Royal Acres near Keswick in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Run Baptist Church

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 24, 2024

1. Union Run Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Soon after the Civil War, the Rev. Robert Hughes (1821-1895) and other freedmen organized Union Branch Baptist Church, later known as Union Run Baptist Church. Spiritual life was vital to formerly enslaved African Americans, and establishing churches and creating communities were of primary importance. Thomas Jefferson Randolph of Edgehill deeded one acre to the church’s deacons in 1867. The congregation purchased the Limestone Church building and re-erected it on this site, where it also served as a school. The church became a cornerstone of the community. The Rev. Hughes, pastor for three decades, was interred in the churchyard, the final resting place of hundreds of community members.

Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number GA-49.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 38° 0.713′ N, 78° 23.248′ W. Marker is near Keswick, Virginia, in Albemarle County. It is in Royal Acres. It is on Keswick Road (Route 731) 0.1 miles north of Richmond Road (U.S. 250), on the right when traveling north. The marker stands on the grounds of the

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church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3220 Keswick Rd, Keswick VA 22947, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

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: “The Albemarle 26” (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Edgehill (approx. 0.7 miles away); Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson (approx. 1.6 miles away); Thomas Jefferson (approx. 1.6 miles away); Marjorie S. Twohey (approx. 1.8 miles away); Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District (approx. 1.8 miles away); Colle (approx. 3.4 miles away); Jefferson Vineyards (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keswick.

Other markers no longer nearby. Edgehill (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Colle (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 24, 2024

2. Union Run Baptist Church Marker

Keswick Road is on the right. The pavement next to the marker is the driveway up to the church which is out of frame on the left.

Union Run Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 24, 2024

3. Union Run Baptist Church

This is the view from the marker.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 24, 2024

4. Union Run Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 24, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.