Greenbrier County, West Virginia - 160th Anniversary Booklet - Part 5 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County 160th Anniversary - 1778-1938 Published 1938 Transcribed by Lori Samples FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WEST OF THE ALLEGHANIES On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate in the Old Stone church, in 1858, Dr. John McIlhenney wrote of the beginnings of the Presbyterian church in Greenbrier: "Those who formed the settlement (1769) were mainly from the Valley, in this State (Virginia). They were generally inclined to Presbyterianism, and some of them were members of the church. Shortly after this settlement began missionaries were sent to visit them. The tradition is that the first who visited them was a Mr. Crawford, and that he came from the South Branch (Potomac). The names of Crawford, Read and others are mentioned as having visited this region at a very early period, but nothing definite is known of the periods of their visits, nor the length of time they remained." The Rev. John McCue, who came to Greenbrier in 1783, was the first resident Presybterian minister in this country, and it was he who organized the first Presbyterian churches "west of the mountains." It is evident there were groups of Presbyterians, unorganized, at various places in this region when Mr. McCue came to the field, for in that year (1783) he organized three churches: Lewisburg, Union, Spring Creek. In that year also a building for the Lewisburg congregation was erected, "about one and a half miles from Lewisburg (north), and on the land owned by J. Feamster." A little later a building for the Spring Creek congregation was erected, "on this side of Spring Creek, on the land owned by J. Ludington." Near the same time the Union congregation erected a building, the ruins of the foundation which may still be seen near Union. "The houses were made of unhewn logs, covered with clapboards, and the floors were laid with pieces of hewn timber. No provision was made for warming them; but, when the weather was cold, log fires were made in front of the church for the accommodation of the congregation." To Mr. McCue belongs the distinction of having organized the first Presbyterian churches west of the Alleghanies. He also made long missionary journeys, to Tygart's Valley and other remote sections, initiating the wide ministry of the churches of Greenbrier. Mr. McCue was followed by Rev. Benjamin Grigsby, who became pastor of the Lewisburg, and Union congregations in 1794. Mr. Grigsby's ministry is remembered especially because it was during his pastorate that the Old Stone church at Lewisburg was built. The old log church having been destroyed by fire, the congregation decided to erect a more commodious building at Lewisburg. Col. John Stuart, "father of Greenbrier county," and his wife, who was the daughter of Col. Charles Lewis, provided the building site and made large contributions to the building fund. Old Stone church, built in 1796, is the oldest church building in this region west of the Alleghanies, which has remained in continuous use in its original form. It is built of rough native stone. One of the many interesting traditions concerning the building is that the sand used in its construction was supplied by devoted women of the congregation, being carried on horseback from Greenbrier River, three miles away, in bags thrown across their saddles. The spirit our pioneer forebears who erected this building is finely reflected in the inscription on a stone above the door, made by Col. John Stuart, and reproduced on this page. In 1808 Rev. John McIlhenney, D. D., became pastor of the Lewisburg and Union churches, succeeding Mr. Grigsby. In 1834 he resigned the Union pastorate and continued as pastor of the Old Stone church. His notable pastorate in that church, one of the longest in history, continued until his death in 1871. Under his great leadership, and with the assistance of those able ministers who later came out to this western country, churches were established as new settlements were made. In 1854, on the occasion of the organization of Mt. Pleasant church in Monroe county, Dr. Samuel R. Houston said: "This is the tenth Presbyterian church in the territory over which Dr. McIlhenney extended his labors all embraced within the limits of the Union congregation." And, as it was in Monroe, so it was in Greenbrier and beyond. In the Meadows, in the Richlands, at Frankford, at Blue Sulphur, on Muddy Creek, in Irish Corner, in Renick's Valley, at Edgar's Mill, on Anthony's Creek, on Knapp's Creek, in many other places; far up the Greenbrier, and down to the valley of the Kanawha, they planted the "faith of our fathers" in good soil. Many significant events in the history of Presbyterianism in this region are associated with the Old Stone church at Lewisburg. Here, just one hundred years ago, in 1838, Greenbrier Presbytery was formed. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States met here in 1910. Here, in 1915, the Synod of West Virginia was founded. The old church has watched the rise of Presbyterianism through the years and has seen the faith of the founders justified. Its heavy walls of native stone are symbolical of the strength with which our pioneering fathers builded. An aged sextion of the old church many years ago said of it: "Jest keep it kivered and it'll last 'til judgement day." The work of which it has been a symbol of for more than a century and a half been covered with the blessing of God and the heritage of that work abides in increasing strength. NEXT: EARLY METHODISM IN THE COUNTY