Page 48 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 48
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
Rockingham and Augusta Freedmen’s Missions were consolidated in 1884 into Freedmen’s Mission.
For further information on the Augusta FM Charge, see the sections (below) for Freedmen’s Mission
and Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit. The last report on the FM charges and churches was in 1909,
when Rev. James D. Clifford (appointed May 1, 2024) reported 238 members of that charge in 1909 for
Augusta & Rockingham FM Charge.
History of Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit (1907-09). In 1907 Linville [FM] and
Long’s Chapel [FM] Churches were detached from Harrisonburg FM Circuit and attached to Augusta
and Rockingham [FM] Circuit. Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 238 members of Augusta & Rockingham
FM Circuit in 1908; and Rev. James D. Clifford (appointed May 1, 2024) reported 238 members of that
charge in 1909.
History of Augusta Circuit (1860-1884). In 1860 G. W. Rexrode was appointed to Augusta
Circuit. He was followed in 1861 by W. A. Jackson. Rev. Rexrode was reappointed in 1862 and 1864.
In 1878 Rockingham Circuit was renamed Augusta Circuit and J. E. Hott was appointed its pastor. In
1879 Shenandoah District Presiding Elder J. W. Howe reported: “A parsonage enterprise has been
commenced on Augusta Circuit; a lot has been procured and some material gathered, all paid for.” In
1879 Rev. Hott reported 353 members in nine classes at eight appointments, all of which had been
organized as churches. C. H. Crowell was appointed in 1879 and 1880, and reported 329 members in
1880. Rev. Howe reported in 1880: “I was authorized by the Quarterly Conference of Augusta Circuit
to make sale of our house of worship at Bridgewater, which sale has been effected at $400—$200 in
cash and the remainder in two equal annual payments, two-fifths of the money to be appropriated to the
parsonage of Augusta Circuit, and three-fifths to a district parsonage.” Note: West Augusta Mission
was established in 1880 (added for 2 years to South Branch District). Rev. Howe noted in 1881: “The
parsonage on Augusta Circuit moves slowly.”
Rev. G. J. Roudabush was appointed to Augusta Circuit in 1881, and he reported 304 members
in 1882. Presiding Elder J. W. Funk reported in 1883: “The parsonage on Augusta Circuit has been
nearly completed, and a vigorous effort is now being made to pay the debt thereon.” Also in 1883, Dry
Ridge was detached from South River Mission and attached, along with Union Chapel, to Augusta
Circuit. Rev. A. P. Funkhouser was appointed to Augusta Circuit in 1883, and he reported 304 members
in 1884.
History of Basic City Mission. Basic City. The first mention of Basic City as a place occurs in
Conference Minutes in 1890 when the Boundary Committee recommended: “Basic City, Buena Vista,
Roanoke, and Salem, with Iron Gate, Pulaski City, and other points south of the territory that we now
occupy, be submitted to the Stationing Committee as promising missionary territory that should have
our immediate attention, and that they be instructed to provide a missionary-at-large if possible, who
shall canvass this promising field during the coming year, whose expense shall be paid from our
missionary treasury, provided these expenses shall not exceed $100. The recommendation was renewed
in 1891: “That we recognize Shenandoah City, Roanoke, and Basic City as Mission Stations, subject to
the discretion of the stationing committee.
Basic City Mission. Basic City was first mentioned as a pastoral charge in 1902, when the
Belvadere appointment (later, Mt. Bethel U.B. Church; see Section II.B.31, below) and the Shendun
appointment (later, Mt. Vernon U.B. Church; see Section II.B.40, below) were detached from Augusta
Circuit to form basis of a new charge called Basic City Circuit. However, no preacher was found for
this charge in the 1902 Conference. In 1903 the Shenandoah District Presiding Elder noted that Basic
City Mission had been left to be supplied and that Rev. S. R. Ludwig preached at these appointments as
much as his time would permit. In 1904 he reported: “Basic City Mission is composed of two
appointments to which Bro. J. L. Argenbright was appointed; he has served one appointment regularly.
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 34
Rockingham and Augusta Freedmen’s Missions were consolidated in 1884 into Freedmen’s Mission.
For further information on the Augusta FM Charge, see the sections (below) for Freedmen’s Mission
and Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit. The last report on the FM charges and churches was in 1909,
when Rev. James D. Clifford (appointed May 1, 2024) reported 238 members of that charge in 1909 for
Augusta & Rockingham FM Charge.
History of Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit (1907-09). In 1907 Linville [FM] and
Long’s Chapel [FM] Churches were detached from Harrisonburg FM Circuit and attached to Augusta
and Rockingham [FM] Circuit. Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 238 members of Augusta & Rockingham
FM Circuit in 1908; and Rev. James D. Clifford (appointed May 1, 2024) reported 238 members of that
charge in 1909.
History of Augusta Circuit (1860-1884). In 1860 G. W. Rexrode was appointed to Augusta
Circuit. He was followed in 1861 by W. A. Jackson. Rev. Rexrode was reappointed in 1862 and 1864.
In 1878 Rockingham Circuit was renamed Augusta Circuit and J. E. Hott was appointed its pastor. In
1879 Shenandoah District Presiding Elder J. W. Howe reported: “A parsonage enterprise has been
commenced on Augusta Circuit; a lot has been procured and some material gathered, all paid for.” In
1879 Rev. Hott reported 353 members in nine classes at eight appointments, all of which had been
organized as churches. C. H. Crowell was appointed in 1879 and 1880, and reported 329 members in
1880. Rev. Howe reported in 1880: “I was authorized by the Quarterly Conference of Augusta Circuit
to make sale of our house of worship at Bridgewater, which sale has been effected at $400—$200 in
cash and the remainder in two equal annual payments, two-fifths of the money to be appropriated to the
parsonage of Augusta Circuit, and three-fifths to a district parsonage.” Note: West Augusta Mission
was established in 1880 (added for 2 years to South Branch District). Rev. Howe noted in 1881: “The
parsonage on Augusta Circuit moves slowly.”
Rev. G. J. Roudabush was appointed to Augusta Circuit in 1881, and he reported 304 members
in 1882. Presiding Elder J. W. Funk reported in 1883: “The parsonage on Augusta Circuit has been
nearly completed, and a vigorous effort is now being made to pay the debt thereon.” Also in 1883, Dry
Ridge was detached from South River Mission and attached, along with Union Chapel, to Augusta
Circuit. Rev. A. P. Funkhouser was appointed to Augusta Circuit in 1883, and he reported 304 members
in 1884.
History of Basic City Mission. Basic City. The first mention of Basic City as a place occurs in
Conference Minutes in 1890 when the Boundary Committee recommended: “Basic City, Buena Vista,
Roanoke, and Salem, with Iron Gate, Pulaski City, and other points south of the territory that we now
occupy, be submitted to the Stationing Committee as promising missionary territory that should have
our immediate attention, and that they be instructed to provide a missionary-at-large if possible, who
shall canvass this promising field during the coming year, whose expense shall be paid from our
missionary treasury, provided these expenses shall not exceed $100. The recommendation was renewed
in 1891: “That we recognize Shenandoah City, Roanoke, and Basic City as Mission Stations, subject to
the discretion of the stationing committee.
Basic City Mission. Basic City was first mentioned as a pastoral charge in 1902, when the
Belvadere appointment (later, Mt. Bethel U.B. Church; see Section II.B.31, below) and the Shendun
appointment (later, Mt. Vernon U.B. Church; see Section II.B.40, below) were detached from Augusta
Circuit to form basis of a new charge called Basic City Circuit. However, no preacher was found for
this charge in the 1902 Conference. In 1903 the Shenandoah District Presiding Elder noted that Basic
City Mission had been left to be supplied and that Rev. S. R. Ludwig preached at these appointments as
much as his time would permit. In 1904 he reported: “Basic City Mission is composed of two
appointments to which Bro. J. L. Argenbright was appointed; he has served one appointment regularly.
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 34
