(Photo by Calvin Shepherd - Use By Permission)
Alderson West Virginia - A History
Churches - Page 3 - Baptist Church
Over
the
years
Old
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church
has
had
thirty
ministers.
Many
of
these
men
were
scholars;
several
have
had
such
strong
personalities
that they left their marks on the community for a generation.
The
Baptist
denomination
is
one
of
the
most
democratic.
On
July
29,
1797,
the
question
was
raised
as
to
women
speaking
in
church
and
making
public
prayers.
The
Greenbrier
Baptists
decided
women
had
as
much
freedom
as
male
members.
Frequently,
even
before,
and
many
times
after
that
time,
women
members
have
represented
the
Church
in
calling
on
delinquent
members,
or
to
make
church
inquiries.
At
the
present,
the
Board
of
Deacons is divided equally between men and women, and the Church Clerk is a woman.
In
1801
colored
members
were
admitted,
and
there
is
evidence
that
Negroes
were
taught
by
white
members.
They
were
baptized
with
white
members, and the Church was careful that their letters of membership were forwarded when they moved away from the community.
No
member
seemed
to
have
any
special
privilege.
Thomas
Alderson,
one
of
the
first
twelve
members,
and
brother
of
Elder
John,
was
once
excommunicated
for
some
angry
remarks.
Scores
of
persons
of
many
a
pioneer
family
felt
the
wrath
of
the
Church.
Old
Greenbrier
was
independent
in its government. Although it belonged to the Baptist Association, it acted as it pleased on occasion.
In
1880
Old
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church
organized
Alderson
Baptist
Church
on
the
south
side
of
the
Greenbrier.
For
years,
members
on
the
south
side
had
had
trouble
getting
across
the
river,
especially
in
winter.
So
if
they
could
not
get
to
church,
the
Church
would
go
to
them.
It
was
resolved
to
build
a
Baptist
Church
on
the
Monroe
side.
A
church
was
organized
but
no
church
built.
It
was
not
necessary.
Greenbrier
and
Monroe
Counties
built
the
first bridge in 1882. Alderson Baptist Church united with its parent and became a bit of history.
Old
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church
has
aided
or
been
instrumental
in
the
establishment
of
at
least
twenty
other
Baptist
churches.
The
four
listed
by
Joseph
Alderson
in
his
history
in
1842
have
been
noted.
The
First
Baptist
Church
of
Beckley
traces
its
establishment
to
churches
founded
by
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church.
The
First
Baptist
Church
of
Princeton
was
established
in
1860
by
Matthew
Ellison,
then
pastor
of
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church.
This
famous
Baptist
preached
7000
sermons
and
baptized
2000
people,
and
helped
organize
at
least
twenty-five
congregations.
So
it
is
impossible
to
state
precisely
how
many
Baptist
Churches
have
their
origin
in
Old
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church.
That
would
be
an
interesting
task
for
a
church historian.
Presently,
the
minister
of
Old
Greenbrier
Baptist
Church
is
John
W.
Wagster,
a
tall
young
red-headed
personable
man,
who
became
minister
in
1960.
The
present
membership
is
465,
and
the
Church
is
energetic
and
progressive
in
its
gospel
mission
as
set
forth
1n
the
original
Covenant
written
in
1781.
This
Writer
admits
to
the
inadequacy
of
this
history
of
Old
Greenbrier,
for
a
real
history
of
this
church
would
correspond
to
that
of
the
Alderson
community, Greenbrier County, the State of West Virginia, and of our Nation.
Ref: Beckley Post-Herald, December 30, 1947. "Old Greenbrier Church History" by Joseph Alderson, 1842 .
Minutes of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church
Greenbrier County Court Records Papers of Joseph Newman Alderson
175th Anniversary History
125th Anniversary History, Reverend J. W. Morgan
Reverend John Wagster, June I964
Main Index
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
The History of Alderson, West Virginia
From The Journal Of The Greenbrier Historical Society On Alderson, West Virginia
Written by Kenneth D. Swope - Compiled and Transcribed by Barry Worrell
