William Henry Sheppard (1865-1927), an African American man who spent 20 years as a missionary for the Presbyterian Church in Africa, grew up in First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro where his father was a sexton (an officer of the church charged with building maintenance). Elder Jen Jones has recommended a blog on the website of the Presbyterian Historical Society (https://history.pcusa.org/blog/2019/07/congo-love-song) that gives details about the book Congo Love Song. African American Culture and the Crisis of the Colonial State, by Ira Dworkin (University of North Carolina Press, June, 2017). The book is based on Dworkin’s examination of the significant community of African Americans who, following William Sheppard’s lead and often in direct response to his recruitment efforts, joined the American Presbyterian Congo Mission and made it a majority black mission for most of its first two decades.

As part of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, a free chamber music concert will be presented on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, VA.  Organist Roger Daggy and a talented violinist will offer a very special performance in a beautiful, historic space!