Facing Tomorrow, Understanding Yesterday, A History of Orange ...

designed it,and he superintended its construction. Painted
white, with a fireproof roof of a dark color, it is simple and
in perfect taste. The windows are particularly pleasing to
the eye.
At the four corners of the building are rooms which
can be used separately for Sunday school classes or can
be thrown into the main auditorium. There is provision
forelectric lights, two of them outside the main entrance.
Concrete steps lead up to a broad main door, and ... two
rooms ... flank the altar.
One of the happiest of all the visitors on Sunday was
Samuel M. Gattis of Hillsboro. Like Mr. Maddry, he was
born near the church and used to walk in from his home
to attend classes at the University. He is still regarded
thereabouts as one of the home folks.
Indeed,Samuel Jackson Brockwell was an important figure in the
buildingofthe present sanctuary. He was a merchant, the operator of the
firstmotionpicture theater in Chapel Hill, and the manager of the first
regularbus service between Chapel Hill and Durham. Downtown, he was
amongthe first businessmen to erect a brick building. But more importantomembers
of Orange Church, he was considered a philanthropist
- especiallyas far as the church itself was concerned. Not only did he
superintendthe construction ofthe building that his wife designed, but he
donatedmore than half of the money needed to build it. Brockwell also
paid$120for the 900-pound bell that today hangs in the bell tower. He
laterplayeda similar role in the construction of the Hut. When Brockwell
diedin1940at the age of 70, services were held in the church that he had
helpedto build by one of the church's favorite preachers, Dr. Charles E.
Maddry.Brockwell was buried in the Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Whilethe Brockwells and others worked on the construction of the
newchurch,they remembered, as others would in the future, that Orange
Churchhad many ties to the past and that those connections had to be
preserved.Consequently, the 1924 sanctuary included two elements
fromthe structure that had been torn down: the communion rail and the
pulpit.Both are still used today.
Aswithmost churches, Orange Church did not like the idea of being
indebt.Members were constantly working to retire the mortgage. The
Ladies'AidSociety was especially active in looking for new ways to bring
infunds.The Chapel Hill Weekly of June 27, 1924, told of one such
function:
Orange Church Benefit
Supper to be Served in Grove Saturday from 5 to 10
For the benefit of Orange Church, about three miles
north of Chapel Hill on the old Hillsboro road, the Ladies'
AidSociety of the congregation is going to serve a supper
tomorrow (Saturday) between the hours of 5 o'clock in
the afternoon and 10 in the evening. The proceeds willgo
toward lifting the debt on the new church building, the
opening of which was celebrated early this month.
Brunswick stew, chicken salad, sandwiches, ice
cream, and cake-these are promised on the menu, and
there may be other delicacies added before the tables are
spread. The feast willbe laid out in the grove surrounding
the church.
Everybody is invited, and the arrangements committee
is hoping that all people who attended the opening
FACING TOMORROW, UNDERSTANDING YESTERDAY 23
Samuel Gattis, Sr.
Lawyer
Communion rail and pulpit