. The church is more than a business, but we have to use good managerial and business skills."

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Date published: 9/2/2002