A BRIEF HISTORY

OF THE

BUNKER HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Rooted and Grounded in Love Since 1844

 

 

 

 

 

For more than 150 years the Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church has faithfully witnessed to the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Bunker Hill Presbyterian Church is a family of faith recognized in the community as a vital center of ministry reflecting the mind and spirit of Jesus Christ. We provide leadership in building community that prayerfully embraces God’s justice, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace for all. We nurture and challenge a diverse congregation to grow spiritually, intellectually, and in Christian service.

 

Our congregation first began meeting in local homes, or perhaps on a nearby farm, in the early 1840’s. The actual church itself was not organized until October 12, 1844, when it was enrolled as a particular church of Winchester Presbytery, New School. The sanctuary was completed and first used for worship in 1854.

 

During the “War Between the States” the sanctuary was occupied many times by both sides. The occupying armies used the sanctuary as a hospital and for a stable. By the end of the Civil War, the sanctuary was in utter ruins and the congregation more or less ceased to exist.

 

During the late 1870’s, local residents began raising money to rebuild the sanctuary. This sanctuary was re-dedicated to the glory of God in 1880. Winchester Presbytery met in the building in the spring of that year and reorganized the church on April 24, 1880. The sanctuary is part of the Bunker Hill Historic District, a group of community historic resources listed in the National Register, dated December 10, 1980, and identified as property #29 in the nomination report.

 

Around 1890-95 a tower pavilion was added to house a bell donated by Mr. Brown LeFevre. This tower was built to blend with the earlier style of the sanctuary, which shows Gothic features. In 1943-45 extensive renovations were undertaken in the addition to the rear of the church and a stone wall. The addition of a different style and color of brick. The sanctuary also underwent a major renovation in 1974. Memorial Hall, our multi-purpose fellowship and education building, was completed and dedicated in 1981. At the back of the church property is All Saints Pavilion. It is an open sided slab picnic pavilion, complete with donated tables. It was added in 1999. With the introduction of public sewer to our immediate area, we hope to add additional space to our Memorial Hall in the near future.

 

Over 140 active members strong, we are a particular church of the Presbyterian Church (USA), through the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic and the Presbytery of Shenandoah.