Wellsburg Christan Church, Wellsburg, Brooke County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church began as a Baptist church in 1815, but was reorganized as a Christian, Disciples of Christ, church in 1823. It's the oldest Disciples of Christ church in the Campbell movement.
Bingamon Baptist Church, Grangeville, Marion County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized in 1861. The original log church was called Union church and was used by several denominations for worship. The Baptist church was built in 1890 in Grangeville, but was destroyed by a tornado in 1944. It was rebuilt in 1945.
Freemansburg Evangelical United Brethren Church, Freemansburg, Lewis County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized approximately just before Sept. 1859. It was once called Simmons Chapel and was then a United Brethren church. It has since changed its name and denomination.
Gilgal Methodist Church near Mt. Nebo, Nicholas County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established before 1847 when a small group of Christians decided to build a church in what is now the Mt. Nebo community. Grave markers for Civil War veterans can still be found in the church's graveyard today. The exact date of the church's establishment is unknown.
Sand Lick Baptist Church, Laurel Fork, Webster County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized in 1860. The present church was built sometime around 1930-1940. Previously church members, both Primitive Baptists and Missionary Baptists, worshiping in barns, outside, or in homes in the community.
Fourth Street Methodist Church, Wheeling, Ohio County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church began and grew with the frontier settlement of Wheeling, W. Va. In the spring of 1785, three years after the last battle of the Revolutionary War was fought at Fort Henry, the congregation was established and proceeded without any official building until 1818.
The church was established in 1845 and sits about five miles below Winfield, W. Va. at Fraziers Bottom. The church was originally built for community use, allowing services in all orthodox denominations including Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian. In 1870, it became officially Methodist, but still allowed other denominations to use it.
Mt. Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church, Little Peeks Run, Upshur County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized in 1852 when a deed was made for the land. However, the church was first built in 1843 and dedicated in 1846. The present church was built in 1951.
Forest Hill Methodist Church, Summers County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
Writing on back of photo reads, "First church in Forest Hill district was Forest Hill Methodist Church. Erected on this site was a one room log structure used until 1860. This picture presents Forest Hill Methodist Church but on the same site as log church."
Old Bethany Memorial Church, Disciples of Christ, Bethany, Brooke County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The Disciples of Christ church was founded in 1829.A caption for the image reads: "When enough members of the Restoration Movement lived near Bethany, a new church was formed. The original stone building, erected after 1829, was later replaced by this brick structure in 1849-1952. A. Campbell was the preaching elder."
Ambrose Chapel, Rock Gap District, Morgan County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
A group of church goers are gathered outside of the church, which was established in the Rock Gap District in 1797. The chapel had a greater influence on rural religion and in the spread of the German Evangelical movement than any other in Morgan County, W. Va. For years, the German preachers of the United Brethren shared the chapel with English Methodist preachers, often conducting services in both the English and German languages.
Bethel Methodist Church, Poe, Nicholas County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established some time between 1803 and 1810. During the Civil War, church members were openly divided as "northern" members would hold service inside the church while "southern" members would stand outside or vice-versa.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Howesville, Preston County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was formally dedicated in 1852 though it had been used a decade prior. The church is located a little over three miles south of Kingwood, W. Va.
Forest Hill Methodist Church, Forest Hill District, Summers County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized before the civil war, though the exact date is unknown. During its history, the building was used for many years by justices of the peace to hold their courts and by public speakers for political meetings. The church also has one of the oldest grave yards in the county where many of the pioneer settlers are buried.
Kanawha-Salines Presbyterian Church, Malden, Kanawha County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized in December of 1819. The caption on the back of the image reads: "1819 - During the early years the congregation met in a log cabin built by Henry Ruffner's father called 'Col. Ruffers' Meeting House.' Col. David Ruffner built this house of worship in 1840 and Mrs. John Q. Dickinson added the educational building on about 100 years later, during the 10 years that Rev. J.E. Wayland served, which was from 1930-1940."According to the church history, Booker T. Washington learned the Shorter Catechism from Rev. John C. Brown at this church and worshiped here before going to Hampton Institute in Virginia.
African Zion Baptist Church, Malden, Kanawha County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was organized in 1863. According to the church's history, it was formed after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and Booker T. Washington was a member of this church. It supported many other Baptist churches in West Virginia.
Entrance to Johnson's Cross Roads Church in Wolf Creek Valley, Monroe County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was first established as Mt. Peniel Church in 1831 before changing its name to Johnson's Meeting House and then again to Johnson's Crossroads. The church was torn down sometime in the late 1930's or early 1940's.
Mt. Tabour Evangelical United Brethren Church, Rock Gap District, Morgan County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established in the Rock Gap District on December 27, 1852. The congregation began when early German settlers would meet in each others' homes for Sunday school classes and meetings with ministers of the United Brethren in Christ Church.
Ambrose Chapel, Rock Gap District, Morgan County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
A group of church goers are gathered outside of the church, which was established in the Rock Gap District in 1797. The chapel had a greater influence on rural religion and in the spread of the German Evangelical movement than any other in Morgan County, W. Va. For years, the German preachers of the United Brethren shared the chapel with English Methodist preachers, often conducting services in both the English and German languages.
St. John's Catholic Church, Summersville, Nicholas County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established in 1818 after years of mass ceremonies, baptisms, and other sacraments were administered in people's homes. During the Civil War, both the Union and Confederate soldiers used the original building for a fort and base hospital before Union soldiers completely destroyed it.
Summersville Baptist Church, Summesrville, Nicholas County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established in March of 1861. During a service in April, Fort Sumter was fired upon and the church was given little opportunity to hold services as neighbors and families were divided during the Civil War.
Lenox Memorial Church, Portland District, Preston County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was originally established as the German Reform and Lutheran Church in 1832 before later changing its name. It is one of the oldest churches in the county.
Rev. Ellsworth Harman of Harman Church of the Brethren, Harman, Randolph County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
In 1921 Reverend Ellsworth S. Harman was elected minister of the Harman Church of the Brethren and he was the pastor a number of years. He is grandson of the original Pastor, Rev. Asa Harmon who was elected in 1859 and for whom the town is named.
The Lick Creek Baptist Church, Green Sulphur Springs, Summers County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
Established in 1832, this church was the first Baptist church organized in its area and extended a welcoming arm to other denominations, allowing them to hold services in the building whenever the Baptists were not using it.
The Claysville community first started gathering when a church was built in 1802. In 1857 the Union Baptist Church was built. It later rebuilt in 1887 after a fire.
Zoar Baptist Church, Keslers Cross Lanes, Nicholas County, W. Va.
Date:
undated
Description:
The church was established in 1824 after a series of meetings took place in the homes of settles, sometimes forcing attendees to travel as many as 50 miles.
