Messrs. John Taylor, William Fee, and George Watkins were ordained elders, and the sacraments were regularly administered. Mr. McKnight's term of office was a short one. He lies buried in St. Paul's churchyard, and his monument there bears the inscription:
"In memory of the Rev. Washington McKnight, who departed this life on the 8th of September, 1805, aged 26 years.
By an affectionate father."
In a brief but touching memorial the Session bore witness to the unaffected piety and Christian worth of this young clergyman, who laid the foundation stone of Presbyterianism in Augusta. After the death of Mr. McKnight the congregation worshiping in St. Paul's was without a pastor until July 3d, 1806, when a call was presented to the Rev. John R. Thompson, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, and then rector of the Richmond Academy. The call was accepted, and Mr. Thompson entered on his duties on the 9th of May, 1807. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Hopewell. Mr. Thompson's first ministerial act was to call for an election of elders, as only one of the original three remained. The gentlemen chosen by the members of the church were Mr. Thomas Cumming, Mr. Oswell Eve, and Mr. Augustus Moore. Mr. Cumming had just finished his office as intendant or mayor of the town, and continued for the rest of his life to render most valuable service to the church and the community.
