Page 59 - WPA Book
P. 59
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Old Linville Baptist Church.
2. LOCATION:
About 7 miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and about a mile and a half west of the Lincoln Homestead.
From Harrisonburg take Kratzer Road to intersection with State Route 260, there turn west (left) on to the
Lincoln Homestead and inquire there.
3. DATE:
1756.
4. OWNERS:
Rockingham records do not disclose who furnished the lot upon which the church was built.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Both the original house and what is left of the present house were built of logs. The first building was located
about a quarter of a mile to the southeast of the present location.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
One of the earliest communities in what is now Rockingham County, is that of Linville Creek, and furnished
much of historical interest occurring in this part of the county and also of the Valley. It is said to have taken its
name from a member of an old Linville family of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. One Linville, according to
the Orange County Court Orders took up land on the creek and was settled “above the ridge” in 1745. In this
year he was a Captain of Horse in his company of Militia.
One of the early established churches in Augusta, was the Linville Baptist Church. Before the building of this
church, its members and those of Smith’s Creek, were one congregation, worshiping together with the Smith
Creek Church at or near the Big Spring or at New Market, alternating with Linville Creek where services were
held in private homes, especially in the home of the Lincoln’s, Harrison’s and others. In June 1755, Silas Hart,
one of the first justices of the court of Rockingham, was admitted into transient communion. The church was
known as the Smith and Linville’s Creek Church, and was the first Baptist Church organized in Augusta County
and the second one gathering west of the Blue Ridge. The Smith and Linville’s Creek Church, afterwards called
Smith’s Creek Church, is said to have been constituted in 1756. There were some Baptist families at Linville
Creek as early as 1745.
This church kept a journal or session book of its meetings and, after several days patient searching, this book
was finally located and from it many interesting items were gleaned. I have never seen this book. It is said to be
in an excellent state of preservation, though time has turned its leaves yellow and worn away the edges in
places. A brown limp sheepskin back was used for the binding, and the first part of the book is in an excellent
handwriting, no doubt, that of John Lincoln, the clerk of the church, who was appointed in 1786 to copy the
record from an older book.
The pioneer church was organized, according to the old church book, this sixth day of August in the Year of our
Lord one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six, to join together in A Gospel Church Relation.” The book
begins with an introduction and prayer, and then, follows a lengthy “Covenant,” closing with the last paragraph
as follows: “We therefore hoping and relying upon Almighty God, for Grace, Wisdom and Spiritual
Understanding, Guidance, and Ability, to adorn this our Profession and covenant Promises; and to perform our
Duties, each to the other; and to bless us with Grace, suitable to our Privileges, that He in His Goodness and
Mercy hath bestowed upon us in His house; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Whom be Glory in the Church,
throughout all Ages, World without End. Amen.
Page 58 of 482
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Old Linville Baptist Church.
2. LOCATION:
About 7 miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and about a mile and a half west of the Lincoln Homestead.
From Harrisonburg take Kratzer Road to intersection with State Route 260, there turn west (left) on to the
Lincoln Homestead and inquire there.
3. DATE:
1756.
4. OWNERS:
Rockingham records do not disclose who furnished the lot upon which the church was built.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Both the original house and what is left of the present house were built of logs. The first building was located
about a quarter of a mile to the southeast of the present location.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
One of the earliest communities in what is now Rockingham County, is that of Linville Creek, and furnished
much of historical interest occurring in this part of the county and also of the Valley. It is said to have taken its
name from a member of an old Linville family of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. One Linville, according to
the Orange County Court Orders took up land on the creek and was settled “above the ridge” in 1745. In this
year he was a Captain of Horse in his company of Militia.
One of the early established churches in Augusta, was the Linville Baptist Church. Before the building of this
church, its members and those of Smith’s Creek, were one congregation, worshiping together with the Smith
Creek Church at or near the Big Spring or at New Market, alternating with Linville Creek where services were
held in private homes, especially in the home of the Lincoln’s, Harrison’s and others. In June 1755, Silas Hart,
one of the first justices of the court of Rockingham, was admitted into transient communion. The church was
known as the Smith and Linville’s Creek Church, and was the first Baptist Church organized in Augusta County
and the second one gathering west of the Blue Ridge. The Smith and Linville’s Creek Church, afterwards called
Smith’s Creek Church, is said to have been constituted in 1756. There were some Baptist families at Linville
Creek as early as 1745.
This church kept a journal or session book of its meetings and, after several days patient searching, this book
was finally located and from it many interesting items were gleaned. I have never seen this book. It is said to be
in an excellent state of preservation, though time has turned its leaves yellow and worn away the edges in
places. A brown limp sheepskin back was used for the binding, and the first part of the book is in an excellent
handwriting, no doubt, that of John Lincoln, the clerk of the church, who was appointed in 1786 to copy the
record from an older book.
The pioneer church was organized, according to the old church book, this sixth day of August in the Year of our
Lord one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six, to join together in A Gospel Church Relation.” The book
begins with an introduction and prayer, and then, follows a lengthy “Covenant,” closing with the last paragraph
as follows: “We therefore hoping and relying upon Almighty God, for Grace, Wisdom and Spiritual
Understanding, Guidance, and Ability, to adorn this our Profession and covenant Promises; and to perform our
Duties, each to the other; and to bless us with Grace, suitable to our Privileges, that He in His Goodness and
Mercy hath bestowed upon us in His house; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. To Whom be Glory in the Church,
throughout all Ages, World without End. Amen.
Page 58 of 482
