Story of the Walnut Grove Church

Established 1781 ?

Organized May 27, 1866

The Old Log School Church

1781? - 1866 - 1903

Walnut Grove was born out of the faith of our earliest pioneers. Its origins are all but lost in early American antiquity. Our best records indicate that the earliest church was a log building, long used also as a school built sometime in the 1780's. In a sketch prepared for a Walnut Grove Cemetery memorial some years ago, Southwest Virginia historian L. P. Summers wrote:

"Sometime prior to 1790, possibly as early as 1781, there was erected on the summit of the hill where the cemetery now is, a large log church which, for many years, was used as a church and school house by the people of the Walnut Grove community. This old church was still standing forty years ago."

Two pioneer women seem to have been particularly instrumental in the founding of the earliest Walnut Grove Church. Margaret Rhea (1757-1822), a minister's daughter, married Robert Preston, Sr. (1750-1833) in September of 1780. Her mother-in-law, Eleanor Fairman Preston (1735-1820) shared her faith. The two women seem soon to have turned to the founding of a church in their community. According to Mr. Summers:

"They are accredited with the establishment of this church and cemetery at Walnut Grove. Both women were exceedingly pious, wonderful women, and exercised a great influence in their day and time."

The land on which the church was built was family estate, belonging to John Preston Sr., and subsequently to Robert Preston Sr. The church took its name from that of the pioneer plantation, "Walnut Grove".

John Fairman Preston taught school in the log church in 1830. Col. John Preston inherited the land and the church and it was mentioned in his will. He died in 1864. A second church was constructed about 1866 but the old log church was still standing. In 1879 there was a fire in the new church building and for a brief time the old log church was used again. In a 1932 "History of Walnut Grove Church", Miss Sydney Preston wrote:

"While it (the new church) was under construction, the congregation moved to the old log church on the hill which had been used for years as a school house. In June 1903, the old log church, which was right much dilapidated, was torn down and where it once stood some of the descendents now sleep."

It was not until 1866 that the Walnut Grove Church was formally chartered as an organized church. Following is the initial entry in the oldest Sessional Record Book. Beaver Creek was the original name of the present Maple Grove Church.

"The Walnut Grove Church was organized on the 27th day of May 1866 by the Rev. Thomas Brown and the Rev. James McChain. The following individuals were received as members having been previously dismissed from Beaver Creek and other congregations.

Robt. F. Preston Mrs. India James
Mrs. Sarah Preston Robt. C. Craig
John P. Buchanan Samuel A. Preston
Mrs. E. Buchanan Edwin Rhea
Miss. N. E. Buchanan Edward Latham
Wm. P. Wallace Mrs. Sally Latham
Mrs. Sarah Wallace Miss Tabitha Latham
Mrs. Susan Rhea Wiley Carmack
Miss. Susan Rhea Wm. B. Campbell
Mrs. Ann Preston Mrs. M. Campbell
Mrs. Fanny Preston Mrs. M. J. Craig

Some other names mentioned, J. E. Gutherie, Pastor, received the following new members.

July 14, 1918 Robt. Carson Preston by examination
June 13, 1920 Haynes Moffett Whitten by examination 
June 13, 1920 Ella Louise Whitten by examination
June 13, 1920 Percy T. Preston Jr. by examination
June 13, 1920 Virginia Wills Preston by examination
June 13, 1920 Irwin Gobble by examination
June 13, 1920 Robin Whitten Ltr. from Macon, Miss.

 By 1961, the city of Bristol had expanded and her mushrooming subdivisions began to envelop the church. The church was much too small also, so in 1961 a new brick church was built. ( I presume in approximately the same location. I have been there and the cemetery contains many Prestons and Rheas among others and I doubt if they were moved.)

This pamphlet was printed May 27, 1966, by Holmes Rolston III with Mary Preston Gray.

The Centennial Committee: O. G. Bailey Jr., H. M. Whitten, Mary Preston Gray, Holmes Rolston III.

Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church, Abingdon Highway, Bristol, Virginia.

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Original 7/28/97
Last updated 4/14/2007
Page by F. Preston