Willis Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Also known as: Gracer Baptist Church; #031-0045
Why it's listed
Completed in 1954 in the small community of Willis, in southwestern Floyd County, this one-story church has light wood framing covered with a thick veneer of quartz and quartzite fieldstone. A square bell tower with round-arched entrances and crenellations of upturned sharp rocks is its main feature, and a few faceted quartz crystals appear among the stones. A fieldstone retaining wall surrounds the building, and a cemetery across the road holds graves from the mid-19th century onward, many with folk-art carving in soapstone and marble. The church was the last of six rock-faced churches associated with Presbyterian minister Robert W. Childress and the only one built after his 1951 stroke. The congregation formed in 1939, met in a former bank building, and raised funds by selling it. Lyle Stanley was contracted to build the church, with local farms supplying stone. It is recognized for its religious and social history and for its architecture. Grace Baptist Church bought it in 2003 and maintains it.
Significance in brief: It was the last of six rock-faced churches linked to Presbyterian minister Robert W. Childress in Floyd, Carroll and Patrick counties. It is significant under Criterion A for Religion and Social History, reflecting Appalachian Presbyterian worship and social activism. It is significant under Criterion C for its distinctive architecture, notably the crenellated bell tower and the fieldstone veneer with quartz crystals.
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 07000226, listed March 30, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5733 Floyd Hwy S, Willis |
|---|---|
| County | Floyd County |
| Listed | March 30, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000226 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1954-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Stanley, Lyle |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now owned by Grace Baptist Church, which carefully maintains the structure; the Presbyterian congregation had vacated by 2003 and the church remains in service. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 36.85614, -80.48420 (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 07000226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.