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| From: https://lbbaptistchurchtheplains.com/ |
On Saturday I had the chance to tour the inside of Long Branch Baptist Church in Halfway and hear more about it's history; courtesy of Rev Billy Tatum of Antioch Baptist Church and member Sally Griffith. After years of driving by this historical gem, it truly was an honor to finally get inside the sanctuary and see where many of our ancestors worshipped. It appeared that both the lower and upper pews are original and not refinished from the day they were installed.
According to a 1937 Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical inventory by researcher Francis B. Foster, Long Branch began life in 1786 "some three quarters of a mile from the present structure"(1). It was situated at the fork of The Plains and Hopewell roads on Long Branch, a tributary of the Little River. Apparently this earlier church was of wood construction. And there is mention of a "burying ground" long since obliterated. The current church does not have a cemetery. An auxiliary wing was added in 1959.
For a more detailed history, we can turn to John Gott's book (2). Here we learn that following the disconnect of Virginia government from the colonial era Church of England, a religious revival of sorts began around 1785 that lead to the establishment of many new churches and meeting houses of Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian denomination. During this era "It was under the pastoral care of Elder Monroe that Long Branch Church was constituted, in the year 1786, with a membership of twenty-five persons, and united to the Ketocton Association".
In 1817, it was resolved that a new church be built. The "hauling of stone commenced in March [1818] and first meeting was held in the new house in July 1820. The deed for the house was given by James S. Pickett and wife".
In addition to a detailed history for the years leading up to 1967, Gott includes excerpts from the Record Books as well as a member list for the years 1807-1868. Here we see the names of many of our ancestors and local residents of the Halfway area. Of particular note for descendants of Baldwin Lunsford we find listings for Wormeley Lunceford (baptized 1857), Mary Lunceford (1830). Marian Luntzford (1841; actually Marion P. Lunceford m. Ephraim Hawes), Judith Luntzford (1841; actually Judith "Judy" Lunceford m. Craven Walker), Margaret Luntzford (1841; married W. Garrison), Mrs. Wormeley Lunceford (1857) and Mrs. E. Chilton Lunceford (1857).
(1) Long Branch Baptist Church. Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory. Francis B. Foster. February 15, 1937. WPA, US Government.
(2) History of Long Branch Baptist Church, Fauquier County, Virginia (1786-1967). Edited and self published by John K. Gott. The Williams Printing Co., Richmond, VA,1967.
UPDATE: Last Sunday (September 17, 2023) we attended the Long Branch homecoming service and luncheon. It was a real treat sitting in the pews and wondering where our Lunceford/Lunsford ancestors sat when they were there. 237 years and still going strong.
