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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
Chapel of Ease.
2. LOCATION:
In bottom of Silver Lake.
3. DATE:
Prior to Revolutionary War, exact date unknown.
4. OWNERS:
The town of Dayton, Virginia, now owns the original site of this Episcopal Parish, to which chapel of ease
belonged, which is in the lakebed of an artificial lake that has been made by the town of Dayton.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is now a modern brick building, in good repair, with no trace of early architecture, as it has been rebuilt
and remodeled several times.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Episcopal Parish (Early Churches)
This Parish was organized some years before the Revolutionary War, the exact date not known, organized under
Rev. Mr. Belmaine with two places of worship, namely,, one at Dayton, Virginia., called the “Chapel of Ease,”,
and one near Cross Keys. During the Struggle for Independence, the parishes were neglected and went to ruin.
No record of religious worship for sixty years in either parish. In 1850 an effort to revive the work was made by
Rev. Jas. B. Goodwin, as minister, and later by Rev. John C. Wheat, vice-principal of the Virginia Female
Institute of Staunton, Virginia. This man, Wheat, is from one of the very early and prominent Wheat families in
Eastern Rockingham County.
After the War Between the States, in 1865, parishes were re-organized in different parts of the county and
Valley records of which will be found in more recent history. Four chapels are now being located in the Eastern
part of Rockingham County, namely, Sandy Bottom, St. Stephens, Rocky Bar, and Grace Memorial.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES:
Informant: J.K.Ruebush.
Court Records of Rockingham County at Harrisonburg, Virginia.
June 4, 2024 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 50 of 482
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
Chapel of Ease.
2. LOCATION:
In bottom of Silver Lake.
3. DATE:
Prior to Revolutionary War, exact date unknown.
4. OWNERS:
The town of Dayton, Virginia, now owns the original site of this Episcopal Parish, to which chapel of ease
belonged, which is in the lakebed of an artificial lake that has been made by the town of Dayton.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is now a modern brick building, in good repair, with no trace of early architecture, as it has been rebuilt
and remodeled several times.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Episcopal Parish (Early Churches)
This Parish was organized some years before the Revolutionary War, the exact date not known, organized under
Rev. Mr. Belmaine with two places of worship, namely,, one at Dayton, Virginia., called the “Chapel of Ease,”,
and one near Cross Keys. During the Struggle for Independence, the parishes were neglected and went to ruin.
No record of religious worship for sixty years in either parish. In 1850 an effort to revive the work was made by
Rev. Jas. B. Goodwin, as minister, and later by Rev. John C. Wheat, vice-principal of the Virginia Female
Institute of Staunton, Virginia. This man, Wheat, is from one of the very early and prominent Wheat families in
Eastern Rockingham County.
After the War Between the States, in 1865, parishes were re-organized in different parts of the county and
Valley records of which will be found in more recent history. Four chapels are now being located in the Eastern
part of Rockingham County, namely, Sandy Bottom, St. Stephens, Rocky Bar, and Grace Memorial.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES:
Informant: J.K.Ruebush.
Court Records of Rockingham County at Harrisonburg, Virginia.
June 4, 2024 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 50 of 482
