A History of Churches in Pocahontas County

The sources detail the establishment and evolution of various churches in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries.

**Many of the churches began as union churches**, serving people from various denominations before individual denominations constructed their own buildings. For example, the Deer Creek Union Chapel, built sometime before 1813, served as the only church in the eastern end of the county for about forty years and was used by all denominations for camp meetings and services. The Hamlin Chapel, built around 1780, was used by both Methodists and Presbyterians until 1889 when the Presbyterians constructed a church directly across the road. In Huntersville, the Presbyterian church building was used by all denominations in the town before the Methodists built their own church in 1856.

**The most commonly mentioned denominations in the sources are Methodist and Presbyterian**.

**Many churches were built near important resources or community hubs** such as lumber companies or schoolhouses. For example, the Dunlevie M. E. Church was built by the Dunlevie Lumber Company in 1907. The company president, a staunch M. E. South member, ensured the church had a Methodist preacher.

**Circuit riders, ministers who traveled between communities, played a key role in establishing churches in the region**. The sources highlight instances where circuit riders held the first services in groves, schoolhouses, or private residences.

**Local events and individuals significantly impacted the development of these churches**. The Arbovale Church, originally named Arbogast Memorial, was renamed due to community dissatisfaction with the name. A revival in the Arbovale Church was interrupted when the stove fell through the floor. However, after repairs, the meeting continued. At the Baxter Church, a Sunday School was established by Asa D. Watkins, a student at the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. The church also had two outposts, one at Lollauchin and another at Dunmore.

**The sources also provide a glimpse into the challenges faced by these churches and their congregations**. Financial constraints often led to delays in construction, shared facilities, and the eventual abandonment of some churches. The Civil War disrupted religious life, with churches being repurposed as hospitals.  The sources frequently mention the destruction of early church records due to fires, negligence, or other circumstances, making it difficult to compile a complete history.

The sources offer a valuable record of the religious landscape of Pocahontas County, highlighting the resourcefulness, resilience, and faith of its people in establishing and sustaining their places of worship.