
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994                    TAG: 9406060069 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940606                                 LENGTH: FOREST, VA.

CHURCH MAY BUILD BY JEFFERSON RETREAT

{LEAD} From the country retreat of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, you can already see houses and a golf course. Now a nearby church is seeking to build a larger sanctuary within view of the historic property.

``The only issue is the view,'' said Lynn Beebe, executive director of The Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest. ``The church is bigger than the houses . . . it looms on the horizon, making it possibly more prominent.''

{REST} Travis McDonald, restoration coordinator for Poplar Forest, is worried about the impact a new Poplar Forest Baptist Church would have on visitors.

``We've tried to provide a historic setting'' for the historic retreat, he said at a public hearing last month. ``We have purchased property to protect the view shed . . . this property is in the view shed.''

The 100-member congregation's current church is in the Poplar Forest housing development. The congregation, organized in 1988, is ready to expand to the new church, which will seat 500 and include space for education and fellowship.

In addition to the historic setting, the issue of increased traffic on a poorly maintained private road is a concern to some neighbors.

``I get questions every week about this road,'' said Henry Creasy of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors.

The county planning commission has recommended approval of the new church. McDonald said he would like to do an archaeological survey of the church's land before they build if the Board of Supervisors approves the project at a meeting next Monday.

``This would be strictly for information purposes,'' he said. ``It would be better to find what's not there . . . before construction begins.''

Poplar Forest owns 500 acres of Jefferson's original 5,000-acre plantation and the church property was once part of the Poplar Forest land. McDonald said there could be remains of original buildings on the church land.

Poplar Forest archaeologists recently discovered slave quarters on the outskirts of the retreat's property near the main house.

``We really don't know where a lot of things were,'' McDonald said.

This would be the first time Poplar Forest archaeologists have ventured beyond the plantation to look for information, Beebe said. Poplar Forest didn't have a staff of archaeologists to do surveys when the homes were built, she added.

``We always look for the opportunity,'' Beebe said.

Nearby resident Glenda Minnick said an archaeological survey might be a good idea.

``I do hope the church will give permission for an archaeological survey,'' she said at the public hearing. ``We have found bits and pieces on our property. There could be something.''

The Rev. Jack Lyles, pastor of the church, said church members will have to decide whether to permit the survey.

by CNB