People who settled in the Floyd County area began holding religious services by 1795, and Pine Creek Primitive Baptist Church is one of the earliest churches established. It was founded in 1803 when four members of Salem Church – also known as Head of the River – were dismissed to form Pine Creek Primitive Baptist. They established the church just off the road leading to Spangler’s Mill. The initial property conveyance occurred in 1804 when Thomas Goodson conveyed five acres for the establishment of a church and graveyard at the site.

The current building is actually the second church constructed at this site. Due to age and fire, the first building was replaced around 1881, and has remained relatively unchanged since. However, the original stone foundation was replaced with cinderblock, and the roof was replaced at some point with corrugated metal.

Originally the church congregation included fifty-five members, forty-four of whom were from Salem Church. By at least 1822, the church became integrated with no fewer than five African descended members who are believed to have consisted of both free and slave people of color. Alse Wells was the first person of color to join Pine Creek Church, but was at some point joined by Lott Shelor, Squire Howard, Jane Wells, and Lettice Howard.

The principal families who founded Pine Creek were the Boothes, Howards, Grahams, Bowers, Dodds, Moores, Shortts, Coles, Dickersons, and Howerys. The church continued to hold services until around 1990, when the last member passed away, leaving the church and cemetery in the hands of Trustees.

The early church was first pastored by Rev. William Howard, who served many Primitive Baptist churches in the area. His son, Peter, later took his place as preacher. An early story from the church tells of Rev. William Howard preaching during a severe drought. The prayers of the congregation were all for rain, but there had been no sign of clouds for many days. As the service ended, Rev. Howard opened an umbrella as he exited the church, and as he did so, the rain began to fall. True or not, the early history of Pine Creek Church is full of the stories of the power of prayer and its importance to the early settlers of Floyd County.

As originally intended, a graveyard was established alongside the church. Buried within the cemetery are many members of pioneer families that settled in the area before it was even known as Floyd County. The first graves date from around 1797. Among the burials are several known Revolutionary War Veterans. The graves of Moses Dickerson, Peter Howard, Thomas Goodson, Daniel Shelor, and Daniel Spangler are known and marked. The grave of John Banks, who is known to be buried there, is lost to history, and is believed to have been covered with fill. A monument to these soldiers, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution, stands at the cemetery to recognize their patriotic service. Also known to be buried in the cemetery are veterans of most other American Wars, including perhaps as many as five veterans of the War of 1812.

Because of its age, the cemetery has become somewhat run down and is the subject of recent preservation efforts. A group of private individuals working with the cemetery’s current owner – Floyd County Historical Preservation Trust, Inc. – has begun to raise funds for its restoration and care. The goals of the fundraising are to clear the area of debris, and to conduct a ground penetrating radar survey of the property that would locate the unmarked graves. The project would also map the identified and marked graves and would repair and restore headstones. Finally, the project seeks to fence the cemetery, and to create a maintenance fund for the perpetual care of the grounds.

The history of Pine Creek Church and Cemetery is central to the story of Floyd County’s development, as the histories of many Floyd County families can be traced to those grounds. Its preservation is necessary to tell the full story to the current and future generations of Floyd County’s pioneer families. The Floyd County Historical Society urges you to visit the church and cemetery, and to join in the Preservation Trust’s efforts to care for and maintain the Pine Creek Church and Cemetery. Donations to this effort can be made to: The Floyd County Historical Preservation Trust, Inc., c/o Michael J. Hatcher, Treasurer, P. O. Box 98, Floyd, VA 24091.

The Floyd County Historical Society
217 North Locust Street, Floyd, VA
www.FloydHistoricalSociety.org • 540-745-3247
info@FloydHistoricalSociety.org