Warrensville Baptist Church
Thursday, August 06, 2026
'Sharing the Good News Through Caring People'
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1865 - James Eller moved to Ashe County from Wilkes County after a band of bushwhackers stole his possessions and threatened his family when supplies became scarce near the end of the Civil War. He was president of the convention that organized the New River Association.
The Ellers, who were German descendants, were among the first settlers near Bina, first named Berlin after the Capital of Germany. The Ellers were thought to have named Phoenix Mountain after the ship they sailed from Germany, which also was named the Phoenix. Mr. Eller seems to be the driving force that started the church, along with Rev. R.L. Shoaf, Jessy and Young York, Gus Wilcox, and Peter Ernest. The church first met across the road from what is now Phoenix Baptist Church and was shared by Methodists and Baptists until small differences and growing numbers prompted the Baptists to build their own church. James Eller drew the plans and served as a deacon. Mr. Peter Mason Warren, whom Warrensville is named after, gave the land. Mr. Lindsay Shoaf gave the timber, and Jessy York did all the carpentry work. The church was built near the present Ashe County Middle School field house.
1871 - On December 18th, the church was dedicated as Forest Home Baptist Church, because it was erected in a lovely grove of sugar maple, cedar, and oak trees. Forest Home first met one weekend a month, holding business meetings on Saturdays and services on Sunday. Rev. J.J.L. Sherwood is believed to have been the first pastor.
1872 - Forest Home was listed in the minutes as a member of the New River Association that consisted of 13 churches with 611 members. They supported the Bristol Female College and established the Oak Hill Academy. They also collected a sizable offering for foreign missions.
1875 - Forest Home was one of two churches named in the New River Association minutes as having a Sunday School, called Sabbath School in its early days. It met in the summer months and had thirty students.
1886 - The Baptist State Convention encouraged Forest Home to join the Ashe and Alleghany Association, led by James Eller. When they joined, there were nine churches, four hundred seventy eight members, and four ordained ministers.
1897 - On September 30th, the annual meeting of the Ashe and Alleghany Association was held at Forest Home Baptist Church. The question came up to divide the association into Ashe Association and Alleghany Association. After due deliberation, it was decided prudent and necessary to divide the Ashe and Alleghany Association with the county line. The most important reason being the great area occupied.
1908 - On May 8th, members from the Bina area started a church of their own, after concerns arose with problems of getting to church when the river was flooded. The church was named Berlin Baptist Church, and later renamed Phoenix Baptist Church, as we know it today.
1929 - Forest Home was moved to its present site and renamed Warrensville Baptist Church.
1957 - The church building was rebuilt and dedicated. The church met at the Warrensville schoolhouse in the early 1950s while the new church building was under construction.
1960 - The church decided to go full-time. Rev. R.C. Ashley was the last part-time pastor.
1993 - The church buildings were remodeled. Some improvements include the addition of a steeple, the remodeling of the church basement, construction of a new picnic shelter, a new paved parking lot, and fellowship hall expansion.
Since going full-time, our pastors have been:
The church has steadily grown, acquiring new property, and building a parsonage, as well as a fellowship hall that consists of a kitchen, nursery, pastor's study, and Sunday School rooms.
Warrensville Baptist Church has come a long way with the help of the Lord since the days of Forest Home Church.
It is now a growing, loving church whose members believe it is better to walk by faith and not by sight.
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