Old Stone Presbyterian Church (Lewisburg, WV)

The first Permanent Settlement in this region West of the Allleghanies was in 1769. Dr. ]ohn McElhenney says of these early settlers that "they were mainly from the Valley" (Virgnia), and that they were "generally inclined to Presbyterianism." Between 1769-1783, missionaries visited the region for brief sojourns, but the names of only three (Crawford, Frazier, Read) are remembered by historians.

Rev. John McCue, who came to the Greenbrier region in 1783, was the first resident Presbyterian minister in this region. In August of that same year, Presbyterian churches were organized at Lewisburg and Union. A few weeks later the Spring Creek Church at Renick was organized. These were the first Presbyterian churches organized "west of the mountains."

The original building of the Lewisburg congregation, which was the first organized, was erected in that same year, 1783. This church, a log building, stood about a mile and a half northwest of the present city of Lewisburg. It was occupied by the congregation for only a few years and was ultimately destroyed by fire.

The Old Stone Church was erected in 1796 during the pastorate of Rev. H. Benjamin Grigsby. The building was made possible in large measure by the generosity and leadership of Col. John Stuart, "Father of Greenbrier County." Colonel Stuart and his wife, Agatha Lewis Frogg, (daughter of the Honorable Thornes Lewis, who was a son of pioneer ]ohn Lewis of Augusta, Co., Va. and a brother of General Andrew and Colonel Charles Lewis) gave the land for the church site and made large contributions to the building fund. With a membership of only twenty persons, the help of the women was needed as well as that of the men. Tradition has it that sand for the building was carried from the Greenbrier River on horseback by devoted women of the congregation.

From the time of its organization, this church exerted a remarkably wide influence in the early development of this region. Its ministers were the pioneer Presbyterian ministers in a large section of country stretching from Lexington, Virginia, to the Ohio River. Notably, Dr. John McElhenney served this church as pastor from 1808-1871, a period of nearly sixy-three years.

The congregation was also scattered over a wide area: the Meadows, the Richlands, Frankford, Brushy Ridge, Blue Sulphur, Irish Corner, Fort Spring, Greenbrier Bridge, Edgar's Mill, Anthony's Creek, Renick's Valley, and beyond. That wide area is today dotted with churches whose beännings were fostered by the Old Stone Church. Tradition says that Col. William McClung often walked the twenty miles from his home on Big Clear Creek to Lewisburg to hear Dr. McElhenney preach.

In its long history, Old Stone has been the mother of both churches as well as schools. Fifty years later, reflecting on his early ministry, Dr. McElhenney wrote, "October, 1808, I commenced teaching at this place." The school thus grew into the Lewisburg Academy, which was incorporated by an act of the Virginia legislature in 1812. A brief building had been erected before this time, and the school was sometimes referred to as the "Brick Academy." Dr. McElhenney served as president of the board of the Lewisburg Academy for forty years, until 1860. Greenbrier College and Greenbrier Military School, which closed in 1972, were direct descendants of that first school.

Many significant events in the history of the church in this region have taken place here. Greenbrier Presbytery was organized on the second Tuesday of April 1838. Dr. McElhenney wrote: "One of the first, if not the very first Sabbath Schools in Virginia was in Lewisburg." The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States met in this church in 1910. The Synod of West Virginia was organized here in 1915. The first meeting of the re-constituted Greenbrier Presbyterty met here January 23, 1968. The second stated meeting of the New Greenbrier Presbytery in the Synod of the Virginias was held here on April 16, 1974.

This is the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Alleghanies. Architecturally simple and plain, after the "meeting house style" of the 18th century, its thick walls of native limestone were soundly built.

Insofar as possible, the authenticity of the interior of the sanctuary has been preserved since 1796. The original building was about 40 by 40 feet square. The entrance faced the east and Market Street. The pulpit was at the west wall which is now the entrance. In 1830 the church was enlarged by an addition of 25 feet to the east end. The pulpit was moved to the south wall and a window covered over to accommodate this move. The gallery was then extended across the west wall. A bell tower was put on the building in 1834.

The collection boxes that are still used today were made for the church m 1844 by a member of the congregation. In 1856, the Trustees of the town of Lewisburg gave the Session charge and control of the cemetery (which is currently operated by a separate organization). At once a board fence was built around it. In the next year a lecture room (auditorium) was built on the northwest corner of the church lot and the interior of the church was refurbished. The pulpit was moved to the east wall; a vestibule and inside stairs were created; and the outside stairways were removed.

The old lecture room was replaced by a Sunday School Building in 1911, and in 1953, the present Educational Building was built and joined to the church by the Pastor's Study. The Sanctuary floor was replaced in 1970.

Through the doorways of this church have passed many generations of devout worshipers. To thousands, its strong walls have been a symbol of faith that abides. The devoted spirit of those who nearly two centuries ago erected this enduring place of worship in a wilderness is reflected in the inscription, made by Col. John Stuart, who personally polished and carved the stone placed above the entryway:

This building was erected in the year 1796 at the [expense] of a few of the first inhabitants of this land to commemorate their affection & esteem for the holy gospel of]esus Christ. Reader, if you are inclined to applaud their virtues, give God the glory.