Photography by Steve Payne.
Our History
The first
settlement of the Charleston area, at the junction of the Elk and
Kanawha rivers in southern West Virginia, took place in 1787, and by
1810 the population had increased to 100 persons. The area’s first
Presbyterian minister, Reverend Henry Ruffner, began his work in
1815, and his son furthered his efforts to the extent that David
Ruffner has been called “The
Father of Presbyterianism in the Kanawha Valley.” On March 14, 1819,
the Presbyterian Church was formally organized with about 18
members. The name given to this organization was “Kanawha
Presbyterian Church.” By this time Charleston’s population was about
500.
The first pastor was Dr. Calvin Chaddock, who delivered his first sermon in the little upper room of Mercer Academy on August 1, 1819. In “The Ark,” an oak chest containing relics of the church, rests a yellowed bundle of Dr. Chaddock’ s sermons, in his own handwriting, the earliest of which bears the date of that first sermon. Dr. Chaddock died in 1823.
The Reverend Nathaniel Calhoun assumed the pastorate in 1826, and in 1828 organized the first Sabbath School (though greatly opposed, states the record!). The small congregation, about 20 members, determined that they should build a house of worship of their own, and in spite of their small numbers did erect “the old brick church,” which was dedicated November 20, 1830. The congregation worshiped there for 42 years, until June 1872. When the church burned to its bare walls during the winter of 1845-6, an interested party collected from the crowd watching the conflagration almost enough money to rebuild the church.
Dr. James Moore Brown served as pastor from 1837 until his death in 1862. When the Civil War began in 1861, Dr. Brown stood against allowing politics to divide the church, recommending adherence to the General Assembly. When West Virginia became a state and part of the Union, public sentiment was divided in the Kanawha Valley as to allegiance to the Union or the Confederacy, and hence to the General Assembly or to the new southern assembly. The session decided to send delegates to neither Presbytery, trusting that with the passage of time the differences of opinion would cease to exist. For eleven years the church maintained no allegiance to either, but pressures from outside the congregation forced a resolution, and Kanawha chose to remain with the “northern” church. After 1869 the church did not have strong pastoral leadership, and a movement arose to send delegates to the southern Presbytery. In 1872 the congregation split, with 25 members remaining with Kanawha and the northern church. The southern faction retained the brick church building, so the small congregation worshiped first in the Senate Chamber of the State Capitol and then in Asbury Chapel, recently vacated by the Methodists and purchased and repaired by three members of Kanawha, who offered it to the church without rental. Undaunted by their small numbers, the congregation began immediately to plan the building of a new edifice. The cornerstone of the beautiful building in which the congregation now worships was laid on April 20, 1873.
The ground was excavated and the foundation laid when an economic panic struck and all enterprise in the community was halted. The foundation stood with its basement window frames partly up, and in the winter children skated on the “ice rink” which formed from the standing water in the basement. In the eight years since the division of the congregation, the number of members had swindled to sixteen, but by 1880 the determined few had raised the walls but were unable to finance the desperately-needed roof, at $2,000. In March of 1880 the Board of Church Erection offered the money for the roof: “If $2,000 will put the roof on, and the people will go ahead and finish the building, you may expect the $2,000.” After more years of work and sacrifice, the completed building, twelve years under construction, was dedicated on April 25, 1885.
During the next eight years, under the leadership of Dr. Torrence, almost 200 members were added to the roles, and a Sunday School and lecture room were added at the rear of the church. It was during Dr. Torrence’s ministry that Kanawha established three mission churches, one of which was Schwamb Memorial Chapel, later to become the source of the “United” in Kanawha United Presbyterian Church.
Under the direction of Dr. John Waddell, pastor from 1907 to 1913, the city’s Union Mission was organized. In 1915, during the pastorate of Dr. Albert Evans (1913-1924), the people of the church engaged the Tiffany Studios in New York to design and install the Rose and Lancet windows in the rear of the sanctuary and four lancet windows in the west side of the church. These priceless treasures, inspirational to behold and some of the finest ecclesiastical art in America, attest to the vision, faith, and enthusiasm of the congregation of 1915.
The expanding of industry in the Kanawha Valley after World War I
and World War II brought many new people into the region and many
new members into Kanawha Church. During the long tenure of Dr.
Warren Stone, 1926-1943, many forward steps were made in and for
Kanawha and its concerns. In 1930 a Loyalty Crusade was carried out,
and a complete and detailed history of the church was compiled, at
request of Session, by Miss Jean Brown. In 1939 Session was
reorganized, replacing life membership with a rotation system,
limiting service. Interest in the church’s missions, the music of
the church, and Sunday School reached new levels. In 1943 Dr. Stone
was succeeded by Dr. Curtis Jones. During his years of service the
budget increased 30%, and the church exceeded its quota in the
Wartime Service fund. The grant of $2,000
made by the Board of Church Erection in 1883 for the church roof was
refunded to be used elsewhere.The church organ was rebuilt and a
building fund was established: the pledge to the Benevolent Fund of
the Church at Large was increased.
Dr. Bernard Vanderbeek came to Kanawha in 1949 and became an active
leader in both church and community. A study for the long- range
growth of the church resulted in the decision to take down the old
manse, built in 1829 and purchased in 1845. Plans for rebuilding and
expanding the educational unit were submitted in 1951, and
groundbreaking ceremonies took place in November, 1953. Plantings
beautified the front of the church, the courtyard, and the parking
lot. Members of all ages participated in cleaning, painting,
sanding, flooring, and refinishing, and the spirit of cooperation
blossomed. Classes and meetings were “farmed out” all over
Charleston while the work was in progress. At last, dedication of
the new
building took place in October, 1954.
In 1961 it was determined that the old organ could no longer be repaired, and an Allen electronic organ was dedicated in 1962. Renovations to the chancel, refurbishing of the vestibules, and the purchase of new hymnbooks preceded the dedication of the new instrument.
Also in 1962 Reverend and Mrs. Jackson participated in the Fil-American Team of Testimony, a mission to the Philippines, where they worked with native groups to build a church and organize it, and participated in training sessions with nearby communities. In 1965 Alex Giltinan represented the church on a missions trip to Colombia.
In 1966 Dr. Bernard Vanderbeek returned to the pastorate of Kanawha for another eight years, and the day of his installation also saw the dedication of the eight stained glass windows designed by the Willet Studios of Philadelphia. These colorful windows tell the story of the life and work of Christ and include scenes from the Old Testament and vignettes of leaders of the church throughout its history, among them St. Augustine, Luther, Knox, Schweitzer, Dr. Livingstone, and figures from Kanawha’s own history.
In 1969 Kanawha celebrated its 150 years of history and worship with dinners, music, joint meetings with First Presbyterian Church (the southern branch of the original church), and a joint annual meeting of the synods of United Presbyterian Church USA and Presbyterian Church US.
In 1970 the construction of an interstate highway forced the demolition of the stately white-columned red brick building which was Schwamb Memorial Presbyterian Church, established by Kanawha in 1892 as Schwamb Memorial Chapel, and the congregations elected to merge, forming Kanawha United Presbyterian Church.
1994 saw joint celebration by Kanawha United Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of 175 years of Presbyterianism in the Kanawha Valley. This year also saw the retirement of Grace Hudson after 38 years as Music Director, dedicated service recognized by the proclamation of “Grace Hudson Week” in October. Ronald L. Neal became Music Director/Organist.
1995 began with “Twelfth Night Celebration” on January 6 in observance of Epiphany. In March, Presbytery Meeting was held at Kanawha, with 300 in attendance. In September, Kanawha Forum, the Wednesday noon concert-and-lunch series each spring and fall, began. Forum has flourished and grown, and is eagerly awaited each season by faithful patrons throughout the community.
After years of investigation a decision was reached concerning
replacement of the failing Allen organ. The Rieger-Kloss company of
Czechoslovakia custom-designed and built the magnificent pipe organ
which now enhances all the music of the church and enables Kanawha
to present eminent organists from across the country in concert. The
congregation came together to carry the pipes and other parts from
the tractor-trailers at the front of the church into the sanctuary
and the fellowship hail, where organ parts were almost wall-to-wall.
After some weeks of watching the organ take shape in the sanctuary,
the congregation saw the completed instrument dedicated in late May,
1995. Over the next two years new choir robes were purchased and the
old robes were given to Bishop Simeon of Burundi. “Renewal” hymnals
to supplement
The Presbyterian Hymnal and Contemporary English Version pew Bibles
were purchased.
Various building renovations have been carried out in the last several years: the bell tower and bell were cleaned and repaired; carpet was installed in hallways and classrooms; the parlor, nursery, kindergarten, and library were completely redecorated and equipped. The stained glass windows were cleaned, and repairs were made where required: modifications were made to preserve and protect them.
The Reverend Todd Baucum joined Kanawha United in 1995. During his
tenure, we saw significant growth in the number of children and
families in our church. Christian Education Director Alicia Platz
(2000-2002) reinvigorated many children's programs, including
vacation Bible school, overnight campouts, picnics, sleepovers at
the church, and Sunday School for all ages. Music Director Ron Neal
also renewed the children's choir and presented delightful musicals
each spring. An acolyte program was begun in 1996, which enabled
young people to have an active role in the worship service. In June
2000, "Daybreak" early Sunday morning contemporary services were
added for the summer. Members and guests could enjoy worship in an
informal setting, singing with piano or guitar, with coffee and
rolls to soften the early hour.
Food and fellowship play a large part in the life of Kanawha Church, with an annual picnic at a local park, congregational dinners, Sunday after-service brunches and picnics at the church, coffee hour after service every Sunday, and receptions on special occasions.
Music has long been of primary importance at Kanawha, and this tradition continues in the present. The choir maintains a high standard of excellence, and periodically presents large and demanding sacred works, such as the Bach Magnificat performed near Christmas 2001. The choir is blessed with excellent solo voices as well as able choristers. Numerous concerts by other solo artists are sponsored by the church and presented in the sanctuary. In 2002 the Music and Arts Committee produced a complete opera, Puccini's "La Boheme," in the sanctuary. Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte" was presented in January 2003 at a larger venue, since the church could not accommodate all the people who wanted to attend. Kanawha also has a handbell choir which plays frequently and is a congregational favorite. And there is always the magnificent pipe organ, lifting spirits visually as well as with its sound.
In September 2001, Todd Baucum left Kanawha United to become pastor at another church, after six years. To prepare to call a new minister and to move into the future, the congregation began a Revisioning process in February 2002. There was a high percentage of participation in the process of self-analysis and planning. Many new and valid ideas were presented to the congregation and adopted by the church to prepare us for a bright future. In June 2002, the Pastor Nominating Committee began its intensive search for our new minister. Much thought and prayer guided the committee through its arduous task. Also in 2002, Dionne Canterbury was hired as our new Christian Education Director. With an impressive background in education and music, she has maintained and strengthened our educational programs, for both children and adults.
In August 2003, the Pastor Nominating
Committee presented the congregation with its final candidate, and
in October 2003, the Reverend John R. Davis accepted our call and
came to us from Mississippi. He brought with him many gifts
including preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. We welcomed John
and his family with enthusiasm. Kanawha United is excited and
hopeful as we greet our future head-on and endeavor to become the
people God would have us be.
Compiled by: Nancy Wallace
Updated November 2003