History
New Salem Baptist Church, located in Griffinsburg, Culpeper County, Virginia, was constituted on January 7,
1834 with an initial membership of eleven people and later became a member of Shiloh Association and remains
so today.
In 1855 the name was changed from New Salem to Bethlehem: in 1866 the name was once again changed to
Salem but in 1874 it was changed back to its original name New Salem. The first church was destroyed by fire
during the Civil War by the Union Army; a new house of worship replaced it in 1870. The present Sunday school
facility was completed in 1959 with the sanctuary completed in 1962. The dedication of the present facility took
place on April 29,1962. The church parsonage was completed in 1976.
Elder Champe C. Conner became New Salem’s first pastor, preaching the first sermon on February 3, 1834.
Services were held on the first and third Saturdays and Sundays of each month as the pastor served a number
of other churches.
New Salem elected and ordained James G. Broadus as its first deacon in 1835. The Sunday school was
organized in 1874 with John E. Lewis elected as superintendent. Enrollment included twelve officers, teachers
and sixty pupils. During the summer of 1947 New Salem held its first Vacation Bible School.
Over its 173 years of existence the church has called twenty pastors to fill its pulpit. New Salem Baptist Church
has grown from eleven chartered members in 1834 to a current membership of 220. The ancestors of several of
the current members were among the eleven chartered members.
1834 with an initial membership of eleven people and later became a member of Shiloh Association and remains
so today.
In 1855 the name was changed from New Salem to Bethlehem: in 1866 the name was once again changed to
Salem but in 1874 it was changed back to its original name New Salem. The first church was destroyed by fire
during the Civil War by the Union Army; a new house of worship replaced it in 1870. The present Sunday school
facility was completed in 1959 with the sanctuary completed in 1962. The dedication of the present facility took
place on April 29,1962. The church parsonage was completed in 1976.
Elder Champe C. Conner became New Salem’s first pastor, preaching the first sermon on February 3, 1834.
Services were held on the first and third Saturdays and Sundays of each month as the pastor served a number
of other churches.
New Salem elected and ordained James G. Broadus as its first deacon in 1835. The Sunday school was
organized in 1874 with John E. Lewis elected as superintendent. Enrollment included twelve officers, teachers
and sixty pupils. During the summer of 1947 New Salem held its first Vacation Bible School.
Over its 173 years of existence the church has called twenty pastors to fill its pulpit. New Salem Baptist Church
has grown from eleven chartered members in 1834 to a current membership of 220. The ancestors of several of
the current members were among the eleven chartered members.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |