e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online

Old Rehoboth Church

Churches Section 6 of 12

Sign in or create a free account to curate your search content.

The Rehoboth Church in Monroe County is believed to be the oldest church building west of the Allegheny Mountains. The land for the church was donated around 1786 by Edward Keenan, who had recently become a Methodist. The Methodist Church in America was very new at this time. It is said that the early Methodist preacher Francis Asbury dedicated the church. The crowd was so large he had to preach from the doorway.

The building is a simple structure made of logs and is quite small, measuring only 21 by 30 feet inside. It has only one door, which is very short (only 65 inches high). Inside, the pulpit is built high against the east wall so the preacher could see the people in the balcony. Some of the original backless wooden benches used by the first congregations are still there.

Today, the structure serves as the Rehoboth Church and Museum, which displays historical items from the region.