Wardensville Methodist Church (1881-1953)

Constructed in 1881 and now home to a retail store, this historic building was home to Wardensville's Methodist Church until 1953.

The first church, or meeting house, in Wardensville was attended by both Lutherans and Methodists. Once the Lutherans decided to form their own congregation, the Methodists followed their lead. In 1881, Methodist trustees purchased a lot on the southeast side of Main Street and built this structure for less than $800 thanks to members contributing labor and materials. 

The community's Methodist and Lutheran churches both had bell towers with small bells. When the Lutheran bell cracked, it was replaced with a larger bell. The Lutherans rang their bell at the same time as the Methodists, and since it was bigger, it drowned out the Methodists’ bell. The Methodists weren’t going to let this continue to happen, so they purchased a new 700-pound bell. Their belfry wasn’t big enough to support the new bell, so in 1898 a new sixty-foot tall bell tower was built. This new construction cost the church over $1,000 and took the congregation more than ten years to pay off. During installation, the bell fell on the installer’s foot cutting off two toes. About 40 years later, several of the bell tower’s timbers became decayed, which ultimately led to the removal of the top twenty feet.

Many men in the Methodist Church used tobacco or snuff and would frequently use cuspidors during the service to spit in. In 1899, a new pastor, Rev. D.W. Griffin, joined the church and didn't approve of drinking, dancing, gambling, and tobacco. He had the cuspidors removed on the men’s side of the church. This didn’t sit well with some of the men, so they left and decided to form their own church, the Faith Mission Church, which still operates today. The Lutheran Church voted to remove their cuspidors as well, two years later.

In 1952, a new cornerstone was built for the church. The cornerstone held a copper box that contained items from the 1881 church’s cornerstone. In 1953, the old Methodist Church building was sold and later served several purposes. It is presently the More! Store, which holds unique gifts and artifacts from older times in Wardensville.  

Mason, Gary. Beyond the Great North Mountain: A History and Guide, December 15th 2016. Accessed August 1st 2020.

McKeever, Kenna. History of Wardensville, West Virginia, January 1st 1957. Accessed August 1st 2020.