Page 47 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 47
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
Luray (1881) Virginia (1819-29)
Madison (1875-1895) Wardensville (1953-69)
Massanutten (1953-69) Waynesboro (1855-56, 1945-1969)
McKinley (1963-69) West Augusta (1879-83)
Mill Creek (1874-81) West Rockingham (1912-1946)
Mill Creek Valley (1963-69)
History of Albemarle Circuit (1895-1908). The first reference to Albemarle Circuit was in
1896, when Rev. W. S. Rau reported 156 members of the circuit for conference year 1895-96.
Shenandoah District Presiding Elder J. W. Howe reported in 1896: “A church house on Albemarle
circuit was greatly improved, at a cost of $350. He reported 190 members in 1899: Bluff Dale, 40;
Otterbine [Otterbein], 55; Prize Hill, 42; and Shady Grove, 53; In 1900 Presiding Elder George P. Hott
reported: “Rev. W. S. Rau resigned Albemarle circuit April 11, 1899, to be appointed to Rockbridge
circuit April 13, 1899. Rev. E. A. Stanton was appointed to Albemarle circuit April 25, 1899.” Rev.
Stanton reported 194 members in 1900 and 1901: Bluff Dale, 46; Otterbein 47; Prize Hill, 47; and
Shady Grove, 54. Rev. W. D. Good was appointed in 1901 and reported 194 members in 1902 and 180
in 1903. Presiding Elder A. S. Hammack reported in 1904: “Rev. W. D. Good resigned Albemarle
Circuit September 15, 1903, to enter Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, and Rev. S. G. Wells was
appointed to the work September 16th.” Presumably, S. G. Wells was a student pastor working under
Dr. Hammack, since the latter reported the charge membership as 182 in 1904. Apparently a K. Brill
was appointed for 1904-05, but in 1905 the Dr. Hammack reported: “Bro. K. Brill resigned Albemarle
circuit soon after Conference, which field was left unsupplied. The charge was not neglected, Bros.
C. H. Crowell, E. A. Stanton, and myself having visited the charge.”
Rev. W. M. Maiden reported 169 members of Albemarle Circuit in 1905: Bluff Dale, 46;
Otterbein, 37; Prize Hill, 38; and Shady Grove, 48. In 1905 the Presiding Elder reported: “Brother W.
M. Maiden on account of failing health was compelled to resign Albemarle circuit.” No supply pastor
was found for 1905-06, but the Presiding Elder eventually appointed J. L Argenbright was appointed to
the charge, and he reported 135 members in 1906 and 182 in 1907. The increase in 1907 may have been
the temporary addition of Mt. Hebron, which was detached from Albemarle circuit in 1907 and attached
to Elkton Circuit. Also in 1907, Shendun [Mt. Vernon] was taken from Pleasant Valley Circuit and Mt.
Bethel [Belvadere] from Augusta Circuit, and both were attached to Albemarle Circuit. Finally in 1907,
“Smith’s Chapel was left with the presiding elder either to leave on Albemarle circuit or serve it from
Rockbridge circuit.” In 1908 Pastor Argenbright reported 232 members on the charge. The final
mention of Albemarle Circuit in Conference Minutes was in 1908, when Mt. Hebron and Swift Run
were detached from Elkton Circuit and Thoroughfare from Shenandoah City, the three appointments
attached to Albemarle circuit, and the enlarged charge renamed East Rockingham Circuit.
History of Augusta [FM] Circuit (1875-1884). The August Circuit of the Freedmen’s Mission
[FM] was mentioned in 1875, 1876, and 1877, when J. A. Evans was appointed to this charge. In 1876
he reported 74 members at four appointments in four classes, of which three were organized as churches.
In 1878 J. Waite was appointed the pastor, and in 1879 Rev. Waite reported 109 members in three
classes at four appointments, three of which had been organized as churches. No supply pastor was
found in 1879, but Rev. Waite reported 113 members in 1880. F. M. Payne was appointed to Augusta
FM in 1880 and reported 110 members in 1881. In 1881 Augusta FM was left to be supplied. Rev.
J. A. Evans was appointed in 1881 missionary to Africa. F. Payne, work part time, reported 111
members of Augusta FM in 1882. Appointments for the FM charges are not mentioned in Conference
Minutes from 1882 to 1899. 111 members were reported in 1883. . Presiding Elder J. W. Funk
reported in 1884: “Rev. T. K. Clifford, of Piedmont, W.Va., took charge of the Freedman’s Missions
within our bounds and has labored successfully.” Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 83 members in 1884.
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 33
Luray (1881) Virginia (1819-29)
Madison (1875-1895) Wardensville (1953-69)
Massanutten (1953-69) Waynesboro (1855-56, 1945-1969)
McKinley (1963-69) West Augusta (1879-83)
Mill Creek (1874-81) West Rockingham (1912-1946)
Mill Creek Valley (1963-69)
History of Albemarle Circuit (1895-1908). The first reference to Albemarle Circuit was in
1896, when Rev. W. S. Rau reported 156 members of the circuit for conference year 1895-96.
Shenandoah District Presiding Elder J. W. Howe reported in 1896: “A church house on Albemarle
circuit was greatly improved, at a cost of $350. He reported 190 members in 1899: Bluff Dale, 40;
Otterbine [Otterbein], 55; Prize Hill, 42; and Shady Grove, 53; In 1900 Presiding Elder George P. Hott
reported: “Rev. W. S. Rau resigned Albemarle circuit April 11, 1899, to be appointed to Rockbridge
circuit April 13, 1899. Rev. E. A. Stanton was appointed to Albemarle circuit April 25, 1899.” Rev.
Stanton reported 194 members in 1900 and 1901: Bluff Dale, 46; Otterbein 47; Prize Hill, 47; and
Shady Grove, 54. Rev. W. D. Good was appointed in 1901 and reported 194 members in 1902 and 180
in 1903. Presiding Elder A. S. Hammack reported in 1904: “Rev. W. D. Good resigned Albemarle
Circuit September 15, 1903, to enter Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, and Rev. S. G. Wells was
appointed to the work September 16th.” Presumably, S. G. Wells was a student pastor working under
Dr. Hammack, since the latter reported the charge membership as 182 in 1904. Apparently a K. Brill
was appointed for 1904-05, but in 1905 the Dr. Hammack reported: “Bro. K. Brill resigned Albemarle
circuit soon after Conference, which field was left unsupplied. The charge was not neglected, Bros.
C. H. Crowell, E. A. Stanton, and myself having visited the charge.”
Rev. W. M. Maiden reported 169 members of Albemarle Circuit in 1905: Bluff Dale, 46;
Otterbein, 37; Prize Hill, 38; and Shady Grove, 48. In 1905 the Presiding Elder reported: “Brother W.
M. Maiden on account of failing health was compelled to resign Albemarle circuit.” No supply pastor
was found for 1905-06, but the Presiding Elder eventually appointed J. L Argenbright was appointed to
the charge, and he reported 135 members in 1906 and 182 in 1907. The increase in 1907 may have been
the temporary addition of Mt. Hebron, which was detached from Albemarle circuit in 1907 and attached
to Elkton Circuit. Also in 1907, Shendun [Mt. Vernon] was taken from Pleasant Valley Circuit and Mt.
Bethel [Belvadere] from Augusta Circuit, and both were attached to Albemarle Circuit. Finally in 1907,
“Smith’s Chapel was left with the presiding elder either to leave on Albemarle circuit or serve it from
Rockbridge circuit.” In 1908 Pastor Argenbright reported 232 members on the charge. The final
mention of Albemarle Circuit in Conference Minutes was in 1908, when Mt. Hebron and Swift Run
were detached from Elkton Circuit and Thoroughfare from Shenandoah City, the three appointments
attached to Albemarle circuit, and the enlarged charge renamed East Rockingham Circuit.
History of Augusta [FM] Circuit (1875-1884). The August Circuit of the Freedmen’s Mission
[FM] was mentioned in 1875, 1876, and 1877, when J. A. Evans was appointed to this charge. In 1876
he reported 74 members at four appointments in four classes, of which three were organized as churches.
In 1878 J. Waite was appointed the pastor, and in 1879 Rev. Waite reported 109 members in three
classes at four appointments, three of which had been organized as churches. No supply pastor was
found in 1879, but Rev. Waite reported 113 members in 1880. F. M. Payne was appointed to Augusta
FM in 1880 and reported 110 members in 1881. In 1881 Augusta FM was left to be supplied. Rev.
J. A. Evans was appointed in 1881 missionary to Africa. F. Payne, work part time, reported 111
members of Augusta FM in 1882. Appointments for the FM charges are not mentioned in Conference
Minutes from 1882 to 1899. 111 members were reported in 1883. . Presiding Elder J. W. Funk
reported in 1884: “Rev. T. K. Clifford, of Piedmont, W.Va., took charge of the Freedman’s Missions
within our bounds and has labored successfully.” Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 83 members in 1884.
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 33
