Tangier Island Off The Beaten Path Tips by grandmaR

Reverend Chas. P. Swain

The Rev Swain wrote A BRIEF HISTORY OF TANGIER ISLAND, VIRGINIA
Description: Copywrite by Gail M. Walczyk. Originally written by Reverend C. P. Swain in the 1890's, it relates the history of both the people and the Methodist religion on the island. It is now has been indexed and a dateline has been included. 81/2x11, paper, index, 32 pp Cost: $18.00

From 1808 through 1858 up to 10,000 people swelled the island each summer for Methodist camp meetings.

In a letter to the Richmond Dispatch, July 30, 1899, Rev. Swain wrote:

"In 1835, when there were only a few people here, they built a small famed church, 18 by 18 feet. In 1842 they enlarged the building to 22 by 26. N 1860 the house was again enlarged to accommodate the ever-increasing congregation. IN 1870 a new building was erected, 36 by 50, at a cost of $2,400, and made to cover about 2,000 square feet of ground floor and to seat 600 people. In 1896 it was found that a larger building was needed, and the present structure, modern ln its construction and conveniences. Lighted with gas and heated with steam, was erected at a cost of $10,000, about $7,000 of which has been paid in cash, and the rest is all subscribed."

According to the sign on the church foundation wall, this church was renamed the Swain Memorial M. E. Church in 1900 the year after the above was written. I presume he had died before the church was named after him, but I can't find any information out about that. The marble memorial was erected in his memory by the citizens of Tangier.

A Frame Church

Under construction