The Chetwynd Chronicles

This recently discovered, rather idyllic picture is, to my knowledge, the only picture of Spring Lake Road as it once was many decades ago. Holy Trinity’s lych gate, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, lych gate in the country, is also pictured as well as the trees into which hitching rings were attached for those who rode horses to church. Because of lightning and disease, the trees were removed. Unfortunately, none of the hitching rings were preserved. The road, once known as Church Road, is paved.

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This is one of my favorite pictures of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the only building remaining in what was the Chewynd Colony. The church was formed in 1886.

The grave of the first rector who died in 1894, Joseph Julian, is visible on the right—just inside the east fence of the “church acre.”  Note also the bell tower that never contained a bell.  Because of numerous lightening strikes, leakage and bats, the tower was removed in the early 1920s.  On the south fence line the famous and rare lych gate is somewhat hidden by the pine trees—each bearing hitching rings.

The parish’s history, Coming Home, authored by Ivan Ford, is also in the pre-publication stage and will be available in early spring.

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