Page 39 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
construction, with additional labor provided by the freedmen. Built between 1870 and 1871, the
original structure still stands along with the cemetery where some of the community’s (Zenda
Area) founding residents lay at rest. The church served not only as the spiritual center of the
community, but as the educational center as well.
Since the county did not provide for the education
of black students, this facility was the first school
for the community residents. It was also the first
teaching assignment for trailblazing educator Lucy
F. Simms, who was born a slave in Harrisonburg
and used her new freedom to pursue an education
at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute
(now Hampton University). A classmate of Booker
T. Washington, she returned to the Shenandoah
Valley, and after spending the next two years
teaching weekdays at Longs Chapel, she spent the next 56 years teaching in Harrisonburg.
Located in the Zenda area, Northeast of Melrose on Fridley’s Gap Road. This was probably the
first Freedmen’s Mission Church to be built, and J. Brown was possibly the first minister at this
church.
Sherando [FM] Church. Located near Grottoes. Only mentioned, but no exact location given.
Wardensville [FM] Church (Hardy Co. WV). Only mentioned in Conference Minutes; no
other records yet found.
Augusta County (Staunton). There was only one Charge in Augusta County, but is referred to
sometimes as Augusta Charge and other times as Staunton Charge. I could find no record of a Mission
church in the city of Staunton proper. Records of the Augusta County Mission Churches are very
limited. The Augusta Historical Society had absolutely no records and they didn’t know what I was
asking about. The main references are from the Conference minutes from 1870 thru 1909. Little is
known of the individual churches except that they existed, and who the ministers were at that time. Joe
Nutt’s book has a reference to one of the churches at Hillsboro (Christian).
Deerfield [FM] Church. Near the Augusta Co., Highland Co. Line, in western Augusta Co.
Hillsboro (Christian) [FM] Church. This no longer standing church stood on Scott Christian
Road in the Hillsville area. An area resident said he believed it burned down, but was unsure of
the date. Augusta County records show that the United Brethren in Christ acquired the property
from John Christian on Sept. 15, 1888, and was in the Hillsboro area, now known as Swoope.
Records show that on May 19, 2024 the United Brethren were ordered by a judge to convey the
church property to the A.M.E. Church.
Mt. Zion [FM] Church. Part of Staunton Mission. No Information available. Located on Goose
Creek Rd. near Augusta Lumber close to the railroad.
Timber Ridge [FM] Church. Northwest of Mt. Solon, Possibly in West Virginia. There is
mention of a Church in Mt. Solon, but no information could be found. This could possibly be the
Timber Ridge Church, which is in that area.
Monterey Mission. No information on these churches at present
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 25
construction, with additional labor provided by the freedmen. Built between 1870 and 1871, the
original structure still stands along with the cemetery where some of the community’s (Zenda
Area) founding residents lay at rest. The church served not only as the spiritual center of the
community, but as the educational center as well.
Since the county did not provide for the education
of black students, this facility was the first school
for the community residents. It was also the first
teaching assignment for trailblazing educator Lucy
F. Simms, who was born a slave in Harrisonburg
and used her new freedom to pursue an education
at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute
(now Hampton University). A classmate of Booker
T. Washington, she returned to the Shenandoah
Valley, and after spending the next two years
teaching weekdays at Longs Chapel, she spent the next 56 years teaching in Harrisonburg.
Located in the Zenda area, Northeast of Melrose on Fridley’s Gap Road. This was probably the
first Freedmen’s Mission Church to be built, and J. Brown was possibly the first minister at this
church.
Sherando [FM] Church. Located near Grottoes. Only mentioned, but no exact location given.
Wardensville [FM] Church (Hardy Co. WV). Only mentioned in Conference Minutes; no
other records yet found.
Augusta County (Staunton). There was only one Charge in Augusta County, but is referred to
sometimes as Augusta Charge and other times as Staunton Charge. I could find no record of a Mission
church in the city of Staunton proper. Records of the Augusta County Mission Churches are very
limited. The Augusta Historical Society had absolutely no records and they didn’t know what I was
asking about. The main references are from the Conference minutes from 1870 thru 1909. Little is
known of the individual churches except that they existed, and who the ministers were at that time. Joe
Nutt’s book has a reference to one of the churches at Hillsboro (Christian).
Deerfield [FM] Church. Near the Augusta Co., Highland Co. Line, in western Augusta Co.
Hillsboro (Christian) [FM] Church. This no longer standing church stood on Scott Christian
Road in the Hillsville area. An area resident said he believed it burned down, but was unsure of
the date. Augusta County records show that the United Brethren in Christ acquired the property
from John Christian on Sept. 15, 1888, and was in the Hillsboro area, now known as Swoope.
Records show that on May 19, 2024 the United Brethren were ordered by a judge to convey the
church property to the A.M.E. Church.
Mt. Zion [FM] Church. Part of Staunton Mission. No Information available. Located on Goose
Creek Rd. near Augusta Lumber close to the railroad.
Timber Ridge [FM] Church. Northwest of Mt. Solon, Possibly in West Virginia. There is
mention of a Church in Mt. Solon, but no information could be found. This could possibly be the
Timber Ridge Church, which is in that area.
Monterey Mission. No information on these churches at present
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 25
