The Mount Calvary Baptist Church located in Ivy, Va. organized in 1869.  Through the years there have been many occasions celebrated. God continues to shower his blessings on us and keep us in His Grace.

Ivy was once a predominately black community and upon obtaining freedom, the blacks were given land in Ivy, as well as mules, one (1) milk cow, two (2) hogs, and ten (10) chickens.

The blacks were once allied closely with the white Episcopal Church in Ivy, where they were forced to sit in the basement during services. Dissatisfied with this segregation they built their own church.

The land of 1 1/8 acres was given to them by a member of the congregation, Bro. William Kenney and his wife Willie Ann, who was in turn given the land by his former master. Bro. Kenny designed the church and acted as a supervisor to the congregation who actually built the church. The trustees Bros. Edward Keys, Nelson Kelly, James Champ, and the pastor signed the transaction for ten dollars ($10.00) according to the Deed Book 102 – December 1, 1894.

Our Church has been nationally recognized, for the hand on the steeple and carved facings that adorned the steeple frame.  After years of wear by ice, snow, and rain, the former hand was destroyed. A new one was carved and given to the church by Mrs. Alice Ivory in 1985. The faces probably refer to Christianity rather than slavery, as sometimes thought. The original hand and faces can be found on display in our fellowship hall.

The house and lot next door to the church-owned by Bro. Robert Bell was purchased on May 13, 1953, for $1,000.00. The house was torn down for parking space.

In 1988, Bro. Henry Hughes gave land for expanding the parking area and a cemetery (Deed Book 1340-012). The Church was affiliated with the Piedmont District Association in 1890.

There is no history of the early pastors who served Mt. Calvary, but we do know that Rev. Timothy Woodfolk was the first. Rev. Dave Woodfolk was second and the third was Rev. A. L. Goodall, who served from 1920-1924. Rev. Henry Horn was pastor from 1925-1929 and was assisted by Rev. Crocket, while he was a student at Lynchburg Seminary.

Rev. S.C. Abrams served from 1929-1960.  Rev. Abrams was a renowned teacher and scholar.  Rev. Abrams retired after 31 years of dedicated service.

Rev. W. T. Jenkins came to us in 1961 and served until 1973.  He was a pastor known for many talents.

Rev. R. L. Brown came to us on August 1, 1974, and served until March 31, 2002. Rev. Brown organized a weekly Bible Class and Prayer Service, our well was drilled,  and an on-premise cemetery was established.  Rev. Brown also served as one of the musicians.

Dr. Tracie A. Daniels came to us on November 16, 2003, and served until March 31, 2015. A church constitution has been developed and adopted.  Church service expanded to every Sunday. Our outreach ministries grew to include: Advancing Native Missions, The Blue Ridge Food Bank, Support of local Soup kitchen, Virginia’s Adopt-A-Highway Road Side cleanup, and others.

Rev. Michael Scott came to us on November 12,  2017, and served until September 2020.

Rev. Ruby Carnes came to us on October 17, 2021.

On September 4, 2009, God blessed our church family to enter a newly constructed Church building.

Some history of Mt. Calvary still lives on in our memory.  The most important thing for a church is its people’s love for God.