Church of Mary Immaculate in Williamsburg recommended for historic designation
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV
A chapel in Williamsburg may soon be added to the National Register of Historic Places, as requested by local families.
In the 1870s, a small Catholic chapel was constructed in the unincorporated community of Williamsburg, Greenbrier County. It served 86 members at the time, who worshipped in their own houses in the remote community prior to the construction of the chapel. They added a graveyard as well, with all the tombstones facing east.
Twice, the chapel was burned down (as a result of sparks from passing steam-driven thrashing machines) and was rebuilt. In 1902, the Church of Mary Immaculate was completed and remains standing today complete with the original stained glass. Total cost? $2,500.
According to the application filed by Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, who has family ties to Williamsburg, “The Great Depression hit West Virginia and the Greenbrier Valley particularly hard. Accordingly, chapel donations became sparse. An usher, Mark McHale, recalled taking up the Sunday Mass collection and being asked about ‘change for a nickel.’ On another occasion, a visiting priest was ‘handed the collection money which amounted to 35 cents. He tried to talk the usher into keeping it, saying ‘It’s not worth taking back to Ronceverte.’ Gasoline was priced at 12 cents a gallon.”
The chapel closed in 1977, though it still opens for special services on occasion now. It is located two miles outside of Williamsburg and remains in excellent condition.
In late March, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recommended that the Church of Mary Immaculate be designated on the National Register of Historic Places, which. Properties which gain historic status with the may be eligible for state protections and/or access to grants and tax exemptions.
According to Cody Straley of the SHPO, the recommendation for protected status should be ruled upon in the coming weeks by the National Park Service. It has been pending since March 22, 2025.
The application includes several pictures of the chapel, as shown below:
