"Wild Meadow Baptist Log Church"

  Wild Meadow Baptist Church also known as the “little log church” is located approximately five miles north on Route 92 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

  Rev. Charles Mines, grandfather of Harriet Masters, organized the church in 1923. He moved to this area from Callahan, Virginia. Rev. Mines was Wild Meadow’s first pastor and the associate pastor was Fred Williams. Deacons of the church at that time were Bro. Orbrey Smith and Bro. Albert Campbell. Later they were ordained as ministers. Bro. Lewis Campbell then became deacon and Elder Wesley Hilton became the church secretary and treasure.

  The first meeting site of Wild Meadow Baptist Church was in the home of Brigg Alderman. Later the congregation of Wild Meadow moved to the Old Wild Meadow School House, approximately one-fourth mile north of the present site next to Jim Foster’s farm and sawmill. In 1930 the school house was burnt and the congregation of Wild Meadow moved to a church on Route 92 across from the present site, donated by John Huffman, member of Wild Meadow. With the help of Mr. Huffman and other members, a white weathered board sided church was built on top of a hill behind Mr. Huffman’s house.

  Sister churches at that time were Hemite Baptist Church, Hemite Va, United Baptist Church, Ogles Creek Road, Covington Va, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Tuckahoe Road, White Sulphur Springs,WV and Wild Meadow Baptist Church, Route 92, White Sulphur Springs WV. Sometimes they would have morning services at one church and evening services at another.

  The log structure presently in use was built on land donated by Dofasus Darnell’s father, Milton Darnell. Mr. Darnell also donated the logs and gave $50.00 in cash which was a good sum of money in those days, considering that a man worked for $.75 to $1.00 for a ten hour day. The name of the log structure was called Bethel Log Church.

  The log building was built by James Campbell, Lester Williams, and Lewis Campbell with the help of other members of the church.

  The log church was purchased from Mr. Darnell by Nute Weese in the 1940’s. In the 1950’s, Lee Masters, Lewis Campbell, and Lawnie Waid, trusties of the church at that time took out a loan to purchase the church from Mr. Weese, because it was more convenient since the Huffman church was  on top of a steep hill. The log structure became the home of Wild Meadow Baptist Church. The church was heated by a wood & coal stove, until the 1960’s when Sunday School rooms and a fuel oil furnace were added.

  The first pastor of Wild Meadow Log Church was Charles Mines. Harriet Master’s step-father, Orbrey Smith was the church moderator for forty years.

  Many preachers have preached the word down thru the years. Several pastors have come & gone. The Lord has used Wild Meadow Log Church for his work for many years. With church attendance growing and no inside bathrooms, it is now time to move into our new location.

  Wild Meadow Baptist Log Church is not closing; it is taking the love and spirit to our new church approximately two miles south of our present location on Route 92.

  We will always remember the love and wonderful spirit and the many souls saved in the log structure of Wild Meadow Baptist Church. Our loved ones, friends, family, and founders of Wild Meadow would be very proud to see that the Lord’s work they started long ago is still going on today. With the help of the Lord, our congregation, and our present pastor, Rev. Lowell O’Dell, and wife Isora we are starting a new chapter in our life. Wild Meadow Baptist Church “The New Beginning” built in 2004.

  The last worship service in the log church was held on Sunday July 25, 2004.

  Moving day was both sad and exciting. Sad to close our past at Wild Meadow Log Church, but exciting for what the Lord’s going to do in our future.

  The last service of the Wild Meadow Log Church was held on Sunday August 1, 2004. This service was not dismissed. We started our service in the log church and resumed as our first service in our new church. Pastor Lowell O’Dell led the march from our log church two miles south to our new church location. We carried banners stating “Wild Meadow Baptist Church is on the Move”. You could feel the love and excitement as we walked & fellowship together escorted by a Greenbrier County Deputy Sheriff. As we entered our new church we resumed our service. We brought the love and spirit with us to our brand new church that the Lord gave us. May the Lord bless us with many souls saved and a great witness for him. “Thank you Lord for your many blessings and may we always be found doing your will”. 

  History of this church will continue in the future, if Lord’s willing.

 

                                                                                                            Jo Ann Baker
                                                                                                       Church Historian