Rehoboth Church

Rehoboth Church is a log cabin-style church building in Monroe County with a simple wooden construction and defined interior spaces. The raised pulpit, three-sided galleries, and half-log pews were designed to accommodate worshippers in an organized arrangement throughout the main hall.

Construction happened in 1785 and Francis Asbury dedicated the building in 1786, making it the oldest existing church structure in the state. This timing placed the congregation in the early movement of Methodist expansion across the Appalachian region.

The three-sided galleries created separate gathering spaces for different groups within the congregation throughout the building's use. These sections shaped how worshippers experienced the services and reflected the community structure of early Methodist gatherings in the region.

The site is easiest to visit during warmer months when surrounding roads are in good condition and the grounds are most accessible. A small museum adjacent to the church offers context about the building and the Methodist movement in the region.

A protective shelter built in 1930 wraps around the original roof structure to shield the wooden materials from weather damage and decay. This unusual approach has allowed the historic timber to survive largely unchanged for generations.

Location: West Virginia

Architectural style: rustic architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.59000,-80.50670

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04