060-0175

Montgomery Primitive Baptist Church

VLR Listing Date

06/20/1989

NRHP Listing Date

11/13/1989

NRHP Reference Number

89001803

Erected in 1922, this severely plain church reflects the extreme simplicity of the religious tenets of this branch of Baptists. The Primitive Baptists grew out of an early-19th-century reaction against missionary and tract activities. Believing that changes compromised the basic spiritual simplicity of Calvinist principles, they withdrew from the mainline Baptist Church and identified themselves as Primitive Baptists. Their liturgy was the simplest possible, and thus their services required only fundamental shelter. Primitive Baptists were a strong force in Montgomery County until the mid-20th century. The earliest churches have either disappeared or have been replaced by modern structures. The Montgomery Primitive Baptist Church is Montgomery County’s oldest and stands essentially unaltered from its original form. The interior is sheathed in unpainted tongue-and-groove boards. Plain wooden pews fill the space and a pair of wood stoves provide heat.

The Montgomery Primitive Baptist Church was listed in the registers under the Prehistoric and Historic Resources of Montgomery County MPD.

Last Updated: June 2, 2023

Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.

Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark

For additional information Read

Nomination Form

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