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Battle of Salem Church • Tour the Battlefield

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The ‘Sanctuaries in Spotsylvania’ Orientation Marker is one of a set of three markers next to the parking lot south of historic Salem Church along Plank Road (Virginia Route 3) 4 miles west of downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia and 1.5 miles west of exit 130 on Interstate 95 (38° 17.346′ N, 77° 31.873′ W; map to historic Salem Church)

From the marker:

Sanctuaries in Spotsylvania

Salem Baptist Church was one of nearly a dozen churches that dotted northern Spotsylvania County on the eve of the Civil War. Zoan, Wilderness, Massaponax, Zion, Christ, Piney Branch – They collectively served as the backbone of the Spotsylvania community. Far-flung neighbors often saw each other only at Sunday church services. Pastors like Salem’s Melzi Chancellor became both spiritual and community leaders.

Like most of Spotsylvania’s churches, Salem consisted of fewer than 100 members drawn from surrounding farms. Some, including Salem, permitted membership by free blacks or attendance by slaves (thought often through separate entrances). During the Civil War, churches became famous as headquarters, hospitals, or places of refuge. Many suffered vandalism, battle damage, or theft. But all survived the war, and most of the congregations continue to thrive today.

From the captions for the photos of churches (left to right):

Wilderness Baptist Church, Berea Christian Church, Zion Methodist Church, Christ Episcopal Church, Massaponax Baptist Church.

From the caption of the photo at bottom left:

In the early 1800s growing population and differences over religious doctrine and the use of alcohol spawned new congregations in Spotsylvania. Today wartime structures remain at Massaponax, Salem, Christ, Berea, and Zion.

From the caption of the photo at bottom right:

Massaponax Church served briefly as Union Gen. Ulysses Grant’s headquarters in May 1864. Soldiers left graffiti on the walls at both Massaponax and Salem (left).