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The History of Snowville Christian Church (Cypress Grove)

Snowville Christian Church was established in 1833 by Dr. Chester Bullard, brother in law of Asiel Snow, founder of Snowville.  It was the first Christian Church west of the Alleghany Mountains and was known in religious circles as "The Jerusalem of the Southwest." After reading some of Alexander Campbell's writings, Dr. Bullard concluded that they were both preaching the same doctrine.  In 1839, when Dr. Bullard learned that Campbell was to preach in Charlottesville, he rode horseback to hear him and thereafter joined the Restoration Movement.

Dr. Bullard's home was in Snowville but he traveled far and wide establishing churches and baptizing thousands of converts.  The first church was built on land belonging to Dr. Bullard and was used until 1864 when the present church was built on the same site. The property was deeded to the church in 1867.

Some of the earliest ministers of the disciples of Christ Church in Virginia went out from the Snowville Church:  W.S. Bullard, F.F. Bullard,  G.W. Abel, J.D. Haymaker, W.H. Book, and others.

In 1951, the church was renovated and rededicated. Dr. J. Warren Hastings, pastor of the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. and a former student minister of the Snowville church, gave the rededication address.

Our most recent pastors have been Rev. Jonathan Webster, Rev. Dr. John Dunstan and Rev. Mary Kearns