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(Click on pictures to enlarge)
HISTORY of the BECKLEY
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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Since 1872 ~
Early Meetings
The Beckley Presbyterian Church had its beginning in 1872,
although all original records before May 12, 1907 were lost. From a newspaper article and statements from older residents
of the community, it is definitely established that about the year 1870 a Presbyterian Church was organized in Raleigh County,
WV, under the name "Raleigh Presbyterian Church." For 37 years
the congregation, composed of not more than 12 at any time, met in the homes of the people, in the schoolhouse, and
in the churches of other denominations. They relied on guest ministers from the Greenbrier Presbytery and visiting ministers
of other denominations.
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| Senator John Wallace McCreery |
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| McCreery & Patterson Law Office |
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| The McCreery House on S. Kanawha |
The Founder
The first official church member and Elder was John
Wallace McCreery*, who joined by letter on July 21, 1872.
*McCreery was born July 31, 1845. He was a lawyer, and had a law office called "McCreery & Patterson" on the
corner of Main and S. Kanawha Street. He was a family man, a democrat, a State Senator, and a Prosecuting Attorney for 8 years. He helped form the Bank of Raleigh and was the president the rest of his life.
He was president of Beckley Seminary, the old Beckley Electric Light and Power Company, and the Piney Coking Coal Land Company.
From 1897-1900 he served as Master of Beckley Masonic Lodge No. 95, A.F. & A.M. He died May 22, 1917 at his home
on South Kanawha, which was directly across from the present-day church.
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| Rev. W. S. Patterson |
The First Pastor
On May 12, 1907, the Rev. W. S. Patterson was called
to be the first pastor of the Raleigh Presbyterian Church. He was a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon,
WV, and the Union Theological Seminary of Richmond, VA. At that time the church membership was approximately 22 people.
Rev. Patterson accepted the call, and the members immediately started plans for a church of their own. Senator McCreery
donated a lot on South Kanawha Street, opposite his residence, as the site for a church building.
| from Beckley, USA |
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| The First Church Building |
The First Church Building
In June, 1909, the first church building
was ready for use, and dedication was set for July 25th. It was a substantial structure built of pressed brick, and
the cost, including furnishings, was about $8000. According to the local newspaper, "The congregation met for the
first time in their handsome and comfortable new church, the first and only brick church building in the city. The auditorium
was comfortably filled, and Rev. Patterson delivered an excellent sermon. Mrs. W. M. Taylor presided at the organ assisted
by two coronet players, a duet was sung by Mr.& Mrs. W. MacTaggart and a solo by Mrs. McGavock."
| from Beckley, USA |
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| The Covenanters Baseball Team |
Rev. Patterson resigned from the pulpit in October, 1911. He had not only served the
church, but the community as well. He taught Bible studies at the Beckley Institute and organized a boys baseball team
in Beckley called The Covenanters. (In the picture - First Row: Howard George, Virgil Rhodes, Fred Hawley,
Price Hawley, Paul Stanley; Back Row: Beecher Dunn, D.Crozier, Wash Aliff, Jess Crozier, Grady Shumate) Patterson
died in 1968 and is buried in the Davidson Cemetery, NC.
Rev. T.K. Young of Holden, WV served the church until April
27, 1913 when Rev. G. N. Thomas of Concord, NC became the new pastor. At that time there were 4 Elders, 2 Deacons,
46 Communicates, and 60 Sunday School members. He resigned in 1917, having brought in many new members. In May,
1917 the church called Rev. C. O. Pardo, then pastor of the Community Church at Glen White. But he stayed less
than one year, resigning to engage in YMCA work under the War Work Council.
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| Good Shepherd Window |
The Good Shepherd Window
On May 22, 1917, the same time that the church was again looking
for a new pastor, Senator John W. McCreery (first Elder and church member who donated the land for the original church building) died
at his home on South Kanawha Street. In memory of Senator McCreery, a beautiful stained glass window, "The Good Shepherd,"
was given to the church by the E. M. Payne family, and it can be seen today centered above the Beckley Presbyterian Church
entrance facing McCreery Street.
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| Rev. J. L. Lineweaver |
Dr. Lineweaver Begins Longest
Pastoral Term
In May, 1919 the Rev. J. L. Lineweaver* of Alderson, WV accepted
the call to become the new pastor. During the first year he helped start the new Davis-Stuart Orphanage in Alderson,
dividing his time between the two jobs. He served the Beckley church until he retired in 1943.
*Rev.
Lineweaver was born at Mount Clinton, VA on February 15, 1872 and received his early schooling at Harrisonburg. Working
his way through school after the death of his father, he entered Hampden-Sidney College before going to the Seminary to begin
studying for the ministry. He received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1904, and the DD degree was conferred upon
him at Davis Elkins College in 1926. He was aided in his ministry by his wife, Lucy, until her death in 1926, and his
daughter, Ruth.
Along with his pastoral duties,
Rev. Lineweaver was very active in community affairs. He was a charter member of the Beckley Chamber of Commerce and
vice president of the Co-operative Building and Loan Association. In1926-27 he served as probation officer in the county.
He was elected President of the Raleigh County Board of Education in 1933, and was a charter member of Kiwanis International,
serving as President in 1941-43. Dr. Lineweaver died March 18, 1956 after serving as Pastor for 16 years and Pastor
Emeritus 12 years.
Church Acquires a Manse and a Secretary
The church leaders saw the need for a manse for the pastor, and in
October, 1919 bought the "Foote" property at 303 North Kanawha Street from Elder William MacTaggart for $5800. This
home still stands today, although no longer the manse.
In 1921 Miss Kate Johnson, a new member from VA, became the
first secretary of the Beckley church and remained in that position until she retired in 1943. Over the years, she worked
closely with Dr. Lineweaver in the duties of secretary and into the outreach field of Sunday Schools that was conducted in
many outlying areas.
Ladies' Groups Become "Circles"
The Ladies Aid and Missionary Society of the Beckley church was active
as early as 1911. They had bazaars, silver teas, suppers, days of self denial, parcel post sales, and quilting bees
to raise money. From their treasury, they paid for items such as part of the new organ, repair of the roof, painting
the church, stained oil paper for the windows, printing invitational cards, and purchasing new lights and electrical wiring
for church repairs. They cleaned and decorated the church, gave to and supported Sunday School programs in other churches,
and collected for foreign mission work.
In September, 1921 the Session consented to the reorganization of
the women and girls on the Auxiliary Circle plan. That was the beginning of what we know today as "Circle Meetings."
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| New Beckley Presbyterian Church Building (around 1925) |
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| The Cornerstone - 1923 |
Present-Day Church Building is Constructed
Another decade had ended with the church steadily growing. The building debt had finally been
paid off, and already they were in need of more Sunday School rooms. A lot close to the old church was purchased
for a new church building from Hal M. Scott, and the decision was made to erect a stone building at an estimated cost
of $75,000. It is unclear exactly when the name Raleigh Presbyterian Church became Beckley Presbyterian
Church, but by now it was being referred to as the latter.
On September 3, 1923 the cornerstone was laid by the Masonic Fraternity,
Beckley Lodge Number 95 with a box of articles sealed inside. It was estimated that over 1000 people attended the ceremony. Over the next few years, the church had a large out-reach program with Sunday Schools at Teel, Beckley
Junction, Cranberry, McAlpin, Mabscott, Raleigh, Skelton, Sprague, Stanaford, and Sylvia. Members and church staff worked
in the various Sunday Schools as superintendents, treasurers, choirs, and teachers. And as the schools grew, so did
the church membership.
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| Old church is sold to the city and used for a fire house. |
In August, 1924 records show that they were still
using both buildings. Then in the fall of 1925 the old church property was sold to the City of Beckley for $23,000 which
included money for renovation. The original building still stands and has served the City over the years as a Mayor's
office, Police and Fire Department, Sanitary Board, and Council Chambers.
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| Kate Johnson watches a piano being lifted up the steps. |
In March, 1926 the church purchased its first pipe organ for $5600.
Also, in that same month, the office of Church Secretary was officially created, and Miss Kate Johnson was appointed and approved
for the job. Her salary was $150 a month, and along with her regular office duties her job included being the Director
of Religious Education and secretary for all the Sunday Schools. (She is shown in the picture watching the piano being
lifted up the steps.)
The dedication for the new stone church was held on October 2, 1927.
In 1928 Rev. C. V. Brown, Jr. was appointed Associate Pastor. He left after one year and was replaced by Rev.
F. L. Shannon of Enfield, NC. Shannon took on the task of "Minister for Community Work." This relieved the
church of the responsibility of Sunday Schools at three locations - Sprague, Cranberry, and Skelton.
Another decade was coming to an end, and by 1930 records showed a Main Sunday
School, and Cranberry, Skelton, Teel, and Stanaford outpost Sunday Schools. The Woman's Auxiliary (14 Circles) were
still supporting Foreign Missions, Home Missions, the Davis-Staurt Orphanage, and Greenbrier College. Along with their
spiritual life, they studied church literature, served in Christian Education with the young people, in outpost Sunday School
programs, and as Pastor's aides.
The Depression Years
Retirement Fund, A Girl Scout Troop
Although the church continued to grow,
it was beginning to feel the crunch of the depression. They cut back on electricity, outpost Sunday Schools, and staff
salaries, including the pastor's. By the late 1930's, Teel, Raleigh, and Stanaford were the only remaining outposts,
as community churches had been formed and replaced the need for outpost Sunday Schools.
In 1937 the Beckley church agreed to participate in the Ministers
Annuity Fund, which was implemented by the Presbytery to provide for ministers in their retirement years. In 1939 the
first Girl Scout Troop was organized and sponsored by the Gleaners Bible Class. Miss Jane Clay was leader, and Miss
Rowena Peters was assistant leader. This was the first of about 50 years of sponsoring Girl Scout troops in the church.
(By the mid 40's, all ranges of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts were sponsored by the church with members as leaders.)
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| The Church Library as it appears today |
The Church Library
The Church Library was organized in July, 1939 with the object of securing valuable Christian reference books which, free
of cost, could be used by all church members in the study of God's word. The Library started with 17 books that were
donated by church members. Several of the Circles as well as other church members made monetary contributions for purchasing
books. Over the years many ladies have served on the Library Committee and as Librarians. From a collection of
17 books, the number is now well over 1000. Today the Library is located in the Educational Building.
The year 1939 closed with two outpost Sunday Schools and Mission work sponsored
at Raleigh, Terry, and Wright. The enrollment in the three Sunday Schools was 675.
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If you like history and enjoy looking at old pictures, visit the following website:
HISTORY OF BECKLEY AND RALEIGH COUNTY
This is an updated link.
It's the same site but was moved to a new location.
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