Page 67 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 67
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
3. Bethel U.B. Church (Lacey Springs Circuit) [Rockingham County; 1832; 1881-1948]
The original Bethel U.B.
Church (also known as Armentrout
Church) was built in 1832, under
the pastorate of Rev. Jacob
Hershberger (?). The material was
of log construction. The first
church was torn down and rebuilt in
1881. This building was of frame construction, built under the
pastorate of J. W. Funk. Bethel EUB Church closed about 1948.
Apparently, the 1881 building was eventually sold to the Church of
the Brethren, and it still stands, together with a large cemetery.
Directions: From Court Square in Harrisonburg, take Route
33 east; go 5.5 miles and turn left onto Indian Trail Road (Route
620); go 1.7 miles and Route 620 turns to the right and its name
changes to Mountain Valley Road; then go 5.4 miles and turn right
on Armentrout Path (Route 722). The cemetery is on the right and
church is on the left side of the road.
See the entry for Mountain Valley U.B. Church, whose
exterior construction is quite similar, with differences in the tower and single-paned window over the
double door. It is possible that the two churches were built by the same U.B. congregation.17
Conference Reports. In 1890 the Shenandoah District Presiding Elder reported a new house of
worship had been completed and dedicated during the conference year (1889-90). Lacey Springs Circuit
Pastor G. B. Fadeley reported 49 members for Bethel U.B. Church in 1899; 50 members in 1901; and 85
members in 1905. For 1904-05, Bethel contributed $62 toward the preacher’s salary of $392 (only
Lacey Springs Church and Mountain Valley Church contributed more). The Conference Superintendent
reported in 1909 that $400 had been donated by Sister Madison to Bethel Church. In 1910 Bethel
reported a new organ had been placed in the church at a cost of $62 and new steps built in front of
church for $20. The report in 1911 was for painting the outside and putting a concrete walk in front for
$70. There was a report for “Mt.” Bethel on Lacey Springs Circuit: “The cemetery has been enclosed
with an iron fence at a cost of $1,010” (at the time, there was a Mt. Bethel on Elkton Charge and another
on Augusta Charge). In 1921 Bethel reported 64 members but only 15 in 1946. Bethel was not listed
with the other churches in 1950. In 1952 the Conference Board of Missions authorized that “the
Conference sell Bethel Church on Lacey Spring charge to the [Church of the] Brethren congregation,
provided they will sell the Virginia Conference their interest in Harper’s Chapel Church on Franklin
charge.” There is no further mention of the Bethel congregation in Conference Minutes.
17 [Glovier 1965, p. 169] equates Bethel U.B. Church identified in [Funkhouser 1921, p. 193] with Mountain Valley EUB
Church. The picture Glovier uses for Mountain Valley (upper right, taken from the cemetery) is clearly the church
identified by Harrisonburg Rockingham County Historical Association (the other two photos above) for their listing of
Mt. Bethel Cemetery, in which the gate over the entrance to the cemetery reads, “Bethel Cemetery,” as shown above.
II.B.3 Bethel U.B. Church 53
3. Bethel U.B. Church (Lacey Springs Circuit) [Rockingham County; 1832; 1881-1948]
The original Bethel U.B.
Church (also known as Armentrout
Church) was built in 1832, under
the pastorate of Rev. Jacob
Hershberger (?). The material was
of log construction. The first
church was torn down and rebuilt in
1881. This building was of frame construction, built under the
pastorate of J. W. Funk. Bethel EUB Church closed about 1948.
Apparently, the 1881 building was eventually sold to the Church of
the Brethren, and it still stands, together with a large cemetery.
Directions: From Court Square in Harrisonburg, take Route
33 east; go 5.5 miles and turn left onto Indian Trail Road (Route
620); go 1.7 miles and Route 620 turns to the right and its name
changes to Mountain Valley Road; then go 5.4 miles and turn right
on Armentrout Path (Route 722). The cemetery is on the right and
church is on the left side of the road.
See the entry for Mountain Valley U.B. Church, whose
exterior construction is quite similar, with differences in the tower and single-paned window over the
double door. It is possible that the two churches were built by the same U.B. congregation.17
Conference Reports. In 1890 the Shenandoah District Presiding Elder reported a new house of
worship had been completed and dedicated during the conference year (1889-90). Lacey Springs Circuit
Pastor G. B. Fadeley reported 49 members for Bethel U.B. Church in 1899; 50 members in 1901; and 85
members in 1905. For 1904-05, Bethel contributed $62 toward the preacher’s salary of $392 (only
Lacey Springs Church and Mountain Valley Church contributed more). The Conference Superintendent
reported in 1909 that $400 had been donated by Sister Madison to Bethel Church. In 1910 Bethel
reported a new organ had been placed in the church at a cost of $62 and new steps built in front of
church for $20. The report in 1911 was for painting the outside and putting a concrete walk in front for
$70. There was a report for “Mt.” Bethel on Lacey Springs Circuit: “The cemetery has been enclosed
with an iron fence at a cost of $1,010” (at the time, there was a Mt. Bethel on Elkton Charge and another
on Augusta Charge). In 1921 Bethel reported 64 members but only 15 in 1946. Bethel was not listed
with the other churches in 1950. In 1952 the Conference Board of Missions authorized that “the
Conference sell Bethel Church on Lacey Spring charge to the [Church of the] Brethren congregation,
provided they will sell the Virginia Conference their interest in Harper’s Chapel Church on Franklin
charge.” There is no further mention of the Bethel congregation in Conference Minutes.
17 [Glovier 1965, p. 169] equates Bethel U.B. Church identified in [Funkhouser 1921, p. 193] with Mountain Valley EUB
Church. The picture Glovier uses for Mountain Valley (upper right, taken from the cemetery) is clearly the church
identified by Harrisonburg Rockingham County Historical Association (the other two photos above) for their listing of
Mt. Bethel Cemetery, in which the gate over the entrance to the cemetery reads, “Bethel Cemetery,” as shown above.
II.B.3 Bethel U.B. Church 53
