History
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, established the Oak Hill Academy, and collected a sizable offering for foreign missions.
Rev. James Justice Lafayette Sherwood
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 the Ashe Association and the 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, after concerns arose with problems of getting to church when the river was flooded, members from the Bina area started a church of their own. The church was named Berlin Baptist Church, and later renamed Phoenix Baptist Church, as we know it today.
1929
When membership had dropped to about nine members, it was decided to move the church to its present site. Forest Home was rebuilt and renamed Warrensville Baptist Church.
Rev. H. M. Winkler was the pastor.
1950
By this time, church membership had grown so much that a bigger sanctuary was needed. In the fall, at a monthly business meeting, it was decided to tear down the old church. Mrs. Myrtis Shoaf began drawing up plans for the new church, and by the end of the meeting, most of the inside of the building had been torn down.
In October, ground was broken for the new sanctuary. The church met at the Warrensville schoolhouse while the new building was under construction.
1957
On September 29th, the new church building was dedicated.
Rev. R. C. Ashley was the pastor, and our last part-time pastor.
1960
The church decided to go full-time.
Since going full-time, our pastors have been:
Click on any of the above names for more information on our former pastors including special messages to our church, and to listen to sermons they preached.
1980
On July 9th, it was decided that more space was needed, so the church voted to begin work on a new educational building and fellowship hall. After much hard work and sacrificial giving, this new building was dedicated to the Lord on April 29, 1984.
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.
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.
