FLAT RUN BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
(Below is a chronological timeline of the history of Flat Run Baptist Church. If you are a former member, family member of a former pastor, or have historical information about the church please contact the church office so that we may continue to improve and make accurate the history of Flat run Baptist Church.
1849
Constituted April 9 1849.
Elders J.N. George from
Shiloh association, William R. Powell from the Salem Association, A.H. Bennett from the
Columbia.
“2 dozen members of Zoar Baptist Church founded Flat Run Meeting House in 1840.”
(pg.223
Plantation & Farm Scholotterbeck) Records show 3 different dates for Church inception.
1840, 1849, & 1904.
1849 is the agreed upon date.
The original church was located on the north side of Route 3 on the southern side of
Flat Run. An 1861-65 Confederate map shows the church at this original location.
A County map. possibly dated 1875 shows the same location.
Tradition says the old church burned.
1849-54
Joseph H. Gordon (5)
The 1849 September Annual Minutes from the Goshen Baptist Assoc. list J.H. Gordon & J.C. Willis as delegates.
It mentions Gordon has a license but is not ordained.
There is not pastor specifically mentioned until 1951.
Gordon most likely acted as the pastor the first two years.
Gordon lived in Stevensburg, VA.There were 16 members that first year with $58.00 given to missions.
1851
J.H. Gordon was ordained.
1855-57
James L. Powell
(3)
1856
52 members recorded.
1858-1894
John Churchill Willis (36)
Born 5-21-1824. Died 8-2-1894. Lived on Farm on Indiantown. He was a writer, farmer, pastor, surveyer, and county supervisor. Pastor of Zoar as well.
Longest tenured pastor in Flat Run’s history. The Honorable Willis, retired judge of the city of Fredericksburg, gave Flat Run Church a concordance given by the ladies of Flat Run as a gift.
1873
Deed records that the current land was obtained on May 4, 1873.
1 acre was given by John A. and Mary H. Gordon. The Church currently has 1.9 acres. We are not sure when the rest was picked up.
1878
Church Roster: 29 white male; 36 white female; 2 color.
1880
76 members recorded.
1894
(no pastor)
E.J. Wood filled pulpit supply
1895-1903
F.H. James
(8)
Voted on 5 Sun. Sept 1874.
Did not accept at this time.
F.H. James was extended invitation again upon his resignation at Louisa Church in June 1895.
Accepted July 1895.
1904
Hugh Goodwin (1)
1905-06
(no pastor) -Possibly the time when the church had burned down and moved locations
1907-10
Samuel Saunders (3)
-Also pastor of Rhoadesville Baptist
1911
(no pastor)
1912
G.W. Hurt
(1)
1913-14
(no pastor)
1915-25
E. G. Barnum
(10)
-Also pastor of Wilderness, Zoan,
Salem,
Goshen.
1926
(no pastor)
1927
E.G. Barnum
(1)
(returned for one year)
1928-1951
(no pastor/ no records) Church most likely
closed during this period.
1952
Joseph G. Graver Jr. (1)
-Reopened Flat Run.
1953
(no pastor)
1954
E. H. Davis
(1)
Supply preacher from Lignum
1955-57
William V. Burns (2)
1958
(no pastor)
1959
O.H. Hill
(1)
1960
(no pastor)
1961-63
Ryland Crews
(2)
(pastor of Wilderness & Flat Run)
1963-66
(no record of pastor)
1966-68
James L. Carfrey
(2)
(Resigned 4-28-68)
1967
Building dedication of
Sunday School Rooms (current
kitchen area.)
1968-72
John F. Perry Jr.
(4)
1971
Flat Run requested his ordination at this time
1973
William T. Price (1)
Resigned 7-29-73/
church closed after he resigned.
1974-80
Charlie Thomas
(6)
Ordained at Flat Run, resigned 12-31-80.
C
hurch was closed for period of time.
1981-86
Jim L. Hudgins
(5)
Terminated improperly 4-28-86 because he dismissed inactive members from the roster.
1986
Robert T. Joseph
1986-87
C
hurch was closed for period of time.
1987-92
Earl S. Cox
(5)
-Voted in 7-87. Resigned August 16 1992.
Sanctuary air conditioned.
Predicted to the Orange County Review that one day there would be a church of 600
people at this intersection.
1990
New front doors and steeple added
1992
Dr. C.L. Bishop
(1)
Member who became interim pastor
was a member of Flat Run.
Was the president of Luther Rice College from 1967-1975.
Voted in as interim 10-18-92
1993
Dr. Leonard Vanderveld Jr.(1) Came in January of 1993.
Was Associate
Professor at
Baptist
Bible
College in Clarks Summit Pa for 19 years. Academic Dean & Instructor at Fredericksburg Bible Institute & Seminary.
1993
Front Deck and ramp installed.
1994
(no pastor)
1995-05
Sam Pearson
(10)
Started off as Pulpit supply, became pastor and stayed for 10 years. Led Flat Run to pull out of the SBC.
Resigned 1-16-05.
1999
Flat Run withdrew from the Goshen Baptist Association and the SBC.
2005-present
Ryan Flanders
(6)
Voted in 1-16-05.
(118 years accounted for with pastors) (11 years open but no pastor)
(26 years the church was closed) (24 pastors known of in records)
(Average stay for a pastor at Flat Run was less than 5 years)
(3 pastors served for 10 or more years)(6 pastors served for 5-9 years)
(15 pastors have served less than 5 years)