Providence United Methodist Celebrates 200 Years

Providence United Methodist Church is going to throw a birthday party on August 1. Among the usual birthday fanfare, party goers should expect to see a lot of candles on the cake. Why? Because the church will be celebrating its 200th year.

“It’s just going to be a big birthday party,” said Virginia Randall, chairmen of the bicentennial committee. “We’re going to have all kind of fun and games, cake and ice cream.”

But what would a birthday party be without gifts? “We want presents; canned goods or school supplies for the needy in the community,” she said.

Providence presently has a registered congregation of 1,250 members, which is far from its modest beginnings. Event though there are no records showing the congregation’s original size, Randall took a guess. “We have no idea, but I would say a handful,” she said. “I bet there weren’t 200 people living within a five-mile radius.”

Despite the lack of a dense population two centuries ago, the local residents managed to create a spiritual foundation that has lasted over the ages.

In 1807, Providence came into existence behind the prayers of local residents and $7 to purchase two acres of land. It is suspected that the original church was a one-room log construction and the congregation included both blacks and whites. . In 1813, the congregation spent an additional $4 to purchase one more acre and begin construction of a permanent church building.

The building stood to service the community for the next 50 years, but fell into serious disrepair during the American Civil War. It was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers and also as a barn for their horses.

Repairs on the church did not begin until 1894, but the building was found to be in such bad condition that a complete rebuild was in order. The members used as many timbers from the original church as possible and what came to be known as the 'Little White Church' was dedicated in July of 1896.

By 1952, the congregation had grown to 500 members and further expansion was required. The new church was built adjacent to the 'Little White Church' and was dedicated in 1958.

By 1966, the church found itself in need of an educational building and they were forced to dismantle the 'Little White Church' because they had no other land to build upon.

In 1991, Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Historic Resources approved the placement of a historic marker on church property.

This year, Providence celebrated one more milestone when Mary Beth Blinn became the church's first female pastor.

The members of Providence have been planning the bicentennial for three years and activities began last New Year's Eve with a dinner party. At the beginning of the year, bicentennial brochures were sent out to every person who was once a member of the church inviting them to come to the celebration. Among events that have already taken place were guest ministers, concerts and a Wedding Day Sunday on April 22, where everyone who was married at the church was invited to return.

"We've got about 80 members, roughly, who have been here since 1957 consecutively without any break in membership," Randall said. To commemorate such dedication, the church is having a 50-Year Member Sunday on Sept. 30.

In December, the church is planning to revisit its roots once again. "We're going to have the same Christmas pageant that we had in the '40s," Randall said. "And the lady who played Mary is still a member."

Providence will end their bicentennial year as it began, with one last ceremony. "We're getting together a 50-year time capsule," Randall said. "We're going to put that into the church the last service of the year.

"We discussed whether to have 50 or 100, but having younger members that we hope will still be in the community, they'll still be here and be able to tell people about it."

Everyone in the public is invited to come to Providence, located at 901 S. Providence Rd., and celebrate any of the activities that are planned throughout the year. To find out about other activities at Providence, visit online at http://www.celebrateprovidence2007.org/our_history.htm