Page 51 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
on Churchville Circuit, was improved under the pastorate of Bro. J. H. Ford but could not be reopened
until this Conference year; cost $300.”
History of Freedmen’ Mission (1884-95). Freedmen’s Mission, as a charge, was created in
1884 through the consolidation of Augusta FM and Rockingham [FM] Circuits, with Rev. T. K. Clifford
the appointed pastor, who reported 190 members in 1885, 191 in 1886, 274 in 1887, 290 in 1888, 293 in
1889, and 332 in 1890. In 1890 the Presiding Elder reported a new house of worship (Zion) had been
completed on “Augusta” Freedmen’s Mission. Members reported in 1891 were 325; 331 in 1892; 429
in 1893; 458 in 1894; and 447 in 1895. In 1895 Freedmen’s Mission was divided into two separate
charges, Rockingham Freemen’s Mission and Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission. 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 Harrisonburg [FM] Circuit (1895-1909). Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission was
established in 1895 from the following five church appointments taken from the Freedman’s Mission in
1895: Beazley [FM], Broadway [FM], Linville [FM], Long’s Chapel [FM], and Wardensville [FM].
Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 327 members on this five-point charge in 1896; 334 in 1897. In 1897 the
charge was split again, with Hillsville [FM], Spring Hill [FM], and all the appointments west of the
mountains, from Harrisonburg Freedmen’s Mission, to constitute a work to be called Highland
Freedmen’s Mission. In 1900 Keezletown [FM] Church was added to Harrisonburg [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 Highland [FM] Circuit (1897-98). Highland Freedman’s Mission was created from
Harrisonburg FM Circuit by detaching Hillsville [FM], Spring Hill [FM], and “all the appointments west
of the mountains” of Harrisonburg FM. 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 Linville [FM] Circuit (1899-1904). Linville Freedman’s Mission was constitute in
1901, when it comprised Long’s Chapel [FM], Wardensville [FM], Beazley [FM], Keezletown [FM],
Dunges Chapel [FM], and Timber Ridge [FM]. 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 Rockingham [FM] Circuit (1875-83). In 1875, 1876, and 1877, S. T. Wells was
appointed to Rockingham Freedman’s Mission. In 1876 he reported 99 members at four appointments
in four classes, of which four were organized as churches. J. A. Evans was appointed in 1878, 1879, and
1880; and in 1879 he reported 127 members at six appointments in five classes, of which five were
organized as churches. His 1880 report was for 119 members and 128 in 1881. In 1881 Rockingham
FM was left to be supplied. In 1882 123 members were reported at Conference, where Presiding Elder
J. W. Funk reported: “Rockingham Freedman’s Mission has had no regular pastor during the year,
much to the detriment of the work.” Only 77 members were reported in 1883. Rev. 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. Clifford reported 105 members in 1884. Rockingham and
Augusta Freedmen’s Missions were consolidated in 1884 into Freedmen’s Mission. For further
information on the Rockingham FM Charge, see the sections (above) for Freedmen’s Mission and
Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit. Under the leadership of Rev. T. K. Clifford, the unified
Freedmen’s Mission grew of 190 in 1884 to 447 in 1895, necessitating a division of that charge in 1895.
Rockingham Freemen’s Mission was (once again) an FM charge, and Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission
was established as the other. Rev. W. C. Bruce was appointed to Rockingham FM in 1895, and he
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 37
on Churchville Circuit, was improved under the pastorate of Bro. J. H. Ford but could not be reopened
until this Conference year; cost $300.”
History of Freedmen’ Mission (1884-95). Freedmen’s Mission, as a charge, was created in
1884 through the consolidation of Augusta FM and Rockingham [FM] Circuits, with Rev. T. K. Clifford
the appointed pastor, who reported 190 members in 1885, 191 in 1886, 274 in 1887, 290 in 1888, 293 in
1889, and 332 in 1890. In 1890 the Presiding Elder reported a new house of worship (Zion) had been
completed on “Augusta” Freedmen’s Mission. Members reported in 1891 were 325; 331 in 1892; 429
in 1893; 458 in 1894; and 447 in 1895. In 1895 Freedmen’s Mission was divided into two separate
charges, Rockingham Freemen’s Mission and Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission. 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 Harrisonburg [FM] Circuit (1895-1909). Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission was
established in 1895 from the following five church appointments taken from the Freedman’s Mission in
1895: Beazley [FM], Broadway [FM], Linville [FM], Long’s Chapel [FM], and Wardensville [FM].
Rev. T. K. Clifford reported 327 members on this five-point charge in 1896; 334 in 1897. In 1897 the
charge was split again, with Hillsville [FM], Spring Hill [FM], and all the appointments west of the
mountains, from Harrisonburg Freedmen’s Mission, to constitute a work to be called Highland
Freedmen’s Mission. In 1900 Keezletown [FM] Church was added to Harrisonburg [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 Highland [FM] Circuit (1897-98). Highland Freedman’s Mission was created from
Harrisonburg FM Circuit by detaching Hillsville [FM], Spring Hill [FM], and “all the appointments west
of the mountains” of Harrisonburg FM. 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 Linville [FM] Circuit (1899-1904). Linville Freedman’s Mission was constitute in
1901, when it comprised Long’s Chapel [FM], Wardensville [FM], Beazley [FM], Keezletown [FM],
Dunges Chapel [FM], and Timber Ridge [FM]. 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 Rockingham [FM] Circuit (1875-83). In 1875, 1876, and 1877, S. T. Wells was
appointed to Rockingham Freedman’s Mission. In 1876 he reported 99 members at four appointments
in four classes, of which four were organized as churches. J. A. Evans was appointed in 1878, 1879, and
1880; and in 1879 he reported 127 members at six appointments in five classes, of which five were
organized as churches. His 1880 report was for 119 members and 128 in 1881. In 1881 Rockingham
FM was left to be supplied. In 1882 123 members were reported at Conference, where Presiding Elder
J. W. Funk reported: “Rockingham Freedman’s Mission has had no regular pastor during the year,
much to the detriment of the work.” Only 77 members were reported in 1883. Rev. 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. Clifford reported 105 members in 1884. Rockingham and
Augusta Freedmen’s Missions were consolidated in 1884 into Freedmen’s Mission. For further
information on the Rockingham FM Charge, see the sections (above) for Freedmen’s Mission and
Augusta & Rockingham [FM] Circuit. Under the leadership of Rev. T. K. Clifford, the unified
Freedmen’s Mission grew of 190 in 1884 to 447 in 1895, necessitating a division of that charge in 1895.
Rockingham Freemen’s Mission was (once again) an FM charge, and Harrisonburg Freemen’s Mission
was established as the other. Rev. W. C. Bruce was appointed to Rockingham FM in 1895, and he
I.A.5 U.B. Churches in Rockingham County, 1912 37
