September 25, 2017 / Joanne Yeck

Buckingham County Churches: Brown’s Chapel

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Brown’s Chapel. Photo by Joanne Yeck.

In 1937, Rosa G. Williams surveyed Brown’s Chapel, built about 1880, for the Virginia Historical Inventory. She wrote:

This is a very plain structure, built through the efforts of this community, after the “Old Buckingham Female Institute” ceased to be. It was there that the first Methodists of this community worshiped. When the Institute buildings were being torn down the people knew if they continued they would have to erect a building. Col. Brown a member of this little band, and a large land owner of this community gave 1 ½ acres of land on which to build the church. The money was soon raised by subscription and otherwise. Many men gave their services, and the building was soon erected and it was dedicated in the year 1881. There are two entrances from the front of this church, through double doors. The walls are plastered with wide wainscoting. The ceiling is made of wood like the wainscoting. Varnish was used on the wainscoting and ceiling when the church was built, and it is as bright today as when it was put on. The ceiling is made of very wide boards.

Mrs. Williams also noted that the old bell which called the congregation to worship in the 1930’s was once used to call the young ladies of Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute to worship and to their classes.

For much more about Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute, please consult:

“A Noble Idea: Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute,” in “At a Place Called Buckingham”