Cartersville Baptist Church
Title
Cartersville Baptist Church
Date
1903
Description
An African American congregation has worshipped here continuously since the Civil War. Although the current building is not the original building, it is on the same site and still in use as a Baptist Church. Cartersville Baptist Church is the oldest church on Hunter Mill Road and one of the first churches founded in Virginia by free African Americans.
The church served as a place of worship for the residents of Cartersville, a hamlet of emancipated formerly enslaved families who lived along Hunter Mill Road and Woodentown, a nearby enclave of African Americans who lived near Browns Mill Road. The church also served as a school for African American children. Rosie Carter, a free African American, owned 15 acres of land, on which the church now sits. The church was named in her honor and the first pastor was R. Woodson. Carter deeded the land to the church in 1903 (S-6, 686). Although the congregation was formed around 1863, the earliest known structure was built around 1903, after Ms. Carter donated the land. The original structure was made of wooden slats; this was replaced with a block and brick building in 1951.
That second structure was destroyed by fire in 1973. The current cinder block structure was constructed around 1979. The church's original cemetery is located behind the church to the east, on land no longer owned by the church. "On the land of the church one tombstone was erected at the grave of Rosie Carter. The rest of the burial grounds in the field were marked by rocks or distinguished by mounds in the ground. These burial grounds in the pasture are the oldest used by the church. Also, the parking lot of the church was built directly over the older burial grounds. It was necessary to have the side cemetery constructed because of the land sale of 1918. At the time, the church was unable to get to the back burial grounds; consequently, the side burial ground was established" (Meyer and Vining, "Pilgrimages of Faith," 22). The church also served as a school for African American children. In 1927, a delegation from Cartersville requested a teacher from the Fairfax County School Board. The School Board provided a teacher for Cartersville children until 1939.
The Fairfax County History Commission placed a marker on the site in July of 2006. Text: "According to tradition, free African-Americans established a religious congregation, which met in private homes, in this area as early as 1863. Rose Carter, a member of the community, donated land for a church in 1903. The church served the residents of Cartersville and the nearby enclave of Woodentown. The building also served as a school after 1927. The original church stood until 1951 when it was rebuilt. After a fire in 1972 the church was rebuilt again and rededicated in 1979. The church still serves as a place of worship for many descendants of the original congregation who are buried here.
The church served as a place of worship for the residents of Cartersville, a hamlet of emancipated formerly enslaved families who lived along Hunter Mill Road and Woodentown, a nearby enclave of African Americans who lived near Browns Mill Road. The church also served as a school for African American children. Rosie Carter, a free African American, owned 15 acres of land, on which the church now sits. The church was named in her honor and the first pastor was R. Woodson. Carter deeded the land to the church in 1903 (S-6, 686). Although the congregation was formed around 1863, the earliest known structure was built around 1903, after Ms. Carter donated the land. The original structure was made of wooden slats; this was replaced with a block and brick building in 1951.
That second structure was destroyed by fire in 1973. The current cinder block structure was constructed around 1979. The church's original cemetery is located behind the church to the east, on land no longer owned by the church. "On the land of the church one tombstone was erected at the grave of Rosie Carter. The rest of the burial grounds in the field were marked by rocks or distinguished by mounds in the ground. These burial grounds in the pasture are the oldest used by the church. Also, the parking lot of the church was built directly over the older burial grounds. It was necessary to have the side cemetery constructed because of the land sale of 1918. At the time, the church was unable to get to the back burial grounds; consequently, the side burial ground was established" (Meyer and Vining, "Pilgrimages of Faith," 22). The church also served as a school for African American children. In 1927, a delegation from Cartersville requested a teacher from the Fairfax County School Board. The School Board provided a teacher for Cartersville children until 1939.
The Fairfax County History Commission placed a marker on the site in July of 2006. Text: "According to tradition, free African-Americans established a religious congregation, which met in private homes, in this area as early as 1863. Rose Carter, a member of the community, donated land for a church in 1903. The church served the residents of Cartersville and the nearby enclave of Woodentown. The building also served as a school after 1927. The original church stood until 1951 when it was rebuilt. After a fire in 1972 the church was rebuilt again and rededicated in 1979. The church still serves as a place of worship for many descendants of the original congregation who are buried here.
Relation
Source
Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites Nomination Report Fairfax County History Commission Wayside Marker text
Fairfax Genealogical Society.org
Fairfax Genealogical Society.org
Officially Historic After 143 Years: Historic marker, dedicated Sunday, represents Cartersville’s official designation. The article describes the establishment of the church and recounts stories of two communities, Cartersville and Woodentown. The Connection. June 13, 2006.
Location
1727 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna
District
Hunter Mill
Historical Marker
According to tradition, free African Americans established a religious congregation, which met in private homes, in this area as early as 1863. Rose Carter, a member of the community, donated land for a church in 1903. The church served the residents of Cartersville and the nearby enclave of Woodentown. The building also served as a school after 1927. The original church stood until 1951 when it was rebuilt. After a fire in 1972, the church was rebuilt again and rededicated in 1979. The church still serves as a place of worship for many descendants of the original congregation who are buried here.
Additional Notes
The Fairfax County History Commission placed a marker on the site in July of 2006. Text: "According to tradition, free African-Americans established a religious congregation, which met in private homes, in this area as early as 1863. Rose Carter, a member of the community, donated land for a church in 1903. The church served the residents of Cartersville and the nearby enclave of Woodentown. The building also served as a school after 1927. The original church stood until 1951 when it was rebuilt. After a fire in 1972 the church was rebuilt again and rededicated in 1979. The church still serves as a place of worship for many descendants of the original congregation who are buried here."
Photo Credit
Courtesy of Google Images
Files
Collection
Citation
“Cartersville Baptist Church,” Fairfax County African American History Inventory, accessed October 24, 2026, https://fairfaxaahi.centerformasonslegacies.com/items/show/2.