Dayton in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Church in Rockingham County

Photographed by Dan Fisher, June 20, 2010

1. First Church in Rockingham County Marker

Inscription. The first church in Rockingham County was built on this site in 1747 on land owned by Captain Daniel Harrison of the colonial militia. Serving as a "Chapel of Ease" for Augusta Parish, the first building is believed to have been built of logs. The chapel was replaced by a larger frame building some 20 years later. Following the Revolutionary War, the church was used by a Methodist congregation; it was sold and functioned as a barn until it was torn down about 1900.

Erected 1990 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D-7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1747.

Location. 38° 25.208′ N, 78° 56.465′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It is at the intersection of Bowman Road (Virginia Route 732) and Cemetery Drive, on the left when traveling west on Bowman Road. Marker is located in The Dayton Cemetery of Virginia. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 272 Bowman Road, Dayton VA 22821, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

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 walking distance of this marker: Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in

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a direct line); Frontiers of Faith (about 500 feet away); Daniel Bowman Mill at Silver Lake (about 500 feet away); Silver Lake Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (approx. ¼ mile away); College Days (approx. ¼ mile away); Mysteries along Cooks Creek (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Harrison (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

The Dayton Cemetery of Virginia image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dan Fisher, June 20, 2010

2. The Dayton Cemetery of Virginia

Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,666 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.