Slate Mountain Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Also known as: 031-5005
Why it's listed
Set on a south-facing hillside among white pines in Rock Castle Gap, this small Presbyterian church and its cemetery sit near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The church is a one-story, gable-fronted building with light wood framing covered in a thick veneer of quartz and quartzite fieldstone, including a few clear quartz crystals. A centered bell tower, the main Gothic-derived feature, has a stained glass window showing the likeness of Jesus and a crenelated parapet of upturned white quartzite. Members built the church in 1932 under minister Robert W. Childress, digging and screening creek sand and hauling fieldstone by truck. A three-room rear addition and the tower followed in 1951. The church began as a mission of Buffalo Mountain Church, organized independently in 1939, and sponsored outpost Sunday schools during World War II. It is one of six Childress rock churches. The cemetery holds fewer than 100 graves marked with granite stones from the 1930s onward.
Significance in brief: It is one of six rock-faced churches built by Presbyterian minister Robert W. Childress in Floyd, Carroll and Patrick counties. It reflects Appalachian Presbyterian worship and social activism in western Virginia and the ministry of Childress. It is significant for Religion and Social History (Criterion A) and for its distinctive architecture (Criterion C).
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 07000227, listed March 30, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2121 Lonesome Dove Dr., Christiansburg |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | March 30, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000227 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-1956 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is still a religious facility with a cemetery; a modern frame addition obscures the rear elevation. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.77839, -80.39177 (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 07000227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7538841
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.