The 72nd consecutive Allen Reunion will be held at College Presbyterian Church, Hampden Sydney, on Sunday, Aug. 2.

The Allen family of Prince Edward and Cumberland counties is descended from James Anderson Allen Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Sims Allen.

Their children, including James, Jr., Charles, Richard, Benjamin and Daniel, settled in the area in the mid-1700’s.

The first gathering of the Allens was held in 1912 at “Woodland,” the home of Mollie Allen Bell and her husband Nathan, in western Prince Edward County.  The Prince Edward Allens, descended from Joseph Watson and Letitia McDearmon Allen of “Rosebower,” met sporadically until 1943 when the reunion became a yearly event. It became a tradition for the reunion to be held at Presbyterian churches in the county including Lanes Chapel (an outreach chapel of College Church in the Felden neighborhood), Douglas, and Davis Memorial.

Those wishing to attend the worship service at 11 a.m. and worship with the College Church congregation may do so. After the service the Allen family and friends will meet in the church’s Thompson Hall for lunch and a business meeting.  Please bring covered dishes to share.

The planning committee includes John R. Allen, chairman; Anne Calhoun, secretary; Karen Brandis, treasurer; and Lindy and Wanda Hamlett.