History of Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church History Of Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church BY HARRY J. COLLINS JR. & FLOYD L. HAGAN SR. Editorial Assistance Provided By Doug Herakovich Additional editing by Linda Robuck This publication was copyrighted in 2005. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church or the authors. The graphics for this publication were contributed by Pam Varney of Piedmont Litho Incorporated in Raleigh, N.C. The printing was completed by Theo Davis Sons of Zebulon, N.C. i Dedication his book is written for and dedicated to all those who desire to know more about Sanctification and those who love Sanctified People and to all those who are Sanctified by Grace and Faith in the shed T blood of the resurrected Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God who reigns eternally. Love you all, Brother Harry Brother Floyd ii Acknowledgements he publication of this book would have never come to pass without the competent assistance of Doug Herakovich. His expertise as a writer and a published author were central to our effort. Portions of our research were rewritten to make our beloved story easier to read and under- T stand. We are indebted to Doug for his patience, perseverance and professionalism. The assistance of Linda Robuck as we came to the end of the project was so important to meet the pub- lication deadlines. In the process, she added much to the picture collection and the artistic value of the product. Brother Harry Brother Floyd iii Contents Page 1 It All Began On Chincoteague Island Page 11 Spreading The Word Page 17 Sanctified Groups Cross The Nation Page 27 Traveling Into The 20th Century Page 45 Go Forward Page 63 A Singing People Page 69 Local Churches Are Established Page 119 Appendix iv Forward hrist’s Sanctified Holy Church has been a very strong force in the personal lives of Bible believing Sanctified people in the United States of America. The Gospel message worship style has changed the lives of tens of thousands of people from the Eastern Shore of Virginia across the states to the C Pacific Ocean. The church today has vibrant, dynamic congregations in 10 southeastern states with the headquarters located in Perry, Ga. The strong bonds between the members are fostered by the work of the Holy Spirit, frequent feastmeetings in each church, and the annual campmeeting at Perry beginning the Saturday before the third Sunday in July each year. The central burial grounds bring families together all too frequently, but the real central force in the life of the church is its doctrinal belief in the teaching and experience of Sanctification. Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church is an association of churches established primarily on the principle that sal- vation is accomplished by two separate works of the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The first work of grace is repentance before God, or asking for forgiveness of the sins that we have committed. The second work is the baptism of the Holy Ghost, or Sanctification, which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, eradicating the nature of sin. v vi Introduction he publication of the history of Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church is a labor of love that has been undertaken by sev- eral people over the years. Most attempts have fallen short of capturing the image that we collectively share. This effort, too, will probably not meet most people’s expectations. It is most likely impossible to capture in word or T picture the real essence of what this church has meant to its devoted believers. As we have come through the 100th anniversary of the church and now reached our 112th year since the founding, it is vitally important to capture as much history as we can before it is lost from the minds of those going on to heaven. At the 100th anniversary service at the campground in 1992, Brother Harry J. Collins Jr. orally presented the history he had researched over many years beginning in Chincoteague, Va. Brother Floyd L. Hagan Sr. then presented the history of the travels of Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church that he had collected and researched for most of his life. Numerous people have provided additional historical information over the past 12 years. From all the available data, Brother Harry and Brother Floyd have carefully and prayerfully tried to summarize, select and organize the information into a readable history of the church. We do not claim that we have included or covered all the history. We know that there were Sanctified People preaching the Gospel in many places and communities where no records were kept. We praise the Lord for every effort and every person who has labored in the vineyard of the Lord over the years. We know that we now come to the promise in the Word that says, “I’ll give you houses you didn’t build, trees you didn’t plant, vine- yards you didn’t plant, and wells you didn’t dig.” The early Sanctified People from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware were the ones who laid that foundation for Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church. What vision, what ambition, what zeal – they moved forward although they were buffeted by persecution, obstacles and lack of financial resources. With no highways or cars, no airplanes and inaccessible railroads, the only means of transporta- tion was by boat. Dependency on homemade houseboats powered by wind and sails had to be the most difficult mode of transportation in the world. Hard work, patience, trust in God, reliance on each other, and pure faith had to be in abun- dance for even survival. Where was their safety net? How secure is living on the surface of the waters of sounds, rivers, creeks and bays on the Atlantic coast? Besides the elements of wind, rain, tides, cold and heat, what about destructive peo- ple who would rob, beat, kill and pirate their unsecured material possessions? How much insurance did they have? All was at risk every hour of the day and night. How could they possibly overcome their own doubts, fears, hunger, and desire for clothes, ease and entertainment enjoyed by the world? Sanctified People endured all of these trials for the sake of the gospel. They had the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ and they had each other. They went from town to town and state to state, moti- vated by the desire to see others Sanctified by the Holy Spirit. vii viii Chapter It All Began On 1 Chincoteague Island hrist’s Sanctified Holy Church was founded by a McCarter and Kenney gathered 16 charter members for spiritually committed group of people in 1892 on their church, and they raised $25 to buy land. A one-quarter a small island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. acre lot at the corner of Taylor and North Main Streets at the Eleven decades later, the ideals that inspired northern end of the town was purchased from Daniel W. those people were being adhered to and Lewis. Soon thereafter, the Methodist Episcopal Church advanced by over 1,000 Sanctified People with churches in 17 became the third church on Chincoteague Island. Ccities in nine states. Over the next 20 years, the Methodist Episcopal congre- The desire that surged through the souls of the early gation continually grew. During that period, the people who church leaders continued to flow for another 113 years, as would eventually become the founding members of Christ’s Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church grew and developed into a Sanctified Holy Church were brought into the Methodist Epis- magnificent testament to faith and commitment. copal faith. In the late 1800s, Chincoteague Island was a quiet little Vir- The Methodist Episcopal Church took a major step in 1885, ginia community that was only reachable by boat. Oysters and when it was determined that a new church would be built. fish drove the island’s economy. A building boom in 1890 The majority of the congregation was from the downtown brought a new mill, a bakery and the town’s first barbershop. Chincoteague area, and they wanted to build the new facility Nationally, the mechanical age was beginning to take hold. In near the center of the town. However, a smaller group of Massachusetts, Frank and Charles Duryea built the first gaso- parishioners from the northern end of the island didn’t want line automobile in 1892. to move the church into town. After discussing the situation, At that time, religion was an important part of most small both parties got what they wanted. Construction on a new towns in America, and there were three established churches church was begun downtown on Church Street, and the orig- on Chincoteague Island. In 1841, the Union Baptist Church inal church building was given to the group from the north- was founded, and the Methodist Protestant Church followed 12 ern end of the island. years later. Then, in 1869, the Reverend J.M. McCarter and J.L. The old building was moved further up the island after the Kenney journeyed to Chincoteague from Federalburg, Md., and church was deeded a piece of property on Oct. 19, 1885. For they started a Methodist Episcopal Church. the sum of $1, George and Trancy Birch passed a lot to seven Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church • 1 trustees – William B. Chandler, R.W. Bishop, Charles Collins, Through the first half of the 1800s, the Methodist people were Joseph B.