Page 49 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
I had arranged upon several occasions to visit this field but on account of sickness and a
misunderstanding I did not visit the field.” No other mention of Basic City has been found in
Conference records. Note: There was a Basic City Methodist Church by 1920.
History of Blue Ridge Circuit (1897-1902). In 1897 Blue Ridge Circuit was created to
encompass “the work in Nelson County and southeast Augusta County.” No pastor was found for 1897-
98 but 105 members were reported in 1898. In 1899 Rev. P. J. Jennings reported 159 members on the
charge, which then comprised Crystal Creek, Laurel Hill, Spruce Pine Chapel, and Stuart’s Draft. In
1899 Shenandoah District Presiding Elder C. P. Dyche reported: “On March 25th, 1898, [soon after
Conference] P. J. Jennings resigned Blue Ridge Circuit, which resignation was duly accepted. Later in
the year he moved [back] to the work and has been doing some work.” No one was found to supply the
charge for 1899-1900. However, in 1901 Rev. Jennings again reported 159 members for the same four
churches. Blue Ridge and Basic Circuit were combined under that name. In 1903 Ref. S. R. Ludwig
reported 320 members and J. L. Argenbright reported 320 members in 1904. Blue Ridge and Basic
Circuit was not listed in 1905 with the other charges, nor since; neither were any of the four original
churches of Blue Ridge Circuit mentioned after 1901.
History of Broadway Circuit (1896-1904). Annual Conference met at “Broadway” (the place
not otherwise specified) March 18, 1896. The Broadway Circuit was established by 1897, with 310
members in 1898 and 331 in 1899 (Rev. J. William Stearn, the pastor), and in 1899 Broadway Circuit
comprised Broadway, New Salem, Pleasant View, and Mt. Carmel churches. Broadway hosted the
Shenandoah District Young People’s Christian Union Societies meeting in the 1899-1900 conference
year. The first mention of membership at Broadway was for 63 members in 1901—at the time New
Salem had 70 members; Pleasant View, 60; and Mt. Carmel, 147, for a total membership of 340. The
Presiding Elder reported in 1902: “Broadway Circuit—A new church is nearing completion on this
charge, which will be a credit to the pastor, Rev. T. C. Harper, as well as the members of the
congregation; value $650.” In October 1903 Rev. Harper was appointed to the Dayton Circuit and was
replaced by Rev. H. Ralph Geil. In 1904 the Presiding Elder reported: (1); “The church [not named] on
Broadway Circuit to which I referred in my last report was dedicated in June by Bro. N. F. A. Cupp”;
and (2) “At the Second Quarterly Conference on Broadway Circuit, a board of trustees were elected to
take charge of a church being built on Runyan’s Creek.”
History of Cedar Grove Circuit (1949-1969). See the history of Cedar Grove U.B. Church in
Section II.B.10 (below).
History of Charles Mission (1877-78). In 1877 Rev. J. A. Negley was appointed to Charles
Mission. No other reference to Charles Mission has been found.
History of Charlottesville Mission and Circuit (1904-14). In 1904 the presiding elder of
Shenandoah district was authorized to “take special charge of the work near Charlottesville and draw on
the Missionary Treasury to pay expenses in supplying a man to hold meetings.” In 1910 the
appointments east of the Blue Ridge—Bluff Dale, Otterbein, Shady Grove, and Prize Hill—were
constituted as Charlottesville Circuit. Rev. J. E. Croft reported 330 members of the charge in 1911 and
250 in 1912. In 1912 Bethel was moved from Charlottesville Circuit to Augusta Circuit; Mt. Vernon
was moved from Charlottesville to Pleasant Valley Circuit; and “the appointments east of the Blue
Ridge be constituted a charge [Charlottesville] and that the pastor supplying this charge take up
additional appointments, the charge to be supplied by the Presiding Elders.” No supply was found for
1912-13, but 226 members were reported in 1913. “Brother A. Bamford was appointed to
Charlottesville Circuit and arrived from England July the 5th,” 1913. In 1913 Mt. Hebron and
Thoroughfare were detached from Elkton, and attached to Charlottesville. Rev. Bamford reported
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 35
I had arranged upon several occasions to visit this field but on account of sickness and a
misunderstanding I did not visit the field.” No other mention of Basic City has been found in
Conference records. Note: There was a Basic City Methodist Church by 1920.
History of Blue Ridge Circuit (1897-1902). In 1897 Blue Ridge Circuit was created to
encompass “the work in Nelson County and southeast Augusta County.” No pastor was found for 1897-
98 but 105 members were reported in 1898. In 1899 Rev. P. J. Jennings reported 159 members on the
charge, which then comprised Crystal Creek, Laurel Hill, Spruce Pine Chapel, and Stuart’s Draft. In
1899 Shenandoah District Presiding Elder C. P. Dyche reported: “On March 25th, 1898, [soon after
Conference] P. J. Jennings resigned Blue Ridge Circuit, which resignation was duly accepted. Later in
the year he moved [back] to the work and has been doing some work.” No one was found to supply the
charge for 1899-1900. However, in 1901 Rev. Jennings again reported 159 members for the same four
churches. Blue Ridge and Basic Circuit were combined under that name. In 1903 Ref. S. R. Ludwig
reported 320 members and J. L. Argenbright reported 320 members in 1904. Blue Ridge and Basic
Circuit was not listed in 1905 with the other charges, nor since; neither were any of the four original
churches of Blue Ridge Circuit mentioned after 1901.
History of Broadway Circuit (1896-1904). Annual Conference met at “Broadway” (the place
not otherwise specified) March 18, 1896. The Broadway Circuit was established by 1897, with 310
members in 1898 and 331 in 1899 (Rev. J. William Stearn, the pastor), and in 1899 Broadway Circuit
comprised Broadway, New Salem, Pleasant View, and Mt. Carmel churches. Broadway hosted the
Shenandoah District Young People’s Christian Union Societies meeting in the 1899-1900 conference
year. The first mention of membership at Broadway was for 63 members in 1901—at the time New
Salem had 70 members; Pleasant View, 60; and Mt. Carmel, 147, for a total membership of 340. The
Presiding Elder reported in 1902: “Broadway Circuit—A new church is nearing completion on this
charge, which will be a credit to the pastor, Rev. T. C. Harper, as well as the members of the
congregation; value $650.” In October 1903 Rev. Harper was appointed to the Dayton Circuit and was
replaced by Rev. H. Ralph Geil. In 1904 the Presiding Elder reported: (1); “The church [not named] on
Broadway Circuit to which I referred in my last report was dedicated in June by Bro. N. F. A. Cupp”;
and (2) “At the Second Quarterly Conference on Broadway Circuit, a board of trustees were elected to
take charge of a church being built on Runyan’s Creek.”
History of Cedar Grove Circuit (1949-1969). See the history of Cedar Grove U.B. Church in
Section II.B.10 (below).
History of Charles Mission (1877-78). In 1877 Rev. J. A. Negley was appointed to Charles
Mission. No other reference to Charles Mission has been found.
History of Charlottesville Mission and Circuit (1904-14). In 1904 the presiding elder of
Shenandoah district was authorized to “take special charge of the work near Charlottesville and draw on
the Missionary Treasury to pay expenses in supplying a man to hold meetings.” In 1910 the
appointments east of the Blue Ridge—Bluff Dale, Otterbein, Shady Grove, and Prize Hill—were
constituted as Charlottesville Circuit. Rev. J. E. Croft reported 330 members of the charge in 1911 and
250 in 1912. In 1912 Bethel was moved from Charlottesville Circuit to Augusta Circuit; Mt. Vernon
was moved from Charlottesville to Pleasant Valley Circuit; and “the appointments east of the Blue
Ridge be constituted a charge [Charlottesville] and that the pastor supplying this charge take up
additional appointments, the charge to be supplied by the Presiding Elders.” No supply was found for
1912-13, but 226 members were reported in 1913. “Brother A. Bamford was appointed to
Charlottesville Circuit and arrived from England July the 5th,” 1913. In 1913 Mt. Hebron and
Thoroughfare were detached from Elkton, and attached to Charlottesville. Rev. Bamford reported
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 35
