Ketoctin Baptist Church sits beyond a grove of mature oaks and evergreens adjacent to Ketoctin Church Road, two miles north of SR 7 and three miles east of Round Hill in western Loudoun County. Allder School Road borders the property to the north, and Ketoctin Church Road forms the boundary to the east. Farmland surrounds the church, which sits on approximately 18.75 acres of land at the base of the south end of Short Hill Mountain located just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.¹

This was one of the most historic sites we have ever visited. Not only the history but also the cemetery. We have really enjoyed writing this one up. The following Richmond Times-Dispatch article dated May 27, 1928, is the most detailed historic find our research produced. Following this news article are some key points we gleaned from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.

Ancient Church in Loudoun Dear to the Hearts of Baptists

Old Ketoctin Edifice Near Purcellville, Built About 1740, Has Had Continuous Existence From Its Origin and Is Shrine of Worshippers of Denomination.

By M. Grace Brooks.

PURCELLVILLE, VA., May 26 – In a quiet, peaceful spot about a mile north of the town of Purcellville, there stands a church which is dear to the heart of every Baptist in the State. This church, the most ancient shrine of the Virginia Baptists, is named “Ketoctin” which the Indian name for the stream near-by. The word “Ketoctin” means “the ancient wooded hill,” and rightfully is it call “the wooded hill.” It occupies an eminence which overlooks the beautiful country around and is surrounded by trees centuries old, which have faithfully guarded their sacred trust though all these years.

This church is the oldest Baptist church in Virginia, having a continuous existence from its origin. It is supposed to have been formed somewhere in the 1740’s, but was not constituted and named until the years 1755 or ’56.

The formation of this church is most interesting. According to an historical pamphlet compiled in 1906 by Rev. F. H. James, committee of the church, the Baptists of Virginia originated from three widely separated sources. The first were emigrants, who had come from England at different times and settled in Eastern Virginia, Isle of Wight County, and about the year 1714 united in forming a church which they named “Burleigh.”

Menaced by Indians.

The second party came from near Baltimore, Md., and settled in Northern Virginia on the Opequan Creek, Berkley County, now West Virginia, and at once organized themselves into a church which they named “Mill Creek.” Both of these churches soon ceased to exist. The third source of Virginia Baptists may be traced as follows: About ten years after the second, or Mill Creek Church, had been organized, a preacher by the named of Shubal Stearns, who had been converted under the preaching of George Whitefield and afterwards (1751) became a Baptist, migrated southward from his home I Massachusetts with a few of his members and halted for a short time in the Mill Creek neighborhood. But later on (1755) he settled in North Carolina, where his little church of sixteen members increased in two or three years to more than 600. His influence was felt throughout all that region and extended far up into Virginia.

When Mr. Stears halted with the Mill Creek brethren in 1754, John Garrard, a native of Pennsylvania, was their pastor. At that time the French and Indian War was in progress. Braddock’s defeat near Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg, occurred the next year (1775). The Indians, emboldened by their success, made frequent incursions into the then border counties of Virginia, Berkley and Hampshire, killing and scalping the settlers wherever found. Pastor Garrard and his flock refugeed east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and encamped on Ketoctin, near the site of the present church. So far as known there was no minister or church of any denomination, not even the Episcopal, nearer Alexandria or Warrenton, and the people were ungodly. So great was the influence of John Garrard’s zeal, that many came to hear him, conversions and baptisms followed and in 1755 or ’56 the church was constituted and named.

Minute Book Preserved.

It is supposed that there were about twenty persons who united in the formation of this church. The first record in the minute book, which has been preserved for 150 years, gives the names of fifty as follows: Michael Summers, John Marks and wife, Rach Ozben, Sarah Ozben, Rebeckony White, Mary Ozben, Thomas Humphrey and wife, Elias James and wife, Benjamin Dowie, Robert Maccoly and wife, William Borum and wife, Peter Romine and wife, George Lewis and wife, William Morley, James Loyd, Ruth Loyd, Ezebel Wilson, Ester Bosley, Mary Lewis, John Hall and wife, Sarah Russell, Abel Morgan, Thomas West, John Williams, May Mckinney, Elizabeth Ames, Elizabeth Barton, Fathia Milnor, John Summers and wife, Jemime Summers, Samuel Hill, Hannah Moreland, Joseph Powel, Elizabeth Carter and Martha James.

During the War of the Revolution and for many years thereafter the church did not make much progress. Indeed at times it seemed it would cease to exist altogether. Often the church was pastorless and the membership declined to ten or twelve. But the old church was not destined to perish and when Joseph Baker became pastor in 1824, it splendid progress began.

Becomes Prominent Church.

It became one of the most prominent churches in the Commonwealth. Even the antimission controversy which caused divisions in many churches affected her little. Neither did the “War Between the States” inflict any permanent injury to her onward march. Shortly after the conflict had ceased, she entertained the Potomac Association royally and continued to grow as though nothing had happened, although the war had ravaged so much of the Southland. By the third year after the war she reached her apex in vitality, for the records show she had preaching two Sundays in the month, paid her pastors $400 and contributed to general benevolence $400 more. Her membership gradually increased until Baptist churches were erected in Round Hill, Hamilton and Waterford, which drew greatly from her number.

Four Churches Built.

Ketoctin has built and occupied four houses of worship. The first in 1756; the second in 1780. These two were most probably made of rough, unhewn logs, with only small apertures for windows and crude finishings on the interior. Yet one’s imagination can readily picture these stately old Cavaliers, the matrons with their powdered curls, and the maid with their ruffles and frills, gathering in these old meeting houses to worship God with devoted hearts and reverent spirit. Though crude as it all might seem to us today, they found the same faith there that today lightens our burdens and carries us through the store and strife.

The third church was of stone and was begun in 1800 and completed in 1815. Part of the stone from this church was used to build the walls which enclose a portion of the cemetery.

The present church, which is a handsome brick edifice, was erected in 1804. It is nicely finished and in a fine state of preservation. How vastly different from that first rough church, yet the ideas and principles are the same and have only been strengthened and more firmly rooted during the 170 years of its existence.

The first mention of a contribution of money by this church was in 1777 as follow: “Cash for the communion table 1 pound 10 s., given by seven members. The next year 1 pound 11 s, and 3 p. were given to the same object by fifteen members.

The first mention of money for the pastor was in 1804. The first mention of the amount of salary paid was in 1855 of $200 to Pastor Samuel Rogers for preaching twice a month. Since 1865 she has remunerated her pastors more generously.

Has Had Twenty Pastors.

Ketoctin has had twenty pastors, as follow, John Garrard, 1756-60. He did much voluntary missionary work throughout Northern Virginia and died in Clarke County about 1785. John Marks, the next pastor, 1760-1785, who was a resident of this county and whose body now lies near the center of the old graveyard. He has been the only pastor whose final resting place was committed to the care of this ancient church. John Munroe, of Fauquier County, was the next pastor from 1779-1797.

John Hutchison followed him and served the church seven years. Then a brother Freemand was pastor for one year. Francis Moore came next a remained about a year. William Gilmore followed from 1807-1816. He was succeeded by Henry Toler, who remained only about six months. David McIntosh, a Scotchman, served the church for the next three years and he was followed by Thomas McMann, who stayed two years. Then came Joseph Baker, who served the church from 1834 to 1841. He was very successful in his pastorate, many members being added to the church during his ministry. Joseph T. Massey served next for six years. He was followed by Traverse D. Herndon, who was to have preached the dedicatory sermon of the present house of worship, but instead his funeral discourse was among the first services held in this house. He was followed by Samuel Hamilton Rogers, who served the church for three years. Then came Henry W. Dodge, D. D., who after a year resigned to accept a call to the first church of Lynchburg, Va. He afterwards served the church a second time, but for only a year. Dr. Dodge was followed in 1860 by George W. Harris, who served the church for six years. His pastorate covered the period of the Civil War and was greatly interfered with thereby. He was released from the pastorate by his churches to become a chaplain of the 8^th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A., and was severely wounded in the battle of Seven Pines. In 1864 he was arrested at his home and with many other prominent citizens was placed in exposed position on Federal trains on Manassas Gap Railroad to prevent attack by Mosby’s men. He left Virginia for the pastorate of the church of Shelbyville, Kentucky. Thomas Benton Shepherd, of Clarke County, began his pastorate in 1866 and remained four years.

In August, 1872, Rev. Isaac B. Lake assumed the pastorate of the church and labored faithfully among his people until the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Upperville, August 26,1922. So far as is know this was the longest Baptist pastorate in the history of Virginia Baptists. During the latter years of Dr. Lake’s ministry, several supply pastors assisted him in his work. Re, George F. Baker, of Hamilton, served as supply pastor from August, 1919 to August 1920, and Rev. R.P. Rixey of Fredericksburg, VA served as supply pastor from November, 1920, to February, 1921, until Dr. Lake’s death. From that time until October, 1925, Rev. Rixey served the church as her pastor. Rev Charles T. Taylor, of Emporia, VA., the present pastor, began his work here April 1, 1926.

The writer in an interview with some of the older members of the church was touched by the great love that existed for this ancient house of God. Many of them can trace their ancestry back to those first members, who braved the dangers and hardships of pioneer life that we may enjoy the religious freedom that rightfully is ours.

The church is well kept and the grounds surrounding it are in a splendid state of preservation. As the years pass she will be more tenderly cared for that posterity may enjoy this ancient shrine.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM

Historical Background

Ketoctin Baptist Church stands as a monument to two hundred and fifty years of worship among the people of westem Loudoun County. The Baptist church was first noted when the denomination was constituted on October 8, 1751.² It is believed that two log meeting houses were built on the present site, 1756 and 1780 respectively, followed by a stone meeting house, built between 1800 and 1815. The stone building preceded the current brick building which was completed in 1854.³

The name Ketoctin has been spelled a variety of ways throughout the years. The name was taken from the Indian word for the stream that flows nearby and is reputed to mean “the ancient wooded hill.” Records indicate that when the church was constituted in 1751, the church was named Ketocton. Since 1886 the spelling has been changed to Ketoctin.⁴

Land grants for Loudoun County were made by Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax and some of the earliest settlers appeared in 1731-33 .⁵ John Covill received a land patent in 1741, a portion of which later became the site for Ketoctin Baptist Church.⁶ This part of Virginia east of the Blue Ridge Mountains was originally part of Stafford County established in 1664. Stafford County was divided several times, forming Prince William County in 1731, Fairfax County in 1742 and Loudoun County in 1757.⁷

Several denominations preceded the Baptists in establishing churches in Loudoun County. Among them were the Anglicans, Quakers, Presbyterian, and Lutheran congregations.⁸

Records indicate that the Baptists in Virginia originated from three sources. “The first were emigrants from England, who, about the year 1714 settled in the southeastem parts of the State (the General Baptists). About 1743 another party came from Maryland and formed a settlement in the northwest (the Regular Baptists)… A third party (the Separate Baptists or New Lights) came from New England.”⁹ Ketoctin Baptist Church was formed from the second group.

In 1750 Owen Thomas and Benjamin Miller from the Philadelphia Baptist Association were appointed “to write a letter to some people in Fairfax, County, Virginia, in behalf of the association.”¹⁰ The Philadelphia Baptist Association was founded in Pennsylvania in 1707 to provide leadership for the Baptist movement in the colonies.¹¹ The association appointed Thomas and Miller “to travel to Virginia pursuant to two applications,” one from the Mill Creek General Baptist Church in Frederick County (now in Berkeley County, West Virginia) and the other from Ketoctin.”¹² Both churches were received into the association in 1754.¹³ Several records indicate that John Thomas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, helped to organize the Ketoctin Baptist Church and was its first missionary pastor.¹⁴ Later the church extended an invitation to John Gano who had accompanied Thomas on one of his visits. Gano accepted ordination and traveled to Virginia. ¹⁵ These two missionary preachers provided services to the Ketoctin Church through the mid-1750s.¹⁶

Meanwhile the Mill Creek Baptist Church received a resident minister around 1756, John Gartard [Gerrard]. After the defeat of General Braddock, Garrard and his congregation fled from Frederick County (now Berkeley County, West Virginia) across the Blue Ridge Mountains into the area of Ketoctin Church. Around 1756 Garrard was invited by the church to become the first resident pastor, which he accepted, and the two congregations were united.¹⁷

Most likely the first gatherings of the congregation occurred in people’s homes, and it is believed that the first church was made of logs and was built on the present site around 1756.¹⁸ Records indicate that in 1763, Nicholass and Mary Ozbom conveyed land for the Baptist Church.¹⁹ The deed states:

Grantor Nicholass and Mary Ozbom of Loudoun County, first part, and Peter Romine and Henry Lloyd (Frederick County). . . two acres or 250 poles for the use of the Baptist Church where now the meeting house is built. . . .²⁰

After the danger of Indian attacks had passed, the Mill Creek congregation retumed to their church in Frederick County between 1757-1760.²¹ Ketoctin Baptist Church then called John Marks as its pastor. Marks had been a member of John Thomas’s home church in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, prior to coming to Virginia.²² By 1765 Ketoctin and Mill Creek Baptist Churches, along with Smith’s Creek Baptist Church in Shenandoah County, requested to be dismissed from the Philadelphia Association to form a separate association. This request was made because of the distance that had to be traveled for annual meetings and other events. The Philadelphia Association agreed and representatives from the three churches, along with Broad Run Baptist Church in Fauquier County, met and formed Virginia’s first Baptist association in 1766. The association was named Ketocton Association because the Ketoctin Baptist Church hosted the constitution. Ten years later this association had twenty churches in its membership.²³

Members of Ketoctin Church were hard working farmers and tradesmen who possessed modest land holdings. Like other Baptists and dissenters, they were not pleased with the established church. Pastor Marks is listed as an ardent patriot and he “. . . actively espoused the Revolutionary cause . . . [and] was strongly opposed to all the efforts of the British government to levy any kind of taxes on the colonies but with equal vigor he opposed the established church and all the efforts of England to levy taxes for its support. . . So intense did the patriotic sentiment become under the fostering zeal of Marks that nearly every man of military age in that section enlisted in the Continental Army.²⁴ It is believed that meetings for the revolutionary cause may have been held at Ketoctin Baptist Church.

Ketoctin Baptist Church has been served by twenty-three ministers. Dr. Isaac B. Lake served the longest period of time – 1872-1921. A plaque bearing the names of the ministers has been placed on the south wall of the meeting room.

The trompe I ‘oeil mural on the north interior wall of the church is attributed to Lucien Whiting Powell, a local artist, who was born in 1846 and raised at Levinworth Manor, the Loudoun County estate of his father, John Levin Powell. Through the encouragement of his mother who recognized his artistic talents, Lucien Powell studied art at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts under Thomas Moran. Although he is known for his landscape paintings, Powell did many other works as well. The Ebenezer Baptist Church in Loudoun County, placed on the National Register in 1994, also has a trompe I’oeil mural done by him around the same time. Powell’s work was admired by many including Theodore Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover. Although he settled in the Washington, D C. area, he acquired a summer home in Loudoun County near where he had grown up and named it Powellton [Airmont]. The building that housed his studio still exists there today.²⁵

The cemetery, a contributing resource, of Ketoctin Baptist Church is the burial ground for four centuries of families and individuals ranging from early settlers of Loudoun County to present day members of the community. It contains the graves of former pastors. Revolutionary War soldiers and Civil War soldiers. Most of the markers in the older sections of the cemetery face east as was the custom of the early churches. Some family plots have been set off” separately from the others within the cemetery by stone walls, concrete blocks, iron fencing, and low concrete dividers. Since the 1950s the church and grounds have been under the care of the Ketoctin Baptist Church Board of Trustees appointed by the court of Loudoun County.

As the wind continues to whisper through the giant oaks, the Ketoctin Baptist Church and its cemetery reveal a story about the importance of this place in the hearts and lives of the people of Loudoun County.

Cemetery

The church building is surrounded on the north and west sides by a cemetery, and contains graves from the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries including those of some Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers. The earliest grave recorded dates to 1777. A stone wall composed mostly of native fieldstones, encloses the older sections of the cemetery, and some family plots within the cemetery have stone walls as well. The Ketoctin Baptist Church and grounds have been well maintained and have retained their integrity during the near century and a half of the church’s existence. ²⁶

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS – KETOCTIN CEMETERY

WAR OF 1812 VETERANS – KETOCTIN CEMETERY

PVT JOHN CHAMBLIN 1794-1840
CPT JAMES COCHRAN 1774-1851
CPL ANDREW COPELAND 1791-1855
PVT JESSE D DOWELL 1798-1867
PVT ANDREW GRAHAM 1773-1862
PVT JAMES HILL 1774-1860
PVT MARCUS HUMPHEY 1784-1839
CPT THOMAS LESLIE 1776-1820
PVT ALFRED OSBURN 1793-1841
PVT BALAAM OSBURN 1792-1846
PAYMASTER CRAVEN OSBURN 1782-1846

Civil War Casualty Clinton Hatcher

Standing over 6’4″ and wearing a full red beard, Clinton Hatcher was a memorable figure. Despite his Quaker upbringing, he joined Company F of the 8th Virginia at the beginning of the war and became the regimental color bearer. This combined with his height and notable beard to make him quite a target and he was, in fact, killed during the battle. This memorial stone was placed here to honor his courage. Hatcher is not buried here but rests in the Ketoctin Baptist Church Cemetery near Purcellville, Virginia, a few miles west of Leesburg.²⁷

Description from National Register of Historic Places

Interior

The interior of Ketoctin Baptist Church has been well maintained. The two entrance doors on the southern facade open into separate foyers, each measuring approximately twelve-and-one-half feet by six feet. The west entrance provides entry into the large meeting room as well as entry into a smaller room, originally used as the library, located between the two foyers.²⁸ The door to the library appears to have its original hardware. The east entrance door provides entry into the large meeting room and to the gallery above through a boxed staircase. The stairs consist of two flights and one landing and has three-and-one-half-foot-wide treads and with eight-and-one-half-inch-tall risers. Tongue-and-groove beaded paneling, approximately seven and three quarters inches in width, encase the stairs. The side entrance door on the western elevation also leads to the gallery and has matching woodwork and a single-flight stairs. The interior doors leading to the main meeting room from the two foyers have shoulder surrounds seven inches in width topped by a two-inch border and the doors have two raised vertical panels with rising joint hinges. Baseboards in both foyers are seven inches wide and are topped by quarter-round molding. The ceiling slants down to accommodate the gallery above. Electric lighting has been added to these entrances and vinyl coverings placed on the floors

Interior Photos

1. National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet – SUMMARY DESCRIPTION ↩︎
2. Lewis Peyton Little, Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia (Lynchburg, Virginia: J. P. Bell Company, hic, 1938), 26. Leslie A. Purtlebaugh, “The Baptists of Ketoctin Church, 1751-1782,” (Privately published, 1997), 1. Also see A.D. Gillette {QA)., Minutes of the Philadelphia Association 1709-1806 (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1851), 93. ↩︎
3. Rev. F. H. James, “A Brief Historical Sketch of Ketoctin Baptist Church from Its Organization 150 Years Ago, [unpublished, 1906], 9. Rev. James spoke this message at Sesqui-Centennial celebration of the church on the fifth Sunday in November 1906. This document is located at the Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, Virginia, Lewis Drawer, File No. 53308. ↩︎
4. Robert Semple, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia, second edition (Richmond, Virginia: John O’Lynch, 1894), 394. ↩︎
5. John T. Phillips, II, The Historian’s Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia, Volume 1 (Leesburg, VA: Goose Creek Publication, 1996), 12. Netti Schreiner-Yants, Loudoun County: Original Land Grants in Six Sections (Section A) Springfield, VA: [unknown] ↩︎
6. Ibid., Netti Schreiner-Yants. ↩︎
7. J R. V. Daniel, A Hornbook of Virginia History (Richmond, VA: Virginia Department of Conservation and Development, 1949), 13-19. Charles P. Poland, Jr., From Frontier to Suburbia (Marceline, Missouri: Walsworth Publishing Company, 1976), 12. ↩︎
8. Briscoe Goodhart, Pennsylvania Germans, “The Pennsylvania Germans in Loudoun County, Virginia,” (East Greenville, Pennsylvania, March 1908), 125 and 131. ↩︎
9. Semple, 11. ↩︎
10. Gillette, 65. Although Gilette refers to the second person as Benjamin Griffith, most references list the name as Benjamin Miller ↩︎
11. Brackney, William H., (gen. ed ). Baptist Life and Thought 1600-1980 (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Judson Press, 1983), 99. ↩︎
12. Robert G. Gardner, “The Ketoctin and Philadelphia Associations in the 18* Century”, The Virginia Baptists. Register 27, 1988), 1365. ↩︎
13. Joseph W. A. Whitehome, ” Baptists and Yams Did Not Grow Well in the Shenandoah Valley” (Privately published, 1998), 9. Also see David Benedict, .4 General History of the Baptist Denomination in America, Vol 2 ↩︎
14. Gamett Ryland, The Baptists of Virginia (1699-1926), (Richmond, Virginia: Whittet and Shepperson, 1955), 9. A. H. Newman, A History of the Baptist Churches in the United States (New York: The Christian Literatttre Company, 1894), 275. ↩︎
15. William V. Ford (ed.), Ketoctin Chronicle (Leesburg, Virginia: Potomac Press, 1965), 4 ↩︎
16. Blanche S. White, Silhouettes of Baptist Life in Virginia (Richmond, Virginia: Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia. 1965), 14. ↩︎
17. Whitehome, 9. ↩︎
18. Eleanor Lee Templeman and Nan Netherton, Ketoctin Baptist Church, privately published, 1966, 137. ↩︎
19. Loudoun County Circuit Court, Deed Book C (.QQs)\a%, Virginia: 29 March 1763), 630-632. ↩︎
20. The original deed has a blank space before Baptist Church (words appear to be erased). The author believes that it is possible that the church had not been officially named at that point. ↩︎
21. Purtlebaugh, The Baptists of Ketoctin Church, 1751-1782. John T. Phillips, II, The Historian’s Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia: Colonial laws of Virginia and County Court Orders 1757-1766, Volume 1 (Leesburg, Virginia: Goose Creek Publications, 1996), 56. This resource mentions that on May 14, 1760, John Gerrard [Garrard] was recommended a “proper person to be added to the Commission of the Peace”, and it appeared that he was never appointed as a Loudoun justice, most likely because he retuned to Berkeley County. Minutes of Mill Creek Church begin in 1757 which could indicate a return to the home church. Notes of Rev. Parker Thompson (unpublished), Winchester, Virginia. ↩︎
22. Ibid., The Baptists of Ketoctin Church, 1751-1782. ↩︎
23. Ibid., 4. ↩︎
24. Hamson Williams, Legends of Loudoun Valley (Richmond, Virginia: Garrett and Massie, Inc., 1938) 83-84. ↩︎
25. Andrew J. Cosentmo, The Capital Image: Painters in Washington, [Unknown]. Eileen Vroom, phone interview by author, December 2002, Notes in files of Interviewee, Blumont, Virginia, and files of author, Winchester, Virginia. Loudoun Times Mirror, -‘L. H. Powell, Loudoun: Artist, Dies at 84,” October 2, 1930, [unknown]. Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Ebenezer Baptist Churches National Register Nomination, File No. 053-0140, Richmond, Virginia. ↩︎
26. National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Page 1, Section 1 ↩︎
27. Ball’s Bluff Regional Park/Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Historical Marker ↩︎
28. John T. Phillips, II, The Historian’s Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia, Volume 1 (Leesburg, VA: Goose Creek Publication, 1996), 12. Netti Schreiner-Yants, Loudoun County: Original Land Grants in Six Sections (Section A) Springfield, VA: [unknown]. ↩︎