HISTORY OF THE SPENCER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1884 First record of admissions - Clay C. Smith, David Switzer Emma Bailey & John B. Stone. Trustees purchased Market Street property. Wooden church building erected
Circa 1900 Other noted members were William H Bishop,Attorney, House of Delegates member, Mayor, author of “History of Roane County 1774-1927", and Albert S. Heck, successful oil and gas entrepreneuer, who built the house now known as the McIntosh mansion. C.C Smith was first president of Roane County’s first bank.
1903 Frame building torn down and brick structure erected on Market Street.
Article in County Paper:
The new Presbyterian Church in Spencer will be dedicated on Sunday November 29 at 10:30 o’clock A.M. Rev J. F. Baxter, the pastor, will preach the dedicatory sermon. Other noted Presbyterian devines will be present.
This fine new brick edifice is one of the modern up-to-date churches in this section of the state and our town people should by justly proud of it and every church going person in Spencer ought to attend the dedicatory services.
1930 Last recorded minutes by Fred Vandale , Clerk, on September 28, 1930 until 1954.
Church became inactive, possibly due to depression and dissention.
1954 Church reorganized July 18, 1954, with 43 charter members. Parkersburg Presbytery deeded property to Kanawha Presbytery .
1966 68 communicants reported, possibly the high point in membership. Among activities were spiritual and social services to patients of Spencer State Hospital.
1970 Congregation approved purchasing site on Parkersburg Road for $22,500. Session members : Gene DeLozier, Phillip Moore, Robert Sharp, Stoner Parsons, and Donald Brown. Hired architect J. D. King and contractor Johnny Ferrell.
1974 Groundbreaking for new church building on Parkersburg Road on April 7. Listed long-range possibilities as additional building for Sheltered Workshop and gymnasium building for community recreation. Members did finish work (painting, wood staining)
1975 Dedication of new church building on May 18. Roane County Schools early Childhood classes began April 23.
1976 Congregation approved sale of old church building to Church of God for $14,000.
1977 The Session voted to enter into a contract with foster parents, Steve and Wendy Tuck, for an Emergency Foster Home at the Manse building on Parkersburg Road.
1989 On September 5, Building Blocks Child Development Center began operations as a private non-profit corporation in the classrooms vacated by the Board of Education. Mary Quick was Director.
1991 Peaked roof installed over original flat roof. Future plans for bell tower addition and sanctuary on second floor never materialized. Now used for storage.
1993 Grant received for Young Mom’s Program. Led by Jennifer Barker for several years.
1994 Began Adopt-A- Highway for two-mile section of Rt. 14. Led by Barbara Lewis.
1999 Old church building purchased by John Taylor from Church of God and scheduled for demolition. We removed the bell and contracted with Low Country Stained Glass to remove the windows, which we had reserved, and to crate and store them in our building.
2008 The Friends of Market Street Chapel purchased the church building from John Taylor and began a campaign to restore it. We sold them the windows at our cost and donated the bell.
2011 PATCH, Inc, assumes operation of Building Blocks CDC .
2012 Several improvements made to building, including new siding and carpet. Upgrades to heating/air conditioning and roofing are in progress. Also have plans to install downstairs bathroom.
2017 New metal roof.
1884 First record of admissions - Clay C. Smith, David Switzer Emma Bailey & John B. Stone. Trustees purchased Market Street property. Wooden church building erected
Circa 1900 Other noted members were William H Bishop,Attorney, House of Delegates member, Mayor, author of “History of Roane County 1774-1927", and Albert S. Heck, successful oil and gas entrepreneuer, who built the house now known as the McIntosh mansion. C.C Smith was first president of Roane County’s first bank.
1903 Frame building torn down and brick structure erected on Market Street.
Article in County Paper:
The new Presbyterian Church in Spencer will be dedicated on Sunday November 29 at 10:30 o’clock A.M. Rev J. F. Baxter, the pastor, will preach the dedicatory sermon. Other noted Presbyterian devines will be present.
This fine new brick edifice is one of the modern up-to-date churches in this section of the state and our town people should by justly proud of it and every church going person in Spencer ought to attend the dedicatory services.
1930 Last recorded minutes by Fred Vandale , Clerk, on September 28, 1930 until 1954.
Church became inactive, possibly due to depression and dissention.
1954 Church reorganized July 18, 1954, with 43 charter members. Parkersburg Presbytery deeded property to Kanawha Presbytery .
1966 68 communicants reported, possibly the high point in membership. Among activities were spiritual and social services to patients of Spencer State Hospital.
1970 Congregation approved purchasing site on Parkersburg Road for $22,500. Session members : Gene DeLozier, Phillip Moore, Robert Sharp, Stoner Parsons, and Donald Brown. Hired architect J. D. King and contractor Johnny Ferrell.
1974 Groundbreaking for new church building on Parkersburg Road on April 7. Listed long-range possibilities as additional building for Sheltered Workshop and gymnasium building for community recreation. Members did finish work (painting, wood staining)
1975 Dedication of new church building on May 18. Roane County Schools early Childhood classes began April 23.
1976 Congregation approved sale of old church building to Church of God for $14,000.
1977 The Session voted to enter into a contract with foster parents, Steve and Wendy Tuck, for an Emergency Foster Home at the Manse building on Parkersburg Road.
1989 On September 5, Building Blocks Child Development Center began operations as a private non-profit corporation in the classrooms vacated by the Board of Education. Mary Quick was Director.
1991 Peaked roof installed over original flat roof. Future plans for bell tower addition and sanctuary on second floor never materialized. Now used for storage.
1993 Grant received for Young Mom’s Program. Led by Jennifer Barker for several years.
1994 Began Adopt-A- Highway for two-mile section of Rt. 14. Led by Barbara Lewis.
1999 Old church building purchased by John Taylor from Church of God and scheduled for demolition. We removed the bell and contracted with Low Country Stained Glass to remove the windows, which we had reserved, and to crate and store them in our building.
2008 The Friends of Market Street Chapel purchased the church building from John Taylor and began a campaign to restore it. We sold them the windows at our cost and donated the bell.
2011 PATCH, Inc, assumes operation of Building Blocks CDC .
2012 Several improvements made to building, including new siding and carpet. Upgrades to heating/air conditioning and roofing are in progress. Also have plans to install downstairs bathroom.
2017 New metal roof.