The Ronceverte Baptist Church was organized in the first school building in Ronceverte through the efforts of Rev. Thomas Givens and Rev. J. P. Campbell. There were eleven charter members when the church was organized on May 24, 1877. Those who were charter members: J. M. Ayres, Mrs. Bell Ayres, William Foglesong, H. E. Beckner, Mrs. Callie Beckner, Thomas Jamison, Mrs. Katie Jamison, William G. Perry, Mrs. Caroline Perry and L. W. Bowers. All of these charter members are now deceased.

    The Rev. J. P. Campbell was called to be the first pastor of the church. A few years after the organization of the church, a small chapel was built. The present Sunday School room was the Sanctuary in that day. The present Sanctuary was was built in 1914 during the ministry of Rev. E. T. Billups.

    On May 28th of this year (1959) we will have the privilege of celebrating the 82nd birthday of the church. During these years many have been won to the Lord. Heaven will be brighter because of the toil and labor of all who have heard His call and answered it by a definite commitment to Him. During these years twenty one men have served as pastors of the church. The are listed as follows:

Rev. J. P. Campbell	1877-1878
Rev. Sweeney	1878-1881
Rev. W. P. Hank	1881-1886
Rev. B. H. Phillips	1888-1890
Rev. C. T. Kirtner	1890-1892
Rev. J. W. Crawford	1897-
Rev. G. W. Parker	1898-1904
Rev. A. A. McClellan	1904-1909
Rev. L. R. Wilson	1909-1911
Rev. Morris	1912
Rev. E. T. Billups	1913-1915
Rev. H. B. Stoneham	1916-1918
Rev. T. H. Binford (supply)	1918-1920
Rev. L. J. Priestley	1920-1923
Rev. J. C. Maxim	1923
Rev. Russell Asbury	1925-1926
Rev. H. B. Ferrell	1926-1930
Rev. L. D. Chandler (supply)	1931
Rev. J. R. Gillespie	1932-1945
Rev. H. B. Fisher	1945-1947
Rev. David A. Harper	1947-(present)

    So far as is known, only seven of these men who have served the church are living. In a future day we expect to meet those who are not living around God's Holy Throne.

Special thanks to William H. Johnson, Jr. for sharing this history with us!