In 1792 the first new church formed from Greenbrier Baptist was on Indian Creek, and that church, with the old church, joined the New River Association. In 1796, Elder John, Elder James Johnson, and Josiah Osborn started the Big Levels, or Lewisburg, Baptist Church. Johnson was the first Baptist minister whom Elder John had seen in this section. The same two ministers organized a church on the Kanawha. These four organized churches then became the Greenbrier Association. It has been written that Elder John Alderson helped organize several other churches. His son did not mention any others in his history.

Elder John certainly was a "marrying" preacher. The first marriage records in Greenbrier County Court are completely obliterated from 1778 through 1780. But beginning in 1781 marriages are recorded alphabetically, and Elder John was marrying people with great frequency. The first recorded marriage was on January 11, 1781, when Michael Keeney was married to Catherine Lewis by Elder John. (Of course, there were many marriages performed in the Greenbrier area long before 1781, but these were recorded in Augusta County, or Botetourt, Virginia, before Greenbrier County was formed in 1778.)

The best source of Old Greenbrier’s history is the Church Minutes. Old Greenbrier Baptist Church is the only Baptist Church in West Virginia with complete records covering such a long period of time since its organization — 183 years. Reading these old minutes is fascinating and gives an insight into the great changes that have occurred in the Alderson community, religious, moral, political, scientific and economic.

From the first, the church had difficulty in non-attendance, and for a great many years members were put out of the church if they did not attend regularly. The church exercised its strict discipline by excommunicating, or "excluding" members. Some of the charges were "stripping to fight", fighting, fornication, adultery, frolicking, playing cards, dancing, intoxication, "drinking too much", profane swearing, stealing, and laziness. In April 1856, during the pastorate of M. T. Bibb, the Church resolved, "Therefore, that we give notice to our brethren and sisters that if any of them engage in carnal plays, songs, playing the violin, checkers, backgammon, shooting matches, and such like, as some of them have done heretofore, that upon being informed thereof, we will forthwith without full satisfaction, withdraw our fellowship from them." In July 1856, eight members, all of prominent families who were long-time pillars of the church, were expelled for "carnal mirth". The eight refused to give the Church satisfaction and said they would continue the practice.

In September 1801, the Greenbrier Baptist Church resolved to allow "any of our Negro Brethren or Sisters to join this church by letter or Experience". There is a list of about 370 white members and 27 colored members between July 1835 and October 1846. All slaves were listed by first name only and the names of their owners are noted after each name. Five of these colored members were listed by full name which possibly indicates they were free. Still another list of members from 1846 to October 1872 lists 462 names, and the Church reported to the Association it had 217 living members in 1872. These lists are rich mines of genealogy.

The Church frequently interceded in disputes between members and often settled them. "Going to law" between church members was not countenanced. Regular business meetings were held, and all kinds of topics were discussed. Members needing assistance, religious questions, finances, church repairs, attendance at Association meetings, accusations against members, defense of charges, acceptance of new members and granting of letters of dismissal to those leaving, church publications, missions, and other matters, received public attention. The Church in 1802 sent a committee to see why a brother was not attending church. The committee found he had gotten in debt; the sheriff had a warrant to take him in, and he was making himself as unavailable as possible. Just give him time, he begged, to pay his debts so he would not be jailed, and back in the church he would be. The Church understood his dilemma, and granted his request to stay away for a time.

By 1793 the first log building needed repair, a stone chimney, and to be re-shingled. The old church probably served until a new one was built during the pastorate of James Ellison, who followed Elder John Alderson in 1821.

This new church was a frame building 40 by 50 feet in size. It had a gallery around three sides, with a high pulpit so the preacher could see both the main floor and the gallery which slaves occupied. Women sat on one side, men on the other. If a member was not in good standing, he sat in a corner section reserved for sinners or transgressors. Wooden brackets held tallow dips which lighted the room.

This second building was replaced by the third church built, probably, in 1872. The third church was extensively remodeled in 1903. Victorian adornments were added, additions were made on the rear, windows changed, a furnace installed and electric lights added. This third building is well remembered by numbers of living Aldersonians. It was a substantial white frame church with a spire in which a good bell rang loud and clear for services. It had three windows on each side, and in the front, and an "amen corner" to the left of the pulpit. It also had the first baptistery behind the pulpit to immerse the converted. As everyone knows, Baptists practice complete immersion. In the early Minutes it is frequently recounted that after new members were admitted to membership, all headed straight for the river; the preacher, the converts, and the congregation. Once on November 22, four joined and in a short time had been baptized in the Greenbrier. Another time three were baptized on a wintry February 25. The prospect of a complete dunking in icy Greenbrier explains why "protracted" meetings were held in warm weather so as not to discourage confessions of faith.

In 1915 the first mention is made of plans for the fourth church building. In 1921 the Baptists began to raise the money. On July 2, 1930, a contract was let, and then the Depression hit, and work stopped. Finally, in 1935 the splendid new church was formally opened. It is of Indiana sandstone, and it and its site would be an ornament to any community. This is no place to describe it. It is there for all to admire, and it will be there for ages to come. In 1964 a fine new parsonage was built, from the same kind of stone, from the same quarry, costing nearly $50,000.00.
 
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The contents contained in this series is copyrighted and the sole property of The Greenbrier Historical Society - Lewisburg, WV
Used by permission - November 18, 2008