Cumberland Baptist Church (Historical Records, 1856-1896)

Overview:
Cumberland Baptist Church, founded in 1810 by Joseph Jenkins, is documented through its historical record book covering the years 1856-1896. This record book, now preserved and digitized by the Library of Virginia, provides a detailed account of the church's monthly and quarterly meetings, as well as a wide range of church-related activities and business.

Historical Significance

• The church originally met in a log building and later at Booker's Meeting House and Jenkins' Meeting House.
• The congregation included both white and Black members, with many Black and multiracial individuals being enslaved by white church members.
• In 1866, Black and multiracial members withdrew to form a separate Baptist church for the Black community.

Contents of the Record Book

• Meeting Documentation: Dates, locations, and attendees of meetings.
• Church Governance: Election and reports of church officers, resolutions, and decisions on church matters such as excommunication, reconciliation, and baptisms.
• Membership Records: Lists of members, including enslaved individuals, with details on their entry and removal from the church roll (excommunication, death, transfer, etc.).
• Reports to Associations: Information provided to the James River Association, including the number of white and Black members.
• Family Memberships: Notable families such as Jenkins, Anderson, Reynolds, Dowdy, Dunkum, Meador, Nunnally, Parker, Sanderson, and Talley are documented as members.

Accessibility

• The record book is digitized and available through the Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection on the Library of Virginia website.
• The collection is open for public research with no restrictions.

Research and Genealogy

• The indexed volume is a valuable resource for genealogists and historians, listing members alphabetically with additional details about their church involvement.

Service Area

• While the church was located in Cumberland County, the records are preserved and accessible at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, making them available to researchers from Louisa County and surrounding regions.

Additional Information

• The record book is also available on microfilm (Cumberland County Reel 88) at the Library of Virginia.
• Conservation efforts were funded by the Library of Virginia Foundation's Adopt Virginia History Program.