About us

When a group began gathering on the front porch of Gilbert and Mary Ross for church
services in May 1938, little did they realize that this group would become Blue Ridge
Chapel Church of the Brethren. Before winter, the group had built a shed-roof frame
building to hold services and hymn singing on Sunday nights. When Gilbert and Mary's
daughter, Coralee Smith, was asked why they became Church of the Brethren, Coralee
responded, "Because my mother was a member of the Church of the Brethren!"

Before the end of 1939, the congregation once again felt pressed for adequate
quarters. The men of the group tore down the shed-roof building and used the lumber,
plus other materials, to construct a 14' x 28' building, paid for through weekly
payments. The Women's Fellowship was also formed in 1939. The church grew to the
point that the congregation had to enlarge the old chapel to 28' x 28'.

That same year, the first Youth Fellowship was organized. This group was very active
and was an important influence on the church's growth. The Church Board was
officially started on August 8, 1948, and in 1950, permanent partitions were installed in
the basement to form Sunday school rooms.

During this time, the Church Board approved the idea of building a new church on
Route 340. At district conference, held at Barren Ridge Church in 1954, the
congregation petitioned for congregational status. Status was granted, and Blue Ridge
Chapel became a fully independent congregation in the Second District of Virginia (now
Shenandoah District).

2011 was an exciting year for Blue Ridge Chapel, as we began construction on the
latest addition to our facility — a social hall with a platform for services and
presentations, a first-class kitchen, pantry, storage areas, conference room, pastor's
office, secretary's office, and audio/visual room. This new addition greatly enhanced
our worship and fellowship opportunities.

In 2026 the church made the painful decision to exit the Church of the Brethren
denomination over significant doctrinal and theological differences. At this time we are
non-denominational. Eventually we may begin a careful search for a more like-minded
denomination. In the mean time, we are determined to BE the church in our community
and wherever God leads us.

Today, Blue Ridge Chapel stands ready to reach our community in new and creative
ways, from the Summer Bash/Cruise-In to welcoming the WARM (Waynesboro Area
Refuge Ministry) program, offering shelter to those experiencing homelessness in our
community.