With a crowd of more than 140 people packed into every pew, the Alderson Presbyterian Church held its final worship on Sunday afternoon.
The original church building was completed in the mid-1870s at a price tag of $600, according to church records. They began with six members all those years ago.
Now, with only six members remaining, the church officers decided to close the doors. “The supreme architect of the universe has blessed our church for 147 years,” said Margaret Hambrick, an elder of the church. “Maybe with continued blessing, these six members can extend the mission of the church for another 100 years.”
Click here for Jeffrey Kanode’s previous story on the church’s closing and how the members will continue to be active in their faith in the community.
Below is a full gallery from the closing worship service, which was attended by officials from the Presbytery of West Virginia, local residents, ministers of other denominations, former church staff, and friends of the congregations.
A couple from Union Presbyterian Church in neighboring Monroe County enters the sanctuary. Worship leaders huddle before the service to plan last-minute details. Dr. Brennan Wood, a local dentist, musician, and son of Alderson, plays the organ as folks fill the sanctuary. Dr. Wood directs the Community Choir, comprised of members of numerous local churches. The church’s rear balcony contains five unique, green stained glass windows. The crowd spillled over into the narthex, watching the service through windows. Rev. Don Jiskoot, who worked as a prison chaplain and pastor at Alderson in the late 1960s, looks on after addressing the congregation about his time in town. Rev. Sam Groves moderated a time of sharing for folks to tell what the church meant to them over the years.Dell Wood shared that the Community Choir began at Alderson Presbyterian when he and his wife moved to town in 1981. Sandra Woodrum shared that Alderson Presbyterian became her church home after her previous church also closed down.Rev. Kathy Keadle shared memories of being married in the church.Libby Johnson shared tales from being a child of the church when Rev. Jiskoot was her pastor. After the service concluded, this “beautiful entrance” closed one last time behind the final parishioner.
