Sunday, July 15th, the annual Memorial and Historical Celebration was held at old Brick Church on historic grounds, dating from 1745; the scene of many noted local celebrations. The first organized church at this place was in 1770 under the ministry of Rev. Samuel Futher, who was preaching here and at Frieden’s Church, and at many other places during the stirring days of the Revolutionary War. In 1835 the first Reformed Classis was organized on these grounds. It was first called Der Klappe Kirche or the Clapp Church, from a family name of the early settlers. The large Brick Church building was erected in 1814 first, and then entirely rebuilt in the year 1841. Famous early ministers were Revs. Samuel Suther, Wm. Bithahn, Samuel Suther, Wm. Bithahn, Andrew Loretz, J.R. Reily, Jas. Rauch, John Ebaugh, John Rudy, John H. Crawford, and G. Wm. Welker, who was in charge from 1841 to 1893, a period of 52 years.
This is the section first settled by Albrights, Courtners, Mays, Swings, (Scheencks) Greesons, Ingolds, Ingles, Hoffmans, Fousts (Fausts), Linebergers, Weitzells (Whitesells, Reightsells), Sharps (Sherbs) and Scaeffers.
The first settlers came from Berks county, Penn., in 1756 to 1748 and were descended from settlers from Hesse, Germany, who came to America at the close of the Thirty Years War in Europe seeking religious liberty.
They played well their part in the War of the Revolution, and were valiant in the Battle of Alamance only four miles from this church on May 16, 1771. Also at Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781. They co-operated closely with the efforts of Dr. David Caldwell who was the leader of the Scotch-Irish forces rallied from Alamance and Buffalo Churches only six miles away to the west. Others of their numbers came from Frieden’s Church six miles to the north where another church had been established by the German settlers under the name of Frieden’s Church.
Judge Wm. P. Bynum made a magnificent address on the subject of Our Early German Settlers. It was replete with important history and was delivered the speaker’s best style without manuscript, save for some few important notes.
Dr. Clarence Clapp gave the history of the Klappe, Klapp or Clapp family from earliest times to the present. He drew freely from notes left by his father, the late Dr. Jacob C. Clapp, a graduate of Amherst College, and long a noted preacher and teacher in this State.
Dr. W.T. Whitsett showed the importance of the early days, and the strategic part played by Brick Church and Frieden’s Church, and traced their struggles with the problems of church government, civic development, and patriotic demands from the State. He showed how for 100 years these were the two most important points in eastern Guilford, say from the year 1770 down to 1870.
Carl J. Clapp was chairman and Mrs. Eugenia Simmons secretary. The grounds were crowded with visitors from all over Guilford and Alamance counties; and the church was crowded to its capacity. Music was especially furnished by Mess. C.A. and G.G. Clapp of Greensboro as leaders.
The Brick Church Memorial and Historical Association scored a great success, and showed the great importance of the work being done to rescue our past history from forgetfulness. It is safe to say that the Association’s work will grow in importance and interest from year to year. The large number of interested visitors from various points was a notable feature of the great gathering. They learned much of the history of this spot covering more than 150 years of the stirring days of old. Such occasions do great good, and those in charge of the same deserve our hearty thanks for their labors.
From the front page of The Alamance Gleaner, Thursday, July 19, 1923
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