Claysville Church
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| Claysville Church | |
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| 39°20′33″N 79°04′05″W / 39.3425°N 79.0681°W | |
| Location | Claysville, Mineral County, West Virginia, U.S. |
| History | |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Founder(s) | Daniel Hendrickson and John Fout |
Claysville Church is located at the intersection of the Northwestern Turnpike (now US 50) and WV 93 in Claysville, West Virginia, United States.[1] It is the oldest organized rural church in Mineral County.[2]
Claysville Church was built in 1850 under the direction of Daniel Hendrickson and William Fout, as a church of the Virginia Conference of the United Brethren Church.[1][3] Reuben Davis and John Liller donated the land where the church is located on the spot where their separate property boundaries joined.[3]
The church is made of lumber produced on a water-powered sawmill, and furnished with hand-finished seats. It is in an excellent state of preservation.[4] It was first used as a combined church, school and community building.[4]
Both Union and Confederate soldiers used the church for services during the Civil War.[5] Due to frequent changes in control of the New Creek Valley between the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War, soldiers from both armies worshipped at the church while under watch.[2] Additionally, there is a cemetery with many graves sites behind the church.[citation needed]
When the Claysville United Methodist Church disbanded in 1869, its few remaining members had no choice but to look for affiliation elsewhere.[2] The Claysville membership roll in 1860 shows more than 75 members,[2] but there were only 13 when the congregation disbanded.[1]
