Madam Russell Methodist Church - Saltville, Va. - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell was born in Hanover County, Virginia in 1749 to John Henry and Sarah Winston. She was a sister of Patrick Henry. In 1776 she married Gen. William Campbell (1745–1781). He was the commander of the American forces that defeated the British at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. This was the turning point of the American Revolution. Following General Campbell's death in 1781, she married Gen. William Russell in 1783. They lived at Aspenvale, Virginia until 1788 when they moved to Saltville, Virginia where they carried on the manufacture of salt. The Russells converted to Methodism in 1788. After Gen. Russell's death in 1793, Elizabeth spent the remainder of her life fostering Methodism in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. Francis Asbury and various Circuit Riders stopped regularly at her home. She is credited with bringing Methodism to western Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. In 1812 she moved to Chilhowie, Virginia to be nearer the Great Road. She died in March 1825 and is buried in the Aspenvale Cemetery. "Madame Russell is probably more eminent in the Methodist pioneer history of America than any other woman. In Saltville, in 1824, a Methodist church, Elizabeth Church, was dedicated in her name. In 1898 construction was begun on a new Methodist church, located a few feet from the then still standing Russell home. That church, Madam Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, stands today as a monument to Mrs. Russell, the region's earliest religious leader, and to the pioneer Methodist Movement in the Holston Territory of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. In present day Saltville, there now stands a beautiful stone building named 'Madam Russell Methodist Church.' Nearby is a replica of the original log cabin where the Russell's had lived. This is owned by the church. The stone doorstep of the church is said to have been the hearth in the Russell cabin."

Source/Credit: (visit link)

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1898 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Methodist If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 11:00 AM Street address of Church: South Main Street Saltville, Va. United States 24370 Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
1) A photo of the church is required for visits to a waymark.

2) Please share some comments about your visit.

3) Additional photos are encouraged. If you can have information in addition to that already provided about this church, please share it with us.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.