2nd Baptist Church in Page County
This Church was built in 1849. called "Old School" Located on Broad Street across from the Post office, where the Confederate monument was erected
Present "Old School" or Primitive Baptist Church located on Virginia Ave. across the street from the old train station, was built in 1911.
In 1910 Mt. Carmel Regular Baptist Church was built on the corner of Cave Street and Deford Avenue. A 1909 court case settled a split, where, oddly, all members continued to use the same Broad Street building for almost 20 years, alternating Sundays. This was Mt. Carmel's third location since the church was initially established in 1812. The original building was just beyond the southern most end of South Bank Street. (the Page News and Courier collection.)
Present Location of Mount Carmel Regular Baptist Church, located on 340 South of Luray built around 1980
A Short History of Page County, Virginia
page 256
The division between the Old and New Baptist occurred in Ohio in 1837. This church became one of the founders of the Baptist faith in that state. In 1905 it had a well kept church and cemetery. (The Sciota Baptist Association, pamphlet p. 5.)
Another division in the Old School Baptist Church of Page County occurred about 1889. This division probably only affected Mount Carmel congregation in Luray where one faction withdrew and built a new Mount Carmel and called themselves Regular Baptist. Over the church door is this inscription: "Regular Baptist Church organized 1812." (which now is displayed behind the Baptismal Pool in the Present location on 340) This date is evidently that of the founding of the Baptist Church in Luray. The Regular and the Old School have a common history prior to 1889, as all Baptist more or less have a common history prior to 1840.
There was a law suite over the church property which was decided in favor of the Old School. It is said the decision turned upon the phraseology contained in the deed to the church lot wherein it was recited that the property was for the use of the Old School Baptist holding certain doctrines, that in case of difficulties, those holding to the doctrine, should be entitled to the property, even thought they represented a minority of the membership. ( The clause in the deed is as follows: "for the use of the Old School Baptists and their successors holding the doctrine of unconditional and eternal election predestination of God, finial perseverance of the Saints to glory and that the elect were chosen in Christ to salvation, before the world was". "If difficulties arise a minority holding to the above principles shall be entitled to the church property.")
Old School Baptist Churches
Ebenezer Association,
pages 256, and 257
Mt. Carmel, in Luray. The first church, a frame building, was located about where the Town Shops now are, south of South Alley and west of High Street on the original map. A second church was built of brick on South Broad Street in 1849. It stood in the middle of Broad Street, north of the Confederate monument, abutting on South Alley, so that it practically filled the street. Its north line was in line with the north line of the present Post Office building. A vehicle could pass on the west side of the church probably. By 1885 the street had been widened at this point permitting traffic on either side of the church and according to a map the building occupied the center of a square with a street on all sides. Prior to 1880 there was no town south of the church. Then in 1881 the new railroad located its station south of the church and that section grew rapidly. Then the street was widened around the church. The third and present building was erected in 1911 of brick about one block southwest of the old site on Virginia Avenue. The first building was probably erected in 1814 as that is the date of a deed to the Baptist Church of Luray, called Hawksbill at that time. It was called Mt. Carmel as early as 1814.
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