From 1843 - 1848, the Reverend Jacob Doll was the tenth pastor of the Oxford Presbyterian Church. He also served as Moderator of the Orange Presbytery during that time.
In the second 25 years, our church was most likely touched by the wars of the United States and Mexico; the Civil War Between the States, and the Reconstruction Period, even though there is no mention in the minutes of the Session. During this time, our nation was led by two presidents of Presbyterian faith - James Buchanan (1857 - 1862) and Abraham Lincoln (1861 - 1865).
During this time, the minutes of the Session indicates many transfers to other churches due to the freeing of the slaves and families on the move.
Because there were no public schools, many of the teachers in private schools were from this congregation. Two of these schools were on College Street.
Throughout the Session Minutes, there are references to financial contributions to education. Some other interesting facts coming from the minutes are:
*At many Sessions, servants were examined and received into membership on profession of faith. The children of servants were baptized in the church. In one instance a free colored woman was given a letter of transfer to Fayetteville. (In the church files is record of Henretta, servant of W.B. Wright who joined the church on August 23, 1845).
*Reading from the Session Minutes Book, Volume 1, beginning page 61, Session 94, March 3, 1844.The moderator: the Reverend Jacob Doll; elders: Thomas H. Willie, James M. Wiggins, Thomas B. Littlejohn. Wiggins was appointed clerk. (Wiggins, by the way, was clerk of the county court and lived in the Benson house, located behind the present Episcopal Church.) The Presbytery had met in Madison in Rockingham County. “The year's minutes had been approved with the exception that the meetings had not been opened and closed with prayer, and there was no certificate of the discharge of reciprocal duties between pastor and people.”
*The next Session meeting was held in May. According to the rules and regulations of the church, there are quite often carefully numbered notes. These notes gave the names of members received, baptisms, and deaths, but never a marriage.
The meetings of the Session were usually held in the home of an elder on the Saturday preceding the Sabbath of a preaching service.
Another interesting notation was recorded in April 1845. The Orange Presbytery met in Danville, VA. James Wiggins was the delegate. In October of this year, the Session met in Mr. Wiggins’ office.
Note 61, March 17, 1846. This morning at 5 o’clock Mary Jane Cooke, a member of the congregation departed this life testifying in her last moments that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto Salvation, that she had relied solely on Jesus Christ and was fully reassured that all was well.
The Sessional annual report was given at Milton. Total communicants - 47; added on Profession of Faith - seven, three colored, four infants baptized, and one adult. Funds: Foreign Missions - $8.77 ½; Education - $7.50; Contingent Fund - $1.00; Commissioners’ Fund - $8.00.
Other Sessional points of interest during this time:
*August 1850, Session 104. “Having been without regular preaching services since the Reverend Jacob Doll resigned, Thomas H. Willie acted as moderator. It was resolved that the Reverend Thomas U. Faucette, a licentiate of the Orange Presbytery, be requested to come labor among us as a stated supply, provided the congregation approve and voted to pay $125.00 per annum for his services two Sabbaths each month.” It was reported that the Reverend Faucette and his wife ran a school and lived in a house at the location of the present Vernon Taylor house.
It was from the porch of their house that a crowd watched the Granville Grays parade before they went to war.
*At one meeting, a member appeared before the Session to report that he had been forced into a personal encounter with a Mr. Kinton on the Sabbath day; after making full confession and expressing deep sorrow for same, it was considered that he be excused and not answered.
*1853: There is mention of a serious and attentive congregation to instructive sermons. New members of the Session: Samuel L. Venerable (teacher) and Marcillis Volney Lanier. The Reverend Thomas Faucette is now receiving $300.00 per annum; Board of Education - $17.50.
Domestic Missions - $10.00; Foreign Missions - $5.00; Publication - $2.50; General Assembly - $9.00. Lanier was appointed Clerk in 1854. Thomas B. Littlejohn departed this life in June of this year.
*April 12, 1857, Lowan Taborn (a free woman of color) and Milly (servant of Mrs. Elizabeth Ridley) were received into this church on Profession of Faith.
*1858: The Deacons (first mentioned here) were instructed to take up a collection each Sabbath at the time designated by the minister.
In 1859, Elder Thomas H. Willie died.
New elders elected in 1867 were: Caleb Daniel Osborne, James C. Cooper, Thomas M. Lynch. Total communicants: 47. No minister.
After serving as pastor of this church for four years, the Reverend James W. Primrose was dismissed in 1868 to join a church to be organized in Henderson, Granville County, North Carolina.
Note 101 in the minutes, September 25, 1869 - the Reverend H.S. Hill is moderator by request because there is no minister.