History

In 1889, work on the Smyrna Chapel began after Mrs. Mary A. Fauber, impressed with the need for a larger house of worship than the small one-room schoolhouse then in use by the people of the community, sought assistance from the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro in the erection of a suitable building. The land for the building and an adjacent cemetery was donated by Mr. John H. Fauber. The lumber was cut in a neighboring sawmill owned by Mrs. Fauber and donated by her. The building was constructed by the people of the community, the pulpit stand and two chairs were donated by Alexander Brothers of Waynesboro, and the pews were donated by the First Presbyterian Church. The total cost of the building was $700 of which $400 was raised through the people interested in the project and primarily through the efforts of Mrs. Fauber.

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In 1936, supervision of the work of Smyrna Chapel was transferred from the First Presbyterian Church to the Second Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro which was under the ministry of Rev. H. E. Truitt. At the suggestion of the Home Mission Committee of Lexington Presbytery it was deemed wise to move the site of the project and to erect a new building. This resulted in the purchase, by the Home Mission Committee, of a building lot at the intersection of the Eastside Highway and Jarman Gap Road at a cost of $450. The Committee also donated $1,500 toward the cost of the new building which was to be approximately $2,100. In the construction of the new building, all usable material from the old building was utilized. The new building was constructed of stone veneer, having two classrooms and with seating capacity of 150 persons in the Chapel. Most of the seats were donated by the management of the Strand Theater of Staunton. A great deal of the finishing work, as well as the removal of many tons of rock and dirt which were used in grading the lot, was done by the youth of the community. During construction of the new building, the public school house building was used for worship services. On June 12, 1938 the building was dedicated. The social hall and classrooms were added a few years later.

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Because of the growth of the membership from 27 to over 100, a petition was sent to the Lexington Presbytery in the spring of 1938, asking that Smyrna Chapel be organized into a Church. The request was granted on June 13, 1948.

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In 1954, a Planning Committee was appointed to work out some plans toward building an addition to the Church. With the approval given by Lexington Presbytery in 1955, a Building Committee was elected by the congregation. The third Sunday of October, 1955 was set as ground-breaking day for the new building. This new addition was completed in 1957 for a cost of $27,352 and included four additional classrooms, two restrooms and our present sanctuary.

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In July, 1959, the Gochenour property, which adjoins the church property on the West side, was purchased for $6,500 which was paid in full in 1964. For a number of years the house was used for Sunday School classrooms but was later torn down.

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In 1965, a Manse Building and Finance Committee was elected and plans for a new Manse were accepted by the congregation. The new Manse was built and completed in December, 1966 on the existing property for a cost of $18,141. The old structure was torn down. The Critzer property, which adjoins the west end of the sanctuary, was purchased for the purpose of expansion and building. Over the next several years, the following committees worked to bring about the present structure and to renovate existing buildings.

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In February of 1982, under the guidance and direction of Reverend William (Bill) Caperton, a Building Study Committee was formed to study the feasibility and need for additional space and renovation of existing structures.  Those committee members were:

 

BUILDING STUDY COMMITTEE February 1982

• Arnold R. Hiner, Chairman

• Jack C. Caraway

• Peter S. Fisher

• Anne K. Flory 

• N. Reginald Hiner

• Clyde H. May

• Waltine H. Rankin

• Agnes H. Rowzie

• Robert O. Williams, Jr

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Following this study, it was decided we were in need of additional space and renovation. In June of 1983, we elected a Building Planning Committee to begin a study of building and renovation requirements. This committee made many reports to the congregation until a final decision on what renovation and structure would meet the needs of Smyrna. The following members of Smyrna served on this committee:

 

BUILDING PLANNING COMMITTEE June 1983

• N. Reginald Hiner, Chairman

• Timothy O. Byrd

• Robert G. Gunn

• Peter S. Fisher

• Anne K. Flory

• Clyde H. May

• Robert A. Meek

• Agnes H. Rowzie

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Following the findings of the Building Planning Committee, a Building Committee was organized in September of 1984. The Building Committee proceeded with the building of a new structure.

When completed this structure would contain a new fellowship hall, kitchen, three completed classrooms and space for two additional rooms upstairs (to be completed in the future) enlarged nursery, two wheelchair accessible bathrooms and a new entrance foyer. The following members served on the Building Committee:

 

BUILDING COMMITTEE September 1984

• Timothy O. Byrd, Chairman

• Charlotte R. Cale

• Robin A. Coiner

• Robert G. Gunn

• Peter S. Fisher

• Anne K. Flory

• N. Reginald Hiner

 

With the completion of the new building, a Building Finance Committee was organized to provide opportunities for each of us to contribute in what ever way we were able. In October of 1992, the final payment was made. The building was paid for 4 years ahead of schedule. This was made possible by pledges, hours of contributed work (which helped keep costs at a minimum), memorials, honorariums, gifts, and special events. The following members served on the Building Finance Committee.

 

BUILDING FINANCE COMMITTEE February 1987

• Richard Ryder, Chairman

• Nancy Caperton

• Jack Caraway

• Laura M. Meek

• Robert A. Meek

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In 1990 gifts given in memory of David W. Wampler, made possible the renovation of the old sanctuary and two classrooms in the existing structure. When renovations were complete, in January of 1993, they included The Wampler Room, which is a multipurpose meeting room, a new Pastor's Study, and a new Sunday School room. Robert W. Deaver, of Deaver's Home Repair, and Gary F. Scrogham, of the Rail and Nail, were responsible for the renovation of this structure.