Zion Baptist Church
Zion Baptist Church is home to one of the oldest African American congregations in Westmoreland County. Before slavery ended,
according to local tradition, services were
first held under a dogwood bush arbor on
Gawen’s Farm, near Tucker Hill, approximately
one and a half miles north of here. The
members had most likely worshiped at the
nearby white Machodoc (Sandy Valley)
Baptist Church. Zion Baptist Church was formally organized in 1867, when the congregation constructed a log building. During the latter half of the 1800s, a fire and expanding membership required the construction of two other buildings. The 14 present church was erected in 1932.
Marker is at the intersection of Copley Highway (Virginia Route 202) and Zion Church Road (County Route 611), on the right when traveling east on Copley Highway.
Courtesy hmdb.org
