Big Spring Baptist Church
Also known as: First Baptist Church; 60-435
Why it's listed
Big Spring Baptist Church sits on an open hilltop above Elliston in Montgomery County, Virginia. Built around 1880 by local builder Joseph Pepper, it is a frame building with a high gable roof, pointed-arch windows and doors, a central three-stage tower, and a projecting baptistry at the rear. Inside are an Eastlake-style pulpit, Gothic altar furniture and a circular stained-glass window showing St. John baptizing Christ. A cemetery on the hilltop holds the graves of most of the area's black families. It was the first black church in Elliston, organized with support from Captain Charles Schaeffer, a northern Quaker educator linked to the Christiansburg Institute. Its tower and arched windows set it apart from the plain, box-like rural churches common in the region, and it is considered one of the county's most substantial black churches. It was recognized for its role in the black community and for its architecture, despite later aluminum siding and small additions.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an important landmark in the local black community and an unusually well-developed example of the regionally popular nave-plan church. It was the first black church in Elliston and was organized with support from Captain Charles Schaeffer of the Christiansburg Institute. It is one of the largest and most sophisticated of thirteen identified churches from the period in the county.
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 89001809, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 631, 0.1 mi. E of US 460/11, Elliston |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001809 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1880 |
| Architect / builder | Pepper, Joseph, builder |
| Architectural style | Nave plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church, with a carefully maintained cemetery. Aluminum siding has been applied and small additions made. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 37.21548, -80.22481 (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 89001809.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712027
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.