Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

REPLACED

CHECK OTHERS NEARBY

Berea Christian Church

Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 18, 2020

1. Berea Christian Church Marker

Inscription.

Berea Christian Church. Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District. , In 1832 the process of starting a new church began when an organization known as the Reforming Congregation of Disciples chose a group of trustees to select a site. The group chose Berea Christian Church as the new name after Berea, an ancient city in Macedonia, where the Apostle Paul spoke. A site was chosen between the old Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Block House in 1834. This church building was destroyed by fire in 1855. Samuel Alsop, a wealthy planter and merchant, offered this site adjacent to his family burying ground. Alsop also supervised the construction of the new Berea Christian Church at the age of 81. The building was completed in 1856., The style of the building is a perfect example of Virginia Gothic Revival architecture. On December 11, 1856, The News, a Fredericksburg newspaper, stated that the building was a "neat and substantial place of worship... highly creditable.", Berea Christian Church was given to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors by the remaining trustees in 1961. In 1964, it became home to the Spotsylvania Museum and was operated by the Spotsylvania Historical Association until 2012., [Captions:] , Berea Church circa 1895. Note the entrance door on the side of the building. It provided a separate entrance to a upper gallery so that free blacks and slaves could attend services. Approximately 130 free blacks, many with families, were living in Spotsylvania by 1860., The archways above the windows (left) were added after the fire. The steel reinforcing rods popularly known as earthquake stars were also added to provide stability. Note the fire stained brick as a lasting reminder of the tragedy., The interior is lighted by a large iron candelabra (left) originally raised and lowered by ropes from the ceiling. It was converted to electricity in the 1920's., Simple wooden pews face a raised pulpit inside (right) speaking of a congregation that was not of great wealth, but rich in their belief in the Lord., The area behind the church has changed over the years. The sheds, and water tower pictured in this circa 1930 photograph have disappeared.

In 1832 the process of starting a new church began when an organization known as the Reforming Congregation of Disciples chose a group of trustees to select a site. The group chose Berea Christian Church as the new name after Berea, an ancient city in Macedonia, where the Apostle Paul spoke. A site was chosen between the old Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Block House in 1834. This church building was destroyed by fire in 1855. Samuel Alsop, a wealthy planter and merchant, offered this site adjacent to his family burying ground. Alsop also supervised the construction of the new Berea Christian Church at the age of 81. The building was completed in 1856.

The style of the building is a perfect example of Virginia Gothic Revival architecture. On December 11, 1856, The News, a Fredericksburg newspaper, stated that the building was a "neat and substantial place of worship... highly creditable."

Berea Christian Church was given to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors by the remaining trustees in 1961. In 1964, it became home to the Spotsylvania Museum and was operated by the Spotsylvania Historical Association until 2012.

[Captions:]
Berea Church circa 1895. Note the entrance door on the side of the building. It provided a separate entrance to a upper gallery so that

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

free blacks and slaves could attend services. Approximately 130 free blacks, many with families, were living in Spotsylvania by 1860.

The archways above the windows (left) were added after the fire. The steel reinforcing rods popularly known as earthquake stars were also added to provide stability. Note the fire stained brick as a lasting reminder of the tragedy.

The interior is lighted by a large iron candelabra (left) originally raised and lowered by ropes from the ceiling. It was converted to electricity in the 1920's.

Simple wooden pews face a raised pulpit inside (right) speaking of a congregation that was not of great wealth, but rich in their belief in the Lord.

The area behind the church has changed over the years. The sheds, and water tower pictured in this circa 1930 photograph have disappeared.

Erected by Spotsylvania County Museum, County of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Spotsylvania County Museum series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 11, 1856.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.

Historic Berea Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 18, 2020

2. Historic Berea Church

It was located near 38° 12.013′ N, 77° 35.33′ W. Marker was in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It was on Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 208) just east of Judicial Center Lane (County Road 631), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 8956 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 walking distance of this location: Back to the Start (here, next to this marker); Through Fire and Flames (a few steps from this marker); The Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Booth Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); A Case of Negligence (within shouting distance of this marker); Modification, Decay & Preservation (within shouting distance of this marker); Ashes to Ashes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Place of Public Worship (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Other markers no longer nearby. Amid Shot and Shell (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Spotsylvania County Jail (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Spotsylvania Courthouse and Jail (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,063 times since then and 106 times this year. Last updated on February 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.