2013 Samuel Harriss Project
SAMUEL HARRISS MARKER PROJECT – COMPLETED NOVEMBER 2013
In this obscure clump of trees near rural Chatham, Virginia, lies the remains of one of the most effective evangelists America has ever produced-Samuel Harriss. This burial site has been mostly unkept and largely forgotten about for many years. We became impressed by the Lord that something needed to be done here. The property recently changed hands from descendants of Harriss to another party. The new owners were tracked down and agreed to allow a modest flat stone to be placed here. Donations were received and the $2,000.00 was raised to do just that. In November of 2013 the Baptist Heritage Revival Society had the privilege of placing a marbled, flat slab, granite marker on this site.
Text on the marker reads as follows:
Samuel Harriss- Virginia’s Blazing Comet
Born January 12, 1724.
Served as church warden, justice of the peace, sheriff, burgess
of Pittsylvania County, colonel of militia &
captain of Fort Mayo. Harriss was saved in
1758 and baptized into the membership of the Dan
River Baptist Church by Daniel Marshall. He was
ordained to preach in 1769. Harriss moderated
the first Separate Baptist Association
in Virginia. He became Virginia’s
undisputed leader of the separate Baptist revival which
had spread northward from North Carolina. He was also
instrumental in the planting of as many as 60 churches in
Virginia. He saw thousands converted under his powerful
preaching. Dozens of the men who were saved became
Baptist ministers. Harriss laid his hands on countless men in
ordination services. Through his church planting and evangelistic
preaching efforts, the colony of Virginia, then controlled by the Anglican church,
was transformed into a Baptist stronghold. This in turn would
set the stage for the Baptists of Virginia to win the battle for religious
liberty and help establish the First Amendment. May every citizen of
this nation, and especially the Baptists, ever hold the memory of
this man of God in their hearts with fondest affection.
DONATED BY BHRS, ARNOLD, MO.
