Near Ashland in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Slash Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 14, 2009

1. Slash Church Marker

Inscription. Erected in 1729-32 as the Upper Church of Saint Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Slash Church's location next to swampy woods (a "slash" in 18th-century terms) gave it its name. The Reverend Patrick Henry, uncle of the famous patriot, served as rector from 1737 until 1777. Among its early worshipers the church claims Patrick Henry, Dolley Madison, and Henry Clay, all once residents of the area. During the Civil War, Slash Church was used as a hospital and gave a nearby battle its name. This white weatherboarded structure survives as the oldest and best-preserved frame colonial church in Virginia, and the only one to escape enlargement.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-105.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1737.

Location. 37° 42.935′ N, 77° 24.788′ W. Marker is near Ashland, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is at the intersection of Peaks Road (County Route 657) and Mount Hermon Road (County Route 656), on the right when traveling west on Peaks Road.

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Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ashland VA 23005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Henry Clay's Birthplace (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hanover Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Janie Porter Barrett (approx. 2.7 miles away); The "Dissenters' Glebe" Of The Rev. Samuel Davies (approx. 3.3 miles away); Cornwallis’s Route (approx. 3.7 miles away); John Henry Smyth (approx. 3.7 miles away); Rutland (approx. 3.9 miles away); Liberty Golden Eagle (approx. 3.9 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. Clay's Birthplace (was approx. 1.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle of Yellow Tavern (was approx. 3.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Slash Church. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 11, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Slash Christian Church. Website homepage (Submitted on September 10, 2016, by Dianne A Jones of Hanover, Virginia.)

Peaks Road & Mount Hermon Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 14, 2009

2. Peaks Road & Mount Hermon Road.

Slash Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 14, 2009

3. Slash Church

Slash Church Plaque. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 14, 2009

4. Slash Church Plaque.

Slash Church today. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 14, 2009

5. Slash Church today.

Slash Church Battlefield (Battle of Hanover Courthouse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 25, 2010

6. Slash Church Battlefield (Battle of Hanover Courthouse)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,905 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 15, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on September 27, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.