The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-07-19
OUR CHURCHES.
Short Sketch of the Different
Religious Institutions IN
Zig Stone Gap.

Big stone Odp'
AWAY back in the glorious boom
DAVIS Of 'S9 and 80 when most people
forgot their religion in the fever OF
speculation, few people got together
and decided to have a place OF wor-
shin in the town, which had as yet
hardly succeeded in having name.
Money was freely subscribed, ana
the small building, known as the
BAPTIST church, was soon erected. IL
was a comfortable house, we'll lighted
and plastered inside above a high
wainscoting and seated with chairs
An organ was bought and there was
always good singing at the ser
vices. By agreement this church
was used by all denominations. a
union Sunday School was organized
with G. T.. button as Superintend-
emit. and the cause prospered.
Along in 1890 Rev. j. o. Straley'
a man Of tireless energy and persever-
ance came to the Gap and through
his efforts the Methodist Church
South, costing $3.50 was built the
next year.
This sharch was large and com
|modious with a seating capacity OF
500 people. ,
The first Methodist conference had
been held in the old Central Hotel
with Elder j. S. w. Mcneil presld-
ing.
Rev. J. O. Straley had charge OF
the church until 1895. The member
ship had grown with wonderfully
rapidity. From beginning OF only
thirteen members the church record
now showed two hundred and thirty
six. Two parsonages have been built
in spite of the fearful collapse which
succeeded the boom. The first, built
in 1891 for the pastor, cost S2SOo
The second, the district parsonage
in 1898, cost $4,000, and is still one
of the most beautiful residences II
Big Stone Gap.
After Rev. j. O. Straley was re-
moved to build other churches, Rev
! j. l. Cash came, and after him
another great worker, Rev. :. Is
Vaught, and finally the present pop
ular pastor, Rev. j. A. Duvall.
Mr.. Duvall is still young man
He is a native of North Carolina anc
a self-made man. The present mem
bership of his church is about l3'
persons.
Rev. Duvall has been in the min
istry fourteen years. tie was II
Tennessee four years and IN hi'
native state two years before he came
to Virginia. lie is all excellcn
preacher and very popular with hi
people.
The Baptist church. the first or
gained, grew rapidly. The frs
pastor, Rev. j. NJ. McManaway, wa
called in the spring Of 1890. Th'
membership was then good and The
church in a nourishing condition, bu
after the crash in '9l, great man!
members moved away and the churcl
became very feeble. Not until Rev
A. NJ. Wilson came did it show any
signs of life. The outlook was mos
discouraging when Mr.. Wilson took
charge, but now the Baptist churcl
is again flower in the town and thu
pastor is one of the best beloved min
listers that has ever been in Big Ston
; Gap. His work here deserves grea
deal of praise.
A Baptist college is contemplate
: in the near future.
II The third church to be erected IL
Il Big Stone Gap was the pretty it'll
red building under the shadow o
4 Poplar Hill, with its high slopini
roof and wide flight of steps. Tn
church is beautifully finished inside
and the Episcopals have good Gauss
to be proud of it. The first recto
was Rev. r. S. Carter, and the vestry
men were ID. s. Peasants, l.. Turne
Maury, w. G. Mcdowell, Gus. w
Lowell and ii. ii. Bullitt.
| This church was built in lS93'an,
cost $2250.
i Mr. Carter moved away in 80 an'
| the church was without rector unit
recently when Rev. Il. l.. Russell de
cided to come over from Bristol some