The Alderson Presbyterian Church was organized November 25, 1876. Actually, the church was in existence two years before it was formally organized, and Presbyterians were holding meetings as early as 1872. There lived in Alderson in the 1870’s and 80’s, William Boa, a Canadian, who, with Clark Howell, operated a planning mill and sawmill on the river above the present water works. Boa was a civic, religious and business leader. Probably, he was the leader in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church. His parents  were pious Presbyterians, his father an elder. Boa was also a Mason and in 1872 belonged to no church. Someone suggested the Masons and the Presbyterians build a two story hall to house both the church and the lodge. Boa did not like this plan as he thought the Presbyterians and the Masons would disagree and he opposed a two story building as not fitting for a church. But Boa was not a man to oppose the majority and in 1872 subscription papers were circulated. In 1874 they had $600.00 and in a mass meeting William G. Miller, W. N. Jordan and William Boa were elected members of a building committee. Plans were designed and Patrick H. Hawkins began building the first Presbyterian Church in Alderson. Boa and Howell furnished the materials. Before then — between 1872-74, the Presbyterians met in a temporary building. Rev. W. L. Lynch of the Methodist Church conducted services and occasionally visiting Presbyterian ministers preached to the group. During the summer of 1874 the new building was enclosed and temporary benches installed. In 1874 a young Virginian, the Reverend Paul F. Brown, was minister and served until 1876. (One history of the church shows Jacob D. Lewis also was minister during this period.) In 1876, the Rev. H. R. Laird became pastor and he also operated a school. The first Presbyterian Church building was on the site of the present fine church.

The first members of the Presbyterian Church when it was organized are not completely known, but a report in 1877 made by the Greenbrier Presbytery said there were eleven members and one Ruling Elder. Some of the charter members were: William Boa, Mrs. William Boa, Mrs. Rebecca (M. L.) Harwood, Thomas Johnson, Dr. William Irons, Mrs. H. R. Laird, Mrs. Elizabeth (J . G.) Alderson, Mrs. Lillie (Joseph N.) Putney Alderson and Mrs. Virginia Stevens (George) Alderson. It was the subject of amusement in the Alderson family that the three Alderson Presbyterian wives had husbands who were Baptists. Mrs. Florence Hodges (J. M.) Alderson was the organist. Her husband was a Baptist.

The Union Sunday School mentioned elsewhere was held in the new Presbyterian Church. In 1879 a Presbyterian Sunday School was organized. James Mann was superintendent, William Boa, assistant and William V. Irons, secretary-treasurer.

The church has had few pastors. H. R. Laird served until 1883; J. H. Lewis 1884-85; E. D. Jeffries 1885-95; J. M. Sloan 1895-1915; J. L. Lineweaver 1916-18; J. E. Flow, 1918-22; Paul Nickell, 1923-28; Dupuy Holliday, 1929-1948; William Garda, 1949-1954; William Peters, 1954-1959; William O. Smith 1960-63 and Elwin H. Roberts, the present pastor, who came in 1963.

The old frame church needed to be replaced in 1910. In May, 1913, a committee was named to raise funds for a new church. On March 20, 1921, the Building Committee had cash and pledges of $19,247.00 but it was not until November 22, 1925 that a definite decision was made to build, and another fund-raising campaign was started. Plans were studied and it was decided to let a contract. Several years before, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Mann had provided money to buy the Masons’ interest in the church property. 

Among the industrious fund——raisers was Miss Lillie Rowe, now a retired registered nurse in Alderson, who took as her official project the raising of money for a pipe organ. She compiled a cook-book and baked innumerable cakes.

The cornerstone of the new church was laid November 4, 1926, by Dr. C. F. Mahood, acting for the Masons. It is built of native sandstone from Muddy Creek Mountain. The church cost about $45,000.00.

On July 10, 1927 the church was dedicated and a dedicatory sermon was delivered by Dr. Carey Johnson of Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va. On February 4, 1933, the last indebtedness was paid.

The manse, a modern brick home, was constructed in 1957 on Wickham Street, immediately to the rear of the Post Office. The present church membership is 157.

Ref: 75th Anniversary Booklet. The Presbyterian Church, Alderson. Papers of J. N. Alderson

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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