Page 130 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
13. Clay Hill (Pine Grove) U.B. Church [Clay Hill, Augusta County; 1856-1935]
Clay Hill Church, closed since 1935, was at first a
U.B. congregation called Pine Grove. The present church
building which is now being used as a camp by a
Staunton attorney, is in good condition, and stands in a
grove of giant pines. It is located about 5 miles north of
Deerfield and about 20 miles west of Staunton. The
church was built in 1856 at a cost of $600, and was
dedicated, Clay Hill, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner. The
Church was reported in the Conference Minutes as an
appointment on Churchville Charge for the last time in
1934 with 12 members. Rev. J. W. Maiden, when past 80
years old, was the last U.B. minister to preach at Clay Hill. Clay Hill was first an appointment on
Rockbridge Circuit and last on Churchville Charge. Clay Hill has been abandoned since 1935. [Glovier
1965, p. 227]
Conference Reports. In March 1880, Conference moved “Pine Grove from Churchville Circuit
to be a basis for a mission to be called West Augusta Mission.” In 1881 Pine Grove was detached (with
Grove Hill) from Page Valley Mission to be called Luray Mission. In 1883 Conference ordered “that
Clay Hill and Head Waters be detached from West Augusta Circuit and attached to Rockbridge Circuit.”
Remarkable, in view of his role as the last preacher of Clay Hill 35 years before, John W. Maiden
reported to Conference that Clay Hill had a membership of 23 persons on Rockbridge Circuit in March
1899. In 1903 Conference detached Clay Hill from Rockbridge Circuit and attached it to Churchville
Circuit, but reversed this action in 1905. In 1907 Conference Superintendent W. F. Gruver reported a
new organ for Clay Hill U.B. Church on Rockbridge Circuit, the gift of Mr. James Cross. In 1911
Pastor C. J. Racey (Rockbridge Circuit) reported that plans are being made for the remodeling of Clay
Hill. In 1918 Pastor G. A. McGuire (Swoope Circuit) reported preparations being made to repair the
church; that $80 has been secured and placed in the hands of the Treasurer. In 1921 Clay Hill Church
reported 16 members. In 1922 Clay Hill was detached from Swoope Circuit and attached to Churchville
Circuit. In 1926 and 1931 on Churchville Circuit, Clay Hill reported 12 members. Except for the
membership data provided in the tables that following, nothing further about Clay Hill Church is known.
Table 25, below, identifies some early pastors for Swoope and Rockbridge Circuits. In the years
before 1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual churches and
other appointments. Table 26, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and membership
data for Clay Hill U.B. Church (1921-34). Note that “Year Ends 1852” means conference year 1851-52
and that the data were reported at the 1852 Annual Conference. Thus, H. B. Winton served Pine Grove
(and other churches of Rockbridge Circuit) 1851-52, and John W. Fulkerson 1852-53.
Table 25. Clay Hill (Pine Grove) U.B. Church: Early Pastors and Charge Membership, 1880-1920
Year Charge Name District Name Appointed Pastor Membership Statistics—Whole Charge
Ends Rockbridge Circuit Conference H. B. Winton
1852 Rockbridge Circuit Conference John W. Fulkerson Members Start Yr. Members End Yr.
1853 Rockbridge Mission Conference J. W. Howe ——
1859 Rockbridge Circuit Conference A. M. Evers ——
1863 Rockbridge Circuit Conference A. M. Evers ——
1864 ——
——
II.B.13 Clay Hill U.B. Church 116
13. Clay Hill (Pine Grove) U.B. Church [Clay Hill, Augusta County; 1856-1935]
Clay Hill Church, closed since 1935, was at first a
U.B. congregation called Pine Grove. The present church
building which is now being used as a camp by a
Staunton attorney, is in good condition, and stands in a
grove of giant pines. It is located about 5 miles north of
Deerfield and about 20 miles west of Staunton. The
church was built in 1856 at a cost of $600, and was
dedicated, Clay Hill, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner. The
Church was reported in the Conference Minutes as an
appointment on Churchville Charge for the last time in
1934 with 12 members. Rev. J. W. Maiden, when past 80
years old, was the last U.B. minister to preach at Clay Hill. Clay Hill was first an appointment on
Rockbridge Circuit and last on Churchville Charge. Clay Hill has been abandoned since 1935. [Glovier
1965, p. 227]
Conference Reports. In March 1880, Conference moved “Pine Grove from Churchville Circuit
to be a basis for a mission to be called West Augusta Mission.” In 1881 Pine Grove was detached (with
Grove Hill) from Page Valley Mission to be called Luray Mission. In 1883 Conference ordered “that
Clay Hill and Head Waters be detached from West Augusta Circuit and attached to Rockbridge Circuit.”
Remarkable, in view of his role as the last preacher of Clay Hill 35 years before, John W. Maiden
reported to Conference that Clay Hill had a membership of 23 persons on Rockbridge Circuit in March
1899. In 1903 Conference detached Clay Hill from Rockbridge Circuit and attached it to Churchville
Circuit, but reversed this action in 1905. In 1907 Conference Superintendent W. F. Gruver reported a
new organ for Clay Hill U.B. Church on Rockbridge Circuit, the gift of Mr. James Cross. In 1911
Pastor C. J. Racey (Rockbridge Circuit) reported that plans are being made for the remodeling of Clay
Hill. In 1918 Pastor G. A. McGuire (Swoope Circuit) reported preparations being made to repair the
church; that $80 has been secured and placed in the hands of the Treasurer. In 1921 Clay Hill Church
reported 16 members. In 1922 Clay Hill was detached from Swoope Circuit and attached to Churchville
Circuit. In 1926 and 1931 on Churchville Circuit, Clay Hill reported 12 members. Except for the
membership data provided in the tables that following, nothing further about Clay Hill Church is known.
Table 25, below, identifies some early pastors for Swoope and Rockbridge Circuits. In the years
before 1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual churches and
other appointments. Table 26, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and membership
data for Clay Hill U.B. Church (1921-34). Note that “Year Ends 1852” means conference year 1851-52
and that the data were reported at the 1852 Annual Conference. Thus, H. B. Winton served Pine Grove
(and other churches of Rockbridge Circuit) 1851-52, and John W. Fulkerson 1852-53.
Table 25. Clay Hill (Pine Grove) U.B. Church: Early Pastors and Charge Membership, 1880-1920
Year Charge Name District Name Appointed Pastor Membership Statistics—Whole Charge
Ends Rockbridge Circuit Conference H. B. Winton
1852 Rockbridge Circuit Conference John W. Fulkerson Members Start Yr. Members End Yr.
1853 Rockbridge Mission Conference J. W. Howe ——
1859 Rockbridge Circuit Conference A. M. Evers ——
1863 Rockbridge Circuit Conference A. M. Evers ——
1864 ——
——
II.B.13 Clay Hill U.B. Church 116
