Virginia City Church
Also known as: 097-0192
Why it's listed
Built around 1895 on a hillside in Wise County, Virginia, this small whitewashed frame church measures 20 by 32 feet. It has a front gable roof, a square bell tower, a diamond-shaped window in each gable end and a single entrance with folding paneled doors. Inside are flush-board walls and ceiling, pine floors, old pews and two pianos. Local craftsmen built it for the coal camp residents of Virginia City, on land donated by the Russell Creek Coal Company. It also served as the town's first schoolhouse, and anyone was welcome to preach there, so many denominations used it. Missionary Mary S. Martin took over the neglected building in 1922 and used it as a base to start more chapels. The mining town later faded, and the church is the only structure left from it. It has been moved short distances for mining and road work, and it is currently not in use.
Significance in brief: The church was built by coal camp residents on land donated by the Russell Creek Coal Company and was open to preachers of any denomination. It also served as the community's first schoolhouse. It is eligible under Criterion A in the areas of Religion and Education.
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 05001263, listed November 16, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Bull Run Rd., St. Paul |
|---|---|
| County | Wise County |
| Listed | November 16, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001263 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1955 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | no style (traditional vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; the Mary Martin Memorial Church holds the deed and is working to maintain its historic character. The building has been moved at least twice, never more than 200-300 yards. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.92012, -82.34593 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 05001263.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7934186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.