Bethany Reformed and Lutheran Church Cemetery
Also known as: Bethany United Church of Christ
Why it's listed
This church cemetery near Midway, Davidson County, contains about 400 gravestones, around 150 of them made by local craftsmen. The oldest inscribed marker dates to 1781, and the congregation itself was founded in 1789 on land deeded by Frederick Miller. The stones appear to have been rearranged into widely spaced rows, and three Lang family markers were moved here from a nearby family graveyard. The cemetery is notable for its range of folk carving. It holds many Swisegood School stones from 1799 to 1857, including pierced designs attributed to Joseph Clodfelter and perhaps his father Jacob. Other groups include the Livengood monuments by the "Modern Master," early marble stones signed by a stonecutter named Davidson of Petersburg, Virginia, and urn-and-willow markers by Moravian carver Traugott Leinback of Salem. The decorative soapstone markers with folk symbols of resurrection and eternity represent the height of folk art among the Anglo-German farming community of north Davidson County.
Significance in brief: The cemetery holds about 400 gravestones, roughly 150 of them made by local stonecutters, and these are described as a unique collection of folk art. The decorative soapstone markers carry folk symbols of resurrection and eternity. The site is believed to be the home church of Joseph Clodfelter, the only identifiable stonecutter of the Swisegood School, and it holds many pierced gravestones attributed to him.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001994, listed July 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1716, Midway |
|---|---|
| County | Davidson County |
| Listed | July 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001994 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Architect / builder | Stonecutters: Traugott Leinback and unknown others (also Joseph Clodfelter and a stonecutter named Davidson of Petersburg, Virginia, mentioned in the description) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked fair and deteriorated; the gravestones appear to have been rearranged into widely spaced rows. The property is occupied and privately owned by the church. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.84290, -80.11525 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001994.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897773
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.