Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church is a small brick country church west of Selma in Alleghany County, Virginia, built around 1847. The rectangular building measures 30 by 40 feet and rests on a coursed rubble foundation. Its facade is laid in Flemish bond, the other walls in American bond, and a molded brick cornice runs beneath a slate-covered gable roof. Inside, a single auditorium keeps its wide chestnut floor, box pews with scroll arms, and a gallery on three sides. The church has never been electrified and still uses kerosene lamps. It began as a mission of Covington Presbyterian Church during a religious revival among Scotch-Irish Presbyterians in the mountain region. It is regarded as the oldest known church building in the county. During the Civil War it served as a Confederate hospital, and soldiers were buried in its cemetery. It became an independent congregation in 1871 and led to churches at Low Moor, Clifton Forge and Rich Patch.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest known ecclesiastical structure in Alleghany County and a chief local landmark. It is a representative, little-altered example of a mid-19th-century country church. It also reflects the 1840s religious reawakening among Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and served as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004670, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 696, Selma |
|---|---|
| County | Alleghany County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004670 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1847 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, unaltered and on its original site; still occupied for religious use, with special services held for its members. It has never been electrified and is lit by kerosene lamps. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.80192, -79.86014 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004670.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7074005
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.