White Stone Baptist Church

White Stone Baptist Church is located in the town of White Stone in Lancaster County. The church formed as an offshoot of Morattico Baptist Church in the early 1800s. Members of Morattico who lived in White Stone and Irvington held services at a meeting house in White Stone built by the Methodist Episcopal Church but funded by many denominations with the understanding it would be for everyone's use. In 1833 when a new Methodist Pastor arrived he attempted to stop the Baptists from using the building.

Morattico voted to create their own building. On August 21st, 1833 George E. Beane and his wife deed one acre of land to the Trustees of Morattico Baptist Church. The lot bordered lands of Currell and Kirk and the road leading southwest to Christ Church. The Currell family owned a home named Public View at the same intersection and on the opposite side of the road operated a mercantile establishment. The home is #28 on the map in the Photo section below. Present day Route 646 apparently at one time passed nearer points #27 and #28 and was the main connecting road between White Stone and Irvington before the bridge was built. The new building was named Salem Meeting House. The committee in charge of the project included Ralph Edmonds, Lawson Hathaway, J.B. Jeter, Addison H. Locke, Michael Wilder and Addison Hall. The Salem Meeting House was used until 1889.

At a September 1879 meeting at Salem the Building Committee reported that they had contracted Charles C. Smith & Brothers of Baltimore, MD for $2,500 to furnish materials and specifications for a "Church" in White Stone. The dedication sermon was held on the third Sunday of December that same year, Dr. J.B. Jeter was chosen to deliver the first sermon. It was unanimously decided that the new church should not install spittoons because it would encourage the chewing of tobacco in public worship. The new building was referred to as White Stone Meeting House in the Minutes of Morattico Baptist Church. The church bell was donated by the International Order of Odd Fellows.

A "Committee on New Cemetery" in White Stone was formed in January of the following year. First, second and third class cemetery plots were sold for contributions of 50, 25 and 10 dollars toward the cost of the new church. A section was set aside for the poor and the remaining lots could be purchased for less than $10. In November of 1882 sale of Salem Meeting House was completed and the deed transferred to John S. Currell for "for Salem Meeting House and a one acre lot." In December of 1882 a committee was set up to purchase an organ for White Stone Meeting House.

In August 1893 at a meeting at Morattico it was suggested that the White Stone and Irvington Churches should separate from Morattico. (Irvington had built their church building in 1890.) In May of 1895 the motion was made and carried out for the churches to separate. The committee for White Stone was made of G.W. Mercer, Geo. Thompson, Geo. Harper, Wm. George, J.W. Cundiff, H.W. James and Wm. Kirk. White Stone withdrew in July taking 156 members from Morattico. Irvington withdrew the following month. F.W. Claybrook remained the pastor for all three churches through the end of the year.

1898 Church Minutes from White Stone mention that building of a new mission at Maple Grove. Maple Grove remained in the trusteeship of White Stone Baptist until 1987 when it officially established as an independent church in the Southern Baptist Conference. For a number of years both churches were served by the pastor of White Stone.

In 1955 the present day stained glass windows were added to the church. Soon after the front portico was enlarged. In the late 1950's construction began on the educational building and a new parsonage. Both were dedicated on October 2nd, 1960. In the early 1960's the vestibule and cathedral lights were added. In 1965 the parking lot was paved for the first time and new pews were installed in the sanctuary. By 1967 the church counted 226 resident and 62 non-resident members.

Fairfax Lewis and Zepporah Ella Hale are buried in the church cemetery. Zamoth H. George is also possibly buried there. Other family that have been members at White Stone Baptist Church include; Elton Dameron, Louise Bryant, Ralph Dameron, Frances Franklin, Mark Dameron, Maida George and Bryant Dameron.