Another Old Church --The John Wesley Church: 1820
I am not sure when the first congregation formed in the "Big Levels" area("Big Levels" was the first of several names given to the town now known as Lewisburg WV), but they built their first building in 1820. It is the back 2/3rds of the present structure. It was added onto in 1835. It has had a very interesting history since then.
In 1844 the Methodist Episcopal Church (the name it took after it was formed in 1784), split over the question of whether or not Bishops of the Church could own slaves. Those who said they could not became the Methodist Episcopal Church, North (for about 4 years when the 1848 General Conference dropped the ", North" part of their new name and became again the Methodist Episcopal Church [or M.E. for short]). Those who said Bishops could own slaves became the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. At that time, both parts of the splitting church allowed clergy members and lay members to own slaves.
The folks in this region, several being very 
good slaveholding Southerners, went with the Southern branch. Nevertheless, they still allowed Slaves to attend the same service that they did (the M.E.'s did not and insisted on setting up "separate but equal" churches for Afro-Americans), albeit, in a loft or galley. Often, the entrance to the galley was separate from the entrance the rest of the folks used (as was the case here).
good slaveholding Southerners, went with the Southern branch. Nevertheless, they still allowed Slaves to attend the same service that they did (the M.E.'s did not and insisted on setting up "separate but equal" churches for Afro-Americans), albeit, in a loft or galley. Often, the entrance to the galley was separate from the entrance the rest of the folks used (as was the case here).During the Civil War, 
there was one major military action in the town of Lewisburg itself, the so-called "Battle of Lewisburg." I will cover this action in a later posting. For now, I will simply note that a stray confederate cannon ball hit the church and imbedded itself in the East Wall. It stayed there for many years, up until about 10 years ago. Then it was removed, and a sign placed on the side of the building to show everyone where the ball had been.
there was one major military action in the town of Lewisburg itself, the so-called "Battle of Lewisburg." I will cover this action in a later posting. For now, I will simply note that a stray confederate cannon ball hit the church and imbedded itself in the East Wall. It stayed there for many years, up until about 10 years ago. Then it was removed, and a sign placed on the side of the building to show everyone where the ball had been.In 1850 the congregation constructed a small
brick house to use as a parsonage about 2 blocks north of the church. Since then, the various owners have added several frame additions so that it is impossible to see the original building from the street. Nevertheless, the guidebooks assures us it still resides within the structure pictured.
brick house to use as a parsonage about 2 blocks north of the church. Since then, the various owners have added several frame additions so that it is impossible to see the original building from the street. Nevertheless, the guidebooks assures us it still resides within the structure pictured.The John Wesley structure is still used by a United Methodist congregation today. After the Methodist Church moved over onto Washington Street, US 60, the main road through town, an African American congregation of Methodists started meeting in the building. Thus, John Wesley United Methodist Church remains an active church of the West Virginia Annual Conference.
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