By Bonnie Ball
During the 1960's the writer began a research on the early churches and missions in Buchanan County, Virginia. However, after covering part of them the project was interrupted and never completed. Two of them were compiled by Mrs. Miller of Oakwood, Virginia, and myself, but there are still other noteworthy ones with interesting histories. Later, I was able to acquire data on the early history of the Presbyterian Church's arrival and influence in that area. For this, I am indebted to others hereafter mentioned.
The first Presbyterian minister to locate in Grundy was the Rev. Frank Emmett Clark of the Green Springs area of Washington County. He was appointed as an evangelist in 1908 by the Abingdon Presbytery with headquarters in Grundy, and was the founder of the Grundy Presbyterian Mission. In the fall of 1909, he went to the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in search of a minister to take charge of the school. The Principal, W. W. Arrowood had offered his resignation, effective in June of 1912.
W. W. Moore, president of the Seminary, recommended Rev. James Smith for the position. He was a graduate of Union Seminary, and was invited by Dr. Clark to visit Grundy and look over the situation.
Dr. George H. Gilmer, Superintendent of Home Missions for Abingdon Presbytery, was also invited to come to the area at the same time, but due to a very cold fall and winter, their visit was postponed until March 1912.
When they reached Grundy they found that Mr. Arrowood had decided to remain for the next session. However, Dr. Gilmer told him that he would like to have Rev. Smith as an assistant, since the field was so extensive that he could not cover it, and had received a request from Presbyterians in Big Stone Gap to send them a minister, and he wished him to act as his assistant in studying the fields in the Presbytery and report to him. Mr. Smith accepted the position and came to Big Stone Gap on June 16, 1912 to begin the work.
After some years Dr. Gilmer retired and Rev. Smith was appointed superintendent and treasurer of the Home Missions Board for the entire Abingdon Presbytery, which then extended from Radford, including all the western counties.
Dr. Clark had already begun preaching in other Buchanan County communities of Hurley, Roseann, Vansant and Oakwood. Rev. Smith visited the area annually for over four years, but, with the arrival of a depression the work was greatly curtailed. He decided to remain in Big Stone Gap and "hold the work together as much as possible."
The folks in Big Stone Gap built a nice church in 1914. Rev. Smith preached in Wise, Lee and Scott counties and continued to visit the Grundy area as long as he was superintendent and treasurer.
The above information came from a letter written by Rev. Smith to the writer on August 12, 1966.
The following data was provided by Mr. Samuel Shumate of Union Theological Seminary in 1966. She had visited Mrs. Rachel (Matney) Baker of Bristol, Tennessee, who had lent him a copy of the Grundy Presbyterian School catalog issued in the 1920's. Rev. Shumate is now (1984) pastor of a large Presbyterian Church in Lumberton, North Carolina.
From "Women of Old Abingdon", 1937, by Women of the Church of Abingdon Presbytery, we have this:
"On February 4, 1909 the Rev. R. D. Carson and Frank E. Clark held a meeting at Grundy Methodist Church. Carson preached twice daily for eight days. On February 11, 1909, at the home of Mrs. G. B. Watkins, the Buchanan First Presbyterian Church was organized with the following members: Mrs. E. R. Boyd by letter from Woodstock, Virginia; John W. Flannagan by letter from Willis Memorial of Louisa County; Mrs. E. H. Witten and Mrs. Lettie Watkins from Grundy Methodist. Others were: Mrs. J. W. Lambert, Miss Dora Crockett, Miss Bessie Hibbitts, Miss Beulah B. Waldron and Miss Bertha Ellis. A brick church was erected on E. H. Witten's lot. (This was the 1966 site of the Grundy Bible Church.)
"Dr. Carson delivered what he thought to be the first Presbyterian service in Buchanan County. In 1908 he had brought the Rev. Frank E. Clark from Union Theological Seminary to work there. In 1909, Mr. W. W. Arrowood came as his assistant in the school. As stated above, Mr. James Smith, a Seminary graduate, came as assistant in 1912 and later went to Wise County."
In 1928, when Mr. Smith became Superintendent of Home Missions in the Abingdon Presbytery, Dr. Goodridge Wilson noted that the Grundy school had 230 pupils, 150 boarders and 18 teachers.
At that time there was also a county high school in Grundy, but many considered that the church school provided a better classical education for those planning to enter college. Among its instructors was Mr. W. D. Painter of Draper, Virginia.
These are only the beginnings of the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan County.
There has been a Presbyterian Church in Abingdon since 1772; in Tazewell County since the 1830's, but the "hills" apparently kept the Presbyterians out of Buchanan until 1909, and Dickenson County until the 1930's.
Nevertheless, they have both made great strides. Someone prepared a list of the Presbyterian Churches and church schools of Buchanan County in 1966, as follows:
Church: Grundy; Members: 241 and Sunday School: 169
Church: Hurley; Members: 51 and Sunday School: 50
Church: Roseann; Members: 71 and Sunday School: 60
Church: Vansant; Members: 83 and Sunday School: 45
Church: Oakwood; Members: 79 and Sunday School: 55
Totals: Members: 446 and Sunday School: 379
The Grundy Presbyterian Church is now an impressive structure with a large membership and strong financial support. Perhaps others will be able to follow up on its more recent history.
Pages 31 to 33
This material has been made available by the courtesy of the Historical Society of
Southwest Virginia and Rhonda Robertson. The Historical Society of Southwest Virginia was
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