Overview

WELCOME TO CHESTNUT GROVE!


For more than 250 years, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church has followed Jesus and joined in God's work in the world. Founded in 1773 as the first Baptist church in Albemarle County, we are grateful for our rich history and embrace the opportunities and challenges of the present.

 

We are a lively, multi-generational congregation in Earlysville, Virginia, guided by three core values: Faith, Formation, and Fruitfulness. 


Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, returning after time away, or searching for a church home, you are welcome here.


WHAT TO EXPECT


Our Sunday gatherings are relaxed, joyful, and participatory. Through worship, prayer, Scripture, reflection, and community, we seek to encounter God's presence and experience the transforming power of Christ's love.

 

Children are an important part of our church family. We celebrate their energy, wonder, and perspective, and we provide meaningful opportunities for children and families to grow in faith together.

 

Throughout the week, opportunities for formation and connection continue through small groups, ministry teams, service projects, community events, and our daily Lectio Divina gathering on Zoom.


OUR STORY

The story of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church began on January 9, 1773, when forty-eight believers gathered at the Lewis Meeting House to form the first Baptist congregation in Albemarle County. As the community grew and changed, the congregation moved several times. It first became known as Buckmountain Baptist Church and later as Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. In 1879, the church established its home at 550 Buck Mountain Road, where generations have gathered to worship, serve, and share Christ's love.

 

Today, we celebrate that heritage while looking ahead with hope, trusting God to lead us into new opportunities for ministry and mission. Together, we are learning what it means to live out God's peace through worship, friendship, service, generosity, and attentive listening to the Spirit's guidance.


At Chestnut Grove, compassion and curiosity thrive together. We believe the church exists not only for itself but also for the good of its neighbors and the wider world. One expression of that commitment is the Earlysville Exchange, a gathering space that fosters connection, hospitality, and community engagement. Alongside our children's ministries and preschool programs, it reflects our desire to create places where people of all ages can belong, connect, and flourish.