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As we travel the roads of Rappahannock we are aware of the numerous churches that dot our countryside. Most denominations have been represented at one time or another. However, do you know the oldest of the Baptist churches? Many believe it is the Mt. Salem Baptist Church but while it is on the National Register of Historic Places it is not the oldest. In 1773 there was the Battle Run Church at Ben Venue, then known as Gaines Cross Roads. In 1778 the Ragged Mountain Church was established. It was later called the F.T. Church, not to be confused with the original F.T. Church, which was Colonial Episcopal. In 1779 the Thornton’s Gap Baptist Church was established. It wasn’t until November 27, 1824 that Mt. Salem was constituted.
The original membership of Mt. Salem consisted of men, women and blacks. It was most unusual for blacks to be members of a white church at that time in our history. They called as their first pastor William F. Broaddus. The minutes of the church were begun on December 25, 1824 and recorded by
See HISTORIES, Page A5
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