Page 104 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 104
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
9. Caplingers (Chapel) U.B. Church (Hardy Circuit) [Criders, Rockingham County; 1858, 1891]
Caplingers UMC is located at 20588 Criders Road in Criders, VA 22820; 540 896-7653. The
current pastor is J. Randall Kiel, randy.kiel@gmail.com. Directions: I-81 to Exit 257; Rt. 259 west
approximately 19 miles; left on Rt. 820 for 2 miles; left on Rt. 826 for 3.5 miles; church is on the right
side of the road.
Caplingers (Chapel) U.B. Church was built in the
year of 1858, and dedicated in the same year by Bishop
Markwood, at the cost of $500. It is a wooden frame
building, built of logs, and in recent years has been
covered with shingles. [Glovier 1965, p. 156]
The deed for this church was made to Israel
Caplinger and wife, Sara J. Caplinger, in 1897. The
builder was Mr. George Caplinger.
The concrete steps and handrail, of more recent
years, were donated [Glovier 1965, p. 156]
Caplinger Cemetery is well maintained with fence
around it. The book, Brocks Gap Miscellaneous Research by
Lewis Yankey (page 13) states that on August 7, 1906, Israel
Caplinger deeded the graveyard jointly to the trustees of three
denominations: Israel Dove of the U.B. Church, F. A.
Yankey of the German Baptists (Dunkers, now Church of the
Brethren), and Silas A. Dove of the Lutheran Church. It was
to be free for all people to bury there, according to the deed.”
It is on a hill overlooking the German River at Criders, Va.
Directions: From Harrisonburg take Route 42 North to Broadway; pick up Brocks Gap Road (Route
259) and go west; travel past Fulks Run Grocery store and continue on Route 259 to Bergton Road
(Route 820) and turn left; continue on Route 820 to Criders Road (Route 826 and turn left; go about 5
miles. Turn left at the cemetery sign and go up the hill to the cemetery.21
Conference Reports. Caplingers Chapel U.B. Church was first mentioned in Conference
Minutes in 1883, when Keplingers Chapel (Caplingers)—together with Jenkins Chapel, Bowman’s
School House, Baker’s Run, Ludwicks School House, Hanging Rock and Trout Run Valley—were
constituted as Lost River Mission. On Lost River Mission in 1899, Caplingers was reported with 40
members—the other churches on the charge were Garrett’s, 21 members; Grady’s S. H., 8; Jenkins, 61;
40; ; Mt. Storm, 20; Mountain Dale, 12; and Rockland, 58, giving 220 members for the charge. In 1913
21 Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, “Rockingham County Tombstones by Cemetery,”
[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~varockin/HRHS/cem/caplinger02.htm].
II.B.10 Cedar Grove U.B. Church 90
9. Caplingers (Chapel) U.B. Church (Hardy Circuit) [Criders, Rockingham County; 1858, 1891]
Caplingers UMC is located at 20588 Criders Road in Criders, VA 22820; 540 896-7653. The
current pastor is J. Randall Kiel, randy.kiel@gmail.com. Directions: I-81 to Exit 257; Rt. 259 west
approximately 19 miles; left on Rt. 820 for 2 miles; left on Rt. 826 for 3.5 miles; church is on the right
side of the road.
Caplingers (Chapel) U.B. Church was built in the
year of 1858, and dedicated in the same year by Bishop
Markwood, at the cost of $500. It is a wooden frame
building, built of logs, and in recent years has been
covered with shingles. [Glovier 1965, p. 156]
The deed for this church was made to Israel
Caplinger and wife, Sara J. Caplinger, in 1897. The
builder was Mr. George Caplinger.
The concrete steps and handrail, of more recent
years, were donated [Glovier 1965, p. 156]
Caplinger Cemetery is well maintained with fence
around it. The book, Brocks Gap Miscellaneous Research by
Lewis Yankey (page 13) states that on August 7, 1906, Israel
Caplinger deeded the graveyard jointly to the trustees of three
denominations: Israel Dove of the U.B. Church, F. A.
Yankey of the German Baptists (Dunkers, now Church of the
Brethren), and Silas A. Dove of the Lutheran Church. It was
to be free for all people to bury there, according to the deed.”
It is on a hill overlooking the German River at Criders, Va.
Directions: From Harrisonburg take Route 42 North to Broadway; pick up Brocks Gap Road (Route
259) and go west; travel past Fulks Run Grocery store and continue on Route 259 to Bergton Road
(Route 820) and turn left; continue on Route 820 to Criders Road (Route 826 and turn left; go about 5
miles. Turn left at the cemetery sign and go up the hill to the cemetery.21
Conference Reports. Caplingers Chapel U.B. Church was first mentioned in Conference
Minutes in 1883, when Keplingers Chapel (Caplingers)—together with Jenkins Chapel, Bowman’s
School House, Baker’s Run, Ludwicks School House, Hanging Rock and Trout Run Valley—were
constituted as Lost River Mission. On Lost River Mission in 1899, Caplingers was reported with 40
members—the other churches on the charge were Garrett’s, 21 members; Grady’s S. H., 8; Jenkins, 61;
40; ; Mt. Storm, 20; Mountain Dale, 12; and Rockland, 58, giving 220 members for the charge. In 1913
21 Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, “Rockingham County Tombstones by Cemetery,”
[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~varockin/HRHS/cem/caplinger02.htm].
II.B.10 Cedar Grove U.B. Church 90
