Long Description:During its history, it has been the place of worship for many of
the pioneer families of Tazewell County. Its pulpit has been graced
by ministers of Power who have walked in Jesus' steps. Among these
men have included Tyler Frazier, "Brother" Bob Sheffey, Stewart
French, C. R. Brown, B. Price, Charles Dyer and many others.
In the year 1793, three Methodist conferences were held in
Virginia. The conference for western Virginia met in Greenbrier
County on May 25, 1793. At this conference, the Rev. John Kobler
was ordained elder and appointed to the New River Circuit.
According to Bennett's Memorials of Methodism in Virginia, Kobler
was one to the purest and most zealous of the circuit riders of the
west. Bickley's History of Tazewell County states that the first
sermon preached in what is now Tazewell County was by the Rev.
Kobler in 1793. This sermon may be regarded as the budding of
Methodism in the county. Among his converts were Jeremiah and Sarah
Witten, William and Letitia Witten, John and Sarah Peery, Elizabeth
Greenup, Samuel Ferguson, Isabella Ferguson, and Simon and Lettie
Smith. Thomas Peery gave them a piece of land and in 1797 the first
of the church's three structures was erected, the Pisgah
Meetinghouse.
Price's Holston Methodism speaks of a Dr. Jacob Young, D. D. who
was appointed to the Clinch Circuit by Bishop Asbury for the years
1803-1804. He speaks of preaching several times among the
Garrisons, Higginbothams, Wittens, and Youngs. They received him as
a messenger from God.
On September 10, 1805 William and Letitia Witten and John and
Elizabeth Greenup gave four and one-half acres of land for the
purpose of formally deeding the church property at the Courthouse
in the newly created Tazewell County. The first notice of Tazewell
appearing as a separate circuit was in 1815 when the conference
appointed the Rev. George Ekin as pastor-in-charge. As a result of
deterioration due to age the old log meetinghouse was replaced in
1870 with a new white weatherboard structure on the site of the
original log church.
The coming of the Clinch Valley Line of the present-day
Norfolk-Southern Railroad to this section in 1888 necessitated the
moving of the church since the railway passed through the church
property. As a result the site of the present church was obtained
from Dr. Raleigh Witten in 1889. Therefore, the relatively new 1870
church was replaced by the present structure in 1889.
During the 198 years of its existence, this church has had many
loyal supporters. Among them was Miss Martie Witten, daughter of
Dr. Raleigh Witten, who bequeathed $1,000, the interest from which
was to be used for the upkeep of the church.
In 1940, under the leadership of the Rev. Lee Hill and Mr. J. P.
Barrett, major repairs were made on the church. In 1959, the whole
interior of the church was refinished including the lowering of the
ceiling. Much of this work was made possible through a bequest of a
long-time pianist for the church, Ms. Ella Peery. During the year
1962, under the leadership of Rev. W. E. Mustard and Sunday School
Superintendent, John H. Mullins, Sunday School rooms were built in
the basement.
In July of 1973, Miss Annie O. Crockett, a life-long members of
Pisgah Church passed away leaving her entire estate to be used for
the future growth of the church. Her gift made possible the
building of a new addition to the church. The addition increased
the size of the sanctuary, as well as provided kitchen and bathroom
facilities. The sanctuary was also carpeted and paneled.
During 1983, Mr. Henry Mutter, a life-long resident of Tazewell
County, passed away leaving his estate to be divided equally
between the Pisgah and Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Churches. In
early 1987 Mr. A. Jefferson Higginbotham passed away leaving Pisgah
Church an endowment that will benefit the church for years to come.
As a result of the bequests of persons such as Ms. Ella Peery, Miss
Annie O. Crockett, Mr. Henry Mutter and Mr. Jeff Higginbotham, a
much stronger ministry will be possible for years to come to the
people of this church and community.
Also during 1987 the church was air-conditioned and a chain-link
fence was built around the sides and back of the church. Another
first for the church in 1987 was the presence of two United
Methodist Bishops in our pulpit during the same year. Resident
Bishop, R. Kern Eustler preached during the morning worship service
on Sunday, February 1 while Bishop L. Scott Allen preached during
the Tazewell District Revival on Tuesday evening, August 11.
The Commonwealth of Virginia officially acknowledged the
historical significance of Pisgah Church by erecting a historic
marker directly in front of the church on U. S. Routes 19-460 in
June of 1990. The church received another distinct honor at the
1991 Session of the Holston Annual Conference in June. By vote of
the members of the conference Pisgah United Methodist Church was
officially named a United Methodist Historic Site. The church
undertook a major building program in 1993 constructing additional
Sunday School rooms, a new fellowship hall and an overflow for the
main sanctuary. Also during 1993 the church celebrated its
bicentennial with monthly activities highlighting the two-hundred
year history of the congregation. Bishop Clay Lee of the Holston
Conference delivered the message on bicentennial homecoming Sunday,
September 12, 1993 with more than 225 persons in attendance. The
first sermon preached by the new Holston Conference Bishop, Rev.
James Swanson, in the Tazewell District was delivered at the 10:00
a.m. Sunday morning worship service at Pisgah October 10, 2004. At
the present time Pisgah Church has a membership of 150 with an
average Sunday morning attendance of 80. The United Methodist Men,
the United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Youth, the youth
choir, Wings of Love, Heaven's Little Harmonies, and the adult
choir are all very active groups.
From churches web site:
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