About us

When a group began gathering on the front porch belonging to Gilbert and Mary Ross for church service in May 1938, little did they realize that this group would become Blue Ridge Chapel Church of the Brethren. Before winter, the group had built a shed roof frame building to hold services and hymn singing on Sunday night. When Gilbert and Mary’s daughter Coralee Smith was asked why they became Church of the Brethren, Coralee responded...”because my mother was a member of the Church of the Brethren!”

 

Before the end of 1939, the congregation once again felt pressured for adequate quarters, The men of the group tore down the shed roof building and used the lumber plus other materials to construct a 14' x 28' building. Weekly payments were made. The women’s fellowship was also formed in 1939. The church grew to the point that the congregation had to enlarge the old chapel to 28' x 28'.

 

In 1939, the first Youth Fellowship was organized. This group was very active and was an important influence in the church’s growth. The Church Board was officially started on August 8, 1948. In 1950, permanent partitions were installed in the basement to form Sunday School rooms.

 

During this time, the Church Board approved the idea to build a new church on Route 340. At district conference held at Barren Ridge Church in 1954, the church petitioned for congregational status. Congregational status was granted to Blue Ridge Chapel and the church became a fully independent congregation in the Second District of Virginia, (now Shenandoah District).

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Rev. David Webster served as the first full time pastor from 1960 to 1965. During this time, an educational building was constructed and dedicated in June 1965. Rev. Dee Flory became our pastor in 1969 and served until April, 1985. The history of Blue Ridge Chapel’s pastors and interim pastors is depicted in photos on display in our original building’s landing area.

 

2011 was an exciting year for Blue Ridge Chapel as we began construction on our latest addition to our facility - a social hall with platform for services and presentations, a first class kitchen, pantry, storage areas, conference room, pastor’s office, secretary’s office and audio/visuals. This new addition greatly enhanced our worship and fellowship opportunities.

 

Today Blue Ridge Chapel stands ready to reach our community in new and creative ways, from the Summer Bash/Cruise-In to welcoming the WARM (Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry) Program, offering shelter to the homeless in our community.