7) After slavery was abolished, Black people needed a place for worship, praise, and thanksgiving. At first, they met in homes. Later as their numbers grew, they met in brush arbors. The Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church (RZUA) denomination was organized April 1, 1869, in Boydton, VA. Three RZUA churches were formed in that year including the Roanoke Zion RZUA Church in Bracey. The original Roanoke Zion church was a wood frame structure founded in 1882. The present brick edifice was reconstructed in 1973.
Bracey History Project 