WAR RIDGE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

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Marybeth Lee
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WAR RIDGE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH The War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church is located at 3134 War Ridge Road in Wayside, West Virginia.

War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church circa 1945 War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church 2015 The church came into existence through the efforts of

These three ladies working with volunteers were able to build this small country church on land donated by the Crawford family.

1 WAR RIDGE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH The War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church is located at 3134 War Ridge Road in Wayside, West Virginia. It is a member of the Beckley Conference of Free Will Baptists and held its first service in War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church circa 1945 War Ridge Free Will Baptist Church 2015 The church came into existence through the efforts of Becky Crawford, Mae Mann, and Thelma Shanks. These three ladies working with volunteers were able to build this small country church on land donated by the Crawford family. When the church was first built it was a small one room church with an outhouse on the side. It had a concrete floor, a small wood stove for heat in the winter and in the summer the windows were cranked open to allow cool air into the building. Thelma Shanks, Mae Mann, and Becky Crawford in the old Sanctuary

On Sundays, and Wednesdays, War Ridge Road, a one lane dirt road, was lined with cars.

Baptisms were held in the nearby Greenbrier River, where they continue to be held to this day.

Monk and Deacon Galford baptizing James and Lula Wood The original church had several of the pews turned

2 On Sundays, and Wednesdays, War Ridge Road, a one lane dirt road, was lined with cars. Homecomings were held the second Sunday in July for as long as anyone can remember. Baptisms were held in the nearby Greenbrier River, where they continue to be held to this day. Bernard Rogers, David Meadows (age 9) and Rev. Claude Dove 1960 Rev. Monk and Deacon Galford baptizing James and Lula Wood The original church had several of the pews turned sideways to accommodate the wood stove. No pictures of the inside of the church are available, but to the best of anyone's recollection it looked something like the sketch to the right.

In the early 1960's the church was expanded by adding about fifteen feet onto the back of the church.

brought into the church. Pulpit as it is today, it was similar in the 60's Double doors added between the pulpit and the pews, original doors had no windows.

Later in the 60's a furnace room and sound room were added behind the pulpit. The old wood stove was removed and an oil furnace and ducting were installed in a drop ceiling.

3 In the early 1960's the church was expanded by adding about fifteen feet onto the back of the church. This allowed a new pulpit to be added with double doors added to the side of the church (in front of and to the right of the pulpit) to allow easier access for wheel chairs and for caskets to be brought into the church. Pulpit as it is today, it was similar in the 60's Double doors added between the pulpit and the pews, original doors had no windows. New pews were obtained and the old pews were placed in storage (photos are recent as no photos were available from the 1960's). Later in the 60's a furnace room and sound room were added behind the pulpit. The old wood stove was removed and an oil furnace and ducting were installed in a drop ceiling. In the early 70's the concrete floor was covered with a hard wood floor. Ceiling fans and air conditioning was installed. New pews (were not originally padded) In June of 1976 the Shining Light Ministry was started. It originally consisted of two singers, Shirley Richmond Fox and Bonnie Galford, who would visit the Veterans Hospital in Beckley on a monthly basis to sing to the patients. Over the years this group has remained... steadfast... growing the ministry to include various teachers and preachers to bring an hour

Hinton). In the mid 1970's an addition was started and brick was purchased, but construction was not finished until much later as the church ran into financial difficulties.

4 long church service to seven local. Nursing Homes (Greenbrier Manor and Brier Nursing Homes in Fairlea, Springfield in Lindside, Riverview in Rich Creek, VA, Country View in Peterstown, Summers County in Hilldale, and Main Street in Hinton). In the mid 1970's an addition was started and brick was purchased, but construction was not finished until much later as the church ran into financial difficulties. In the 1980's the addition was finally finished adding to the back right hand side of the church to allow for overflow seating, classrooms, and male and female restrooms. Carpet was added to the church at this time and a steeple and bell were also added (built by Dennis Galford). The addition held three classrooms and the sound room (which had never been used as such) was modified to become a fourth classroom. Side of church showing addition Steeple with bell inside

Back classroom was used for teenagers with front classroom used for

children (up to 5 years old) Two of the classrooms and the converted

utilized for either new converts or young married couples.

the old altar was moved into the overflow area and carpeted to match

5 Back classroom was used for teenagers with front classroom used for 5-12 year olds Sound room was converted into a classroom for small children (up to 5 years old) Two of the classrooms and the converted sound room were used to teach children and the fourth classroom was utilized for either new converts or young married couples. The old pews were moved from storage into the overflow section and the old altar was moved into the overflow area and carpeted to match the floor. Old pews in overflow section Old altar to the side of the overflow seating

This was done under Pastor Buck Tyre and continued under Pastor Curtis Monk. The church installed a phone line during this time to make broadcasts possible.

6 Church radio broadcasts were started by the Rice Family; however no details on these early broadcasts are available. In the early 1980's Church Services were broadcast live on radio station WMTD (AM station 1605) at 2:05 on Sunday afternoons from the sanctuary. This was done under Pastor Buck Tyre and continued under Pastor Curtis Monk. The church installed a phone line during this time to make broadcasts possible. Broadcasting was halted in 1996 when the radio station was sold and the time slot was moved to 6:00 a.m. Tapes of the services were made were made and transported to Beckley where they were broadcast on WBKW, FM 99.5 at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. In November of 1982, under Pastor Buck Tyree, deacons were appointed for the first time. Dorsie Meadows (deceased), Tom Rice, Sr. (deceased), and Dennis Galford were all ordained November 5 th, Dennis Galford is still an active deacon to this day (2015). In August of 1988 a well was drilled. Prior to that, water was shared from a nearby homeowner's (Vivian Rice, an active member of the church) well. Finally the brick exterior was completed and a new larger porch roof was added. The steps were removed as the congregation no longer parked on the side of the road, but parked in a dirt lot to the side of the church. The old crank windows were replaced by "praying hands" stained glass windows in April Brick side view showing paved parking lot In the late 1990's a larger church sign was installed in front of the church. The parking lot was paved on May 10 th In July of 2001 new doors with stained glass windows were installed to replace the plain wooden doors. The "praying hands" windows were matched as close as possible to the existing church windows. Praying hands stained glass windows

A new church sign was installed on January 14th 2010.

Church sign as it looks in 2015 Fellowship Hall Walls were torn out to allow for a large dining area.

tops were installed in the kitchen, a new roof was installed, one of the bathrooms was remodeled, vinyl trim was placed around

7 A new church sign was installed on January 14th The church purchased the neighboring Rice property in May 2012 and remodeled it, changing it into a Fellowship Hall. Church sign as it looks in 2015 Fellowship Hall Walls were torn out to allow for a large dining area. The old wiring was removed and replaced, the old hard wood floor was refinished, all the windows were replaced, new counter tops were installed in the kitchen, a new roof was installed, one of the bathrooms was remodeled, vinyl trim was placed around the windows and on the front porch, and a wheelchair ramp was added to the back of the building. All this work was accomplished by church members under the supervision of Dennis Galford Tables and chairs were purchased to allow seating for 50.

Finally a new metal roof was installed in June/July of 2015.

Rice, Jr., Buck Tyree (approx. 1980-1986), Curtis Monk (June 1986-1996), Jack Reeves (Aug 1996 - Jul 1997), Jeff Purdue (Aug 1997 - Sep 2000), and Roger Brammer (Oct 8, 2000 - present).

8 Finally a new metal roof was installed in June/July of New metal roof Sanctuary Pastors of the church: Leo Kindricks, Roger McCormick, Claude Dove, Carl Edwards, Cecil Harless, Basil McDaniels, Tom Shaver, Bob Combs, Doug Williams, Norman Ferguson, Tom Rice, Jr., Buck Tyree (approx ), Curtis Monk (June ), Jack Reeves (Aug Jul 1997), Jeff Purdue (Aug Sep 2000), and Roger Brammer (Oct 8, present). Church members who were called to preach: Bob Bradley (1972), Jimmy Rogers (1974), Tom Rice, Jr. (Mar 1974), Gary Comer (1975), Norman Ferguson (1976), Earl Brewer (Jan 1989), Danny Michael (called Apr 2002, ordained 2003), Wesley Galford (Mar 2003), Tim Fox (Mar 2012), and Joseph Swiney (Mar 2015). The Church belongs to the Beckley Conference of Free Will Baptist, the West Virginia State Association of Free Will Baptist, and the National Association of Free Will Baptist.

9 NOTE: More pictures were given - but not placed with the article, due to the space it would have required. I did place those which seemed of the most important for preserve the history of the War Ridge Church NOTE: This information was given to the Historical Committee of the West Virginia State Association of Free Will Baptist, sometime in, or around August

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