Hi Shirley and everyone. There is so much history of the Church of the Brethren here in Shenandoah County, and I really need to learn more. One good book I need to study is here in my library, THE BRETHREN IN VIRGINIA by Roger E. Sappington. Besides all the history of the beginning of the denomination over in Germany it includes most all of the COB churches in Shenandoah County and information about each. We, Brethren were called the German Baptist Brethren early on and the name was changed to the Church of the Brethren in 1908. I don't know of other name changes in between, but will see what I can find out. Our church was still known at the Dunkard Church when I was young. If you look on Lakes Atlas in 1885 you will see the site there at Detrick/Fort Cross Roads just has "Dunkard Church" where the Oak Hill Church of the Brethren stands today. It was built in 1871. In the 1973 copyrighted book, The Brethren in Virginia it is called the Powell's Fort Congregation. When I was a child attending that church (circa late 1940's through the early 60's) the program there was very limited, according to the author of the book. However, my mother saw that the church got its first piano circa 1960. She also saw to it that I took piano lessons and became the first pianist. Shelvie Lickliter Mantz soon learned to play the piano, too, and became the second. What a close bond we had in that little church!!! The church program may have been limited, but our imaginations and FAITH were not. Harry McClanahan was the song leader, and taught the Jr High Sunday School Class and then our Sr High Class. Students in our class were Dorothy and Bobby Reynard, Gary and Lowell McClanahan, Sandra Lichliter, Joyce and Shelvie Lichliter, Johnny and Danny Plauger, Margaret and Eddie Hunt, and Margaret Skyles. A few of us were in a little singing group which went to other churches and provided special music for revivals. Our theme song was "Does Jesus Care?" The number of songs I could play well on the piano was limited!!! Most of the group of the junior class joined the church at the same time. We all went forward and accepted Jesus as our Savior when a Rev Grubbs from over at Martinsburg WV was holding revival. We were baptized in Passage Creek on George McClanahan's farm in the upper end of Fort Valley by Lawrence Helsley who was our regular pastor. I remember the two front doors of the old church where the men and women entered separately. Some day I will share old pictures. I remember helping with the Love Feast. The beef was cooked in a black kettle in the fireplace in the little attached kitchen on the back side of the church. We had beef broth over bread in pottery bowls and wonderful beef sandwiches. Everyone drank out of the same tin cup that was passed around with the grape juice for communion, and we all had extras of Mom's communion bread after the feast!!! Earlier we had washed each others' feet. There are also the progressive Brethren churches such as the Trinity Brethren Church at Dry Run and the Maurertown Brethren Church. I don't know much about these others. The term Brethren identifies several Christian groups of common origin, at an earlier date frequently called "Dunkers," of which the Church of the Brethren is today the largest. The movement began in Germany in 1708 as part of the spiritual awakening called Pietism. In that year a small group led by Alexander Mack (1679 - 1735) baptized one another by immersion, facedown, three times in a flowing stream: this form of Baptism became a distinctive practice. Mack and his followers migrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in 1719. Since then, small groups have broken away from the main body, either because it seemed too liberal or not liberal enough. Among all Brethren, trine immersion is practiced and a pacifist witness maintained. I've been trying to find the old records from the 1800's of the Valley Pike Church of the Brethren, but having no success. My great grandfather, Noah Grandstaff, may have gone there as a teenager. Who knows, maybe someday I'll find the records on eBay?!? I did find the online ebook about Elder John Kline and read part of it. He was the Martyr German Baptist Brethren Missionary from Rockingham County who traveled all over Shenandoah County. West VA and all around. What a remarkable person and interesting reading. You can find it here: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16711 More about Elder Kline here. http://www.rootsweb.com/~varockin/kline/introduction.htm While times have changed, the Church of the Brethren today maintains the basic beliefs of the first Brethren and seeks to find new ways to continue the work of Jesus in the world. Later, Nancy "Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life......." Phil 2:15, 16 NIV From: "Shirley Starks" < [email protected]> Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] A Christian Influence Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:41:20 -0800 Nancy, What is the history of the various Church of the Brethren in Shen Co, VA and the whole Shenandoah valley? Was there an early version of this group? (1750 - 1800 era) I do not find my Russell family's names on any of the known church rosters. This caused me to wonder if they might have been either unaffiliated or with another church. (Do not find them with the Quakers. ) Most were born before Beckford Parish was established in Shenandoah Co, VA.