Augusta Stone Church
Encyclopedia
Augusta Stone Church is a Presbyterian (PCUSA) place of worship located in Augusta County
in the Commonwealth of Virginia
, USA in the unincorporated community of Fort Defiance
. The church was one of two meeting houses established by The Congregation of the Triple Forks of the Shenandoah in the year 1740. Augusta Stone and sister meeting house Tinkling Spring were both served by the Rev. John Craig. The final structure which was completed in 1749 is still in use and holds the distinction of being the oldest Presbyterian Church in continuous use in Virginia.
raids; construction began in 1747 and was completed two years later. An old tale says there is a "secret passageway" in the minister's office that was meant for time of war. However, no member of the church has seen the alleged secret passageway, and there are no references to it in church records. In the early 1800s the small community near the church became known as Fort Defiance. The stone church has been in continuous use since 1749, making it the oldest Presbyterian house of worship in continuous use in Virginia. Two major additions were added to the rear of the church. The transepts in the sanctuary and a wing of rooms and offices were added in 1921-22, and a large social hall (called "John Craig Hall") and kitchen which were completed in 1956. The church has its a museum on the property containing artifacts from the church's early history.
The two cemeteries at the church contain the graves of Revolutionary and Civil War veterans. The museum houses the baptismal records of the Rev. John Craig from 1740-1749.
(also known as the Lee Highway
) adjacent to Fort Defiance High, Clymore Elementary, and Stuart Gordon Middle schools in the Shenandoah Valley
, eight miles north of Staunton
and 15 miles south of Harrisonburg
in the small, unincorporated community of Fort Defiance
, Virginia
.
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA in the unincorporated community of Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance, Virginia
Fort Defiance is an unincorporated community in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Augusta Stone Church was established in the area now known as Fort Defiance in 1740...
. The church was one of two meeting houses established by The Congregation of the Triple Forks of the Shenandoah in the year 1740. Augusta Stone and sister meeting house Tinkling Spring were both served by the Rev. John Craig. The final structure which was completed in 1749 is still in use and holds the distinction of being the oldest Presbyterian Church in continuous use in Virginia.
History
The congregation was founded in 1740 by the Rev. John Craig, and a log meeting house was constructed 1/4-mile from the present stone church. The stone church which was intended to serve as both a meeting house and a fort against Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
raids; construction began in 1747 and was completed two years later. An old tale says there is a "secret passageway" in the minister's office that was meant for time of war. However, no member of the church has seen the alleged secret passageway, and there are no references to it in church records. In the early 1800s the small community near the church became known as Fort Defiance. The stone church has been in continuous use since 1749, making it the oldest Presbyterian house of worship in continuous use in Virginia. Two major additions were added to the rear of the church. The transepts in the sanctuary and a wing of rooms and offices were added in 1921-22, and a large social hall (called "John Craig Hall") and kitchen which were completed in 1956. The church has its a museum on the property containing artifacts from the church's early history.
The two cemeteries at the church contain the graves of Revolutionary and Civil War veterans. The museum houses the baptismal records of the Rev. John Craig from 1740-1749.
Location
Augusta Stone Church is located on U.S. Route 11U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
(also known as the Lee Highway
Lee Highway
The Lee Highway was a National Auto Trail in the United States connecting New York City and San Francisco, California via the South and Southwest. It was named after Robert E...
) adjacent to Fort Defiance High, Clymore Elementary, and Stuart Gordon Middle schools in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
, eight miles north of Staunton
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
and 15 miles south of Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
in the small, unincorporated community of Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance, Virginia
Fort Defiance is an unincorporated community in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Augusta Stone Church was established in the area now known as Fort Defiance in 1740...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.