History of Valley View Freewill Baptist Church

Valley View Freewill Baptist Church was founded July 14, 1914 in the Yates Gap section of Dickenson County, Virginia, at the western edge of the town of Clintwood.

Valley View was established by the Reverend S. M. McFall, the Reverend J. G. Kenady, the Reverend A. J. Honeycutt, and L. M. Vanover.  The initial officers of the church were:

Clerk – Maggie Keel

Pastor & Treasurer – Reverend S. M. McFall

Deacons – Bishop Yates and Lillie Yates

Trustees – D. F. Kenady, J. G. Kenady, and S. M. McFall

Building Committee – Bishop Yates, S. M. McFall, and J. G. Kenady

The early records of Valley View Freewill Baptist church are sparse, but they indicate the church began meetings under an apple tree on the property adjacent to the present church building.  Later a church building was erected on land donated by Bishop Yates, and with modifications and additions served as home to Valley View for many years.  The name Valley View was chosen by Willie Stallard.

Over the years a number of Pastors have served Valley View:

J. W. Keith elected August 23, 1919

S.M. McFall elected August 1920

E. A. Reedy elected July 6, 1921

Asa Hughes elected July 23, 1923

Dan Smith elected August 23, 1924

Ben Powers elected August 1930

      Alvie Dingus served as Assistant Pastor

Albert Dingus elected July 10, 1932

      Asa Hughes served as Assistant Pastor

Asa Hughes became Pastor during this time and served until his death.  His Assistant Pastors were:

      Enoch Rose – 1946

      S. M. McFall – 1947

      Willard Kiser – 1948

      Emory Vanover – 1949

      R. L. Large – 1951

      Bill Harrison – 1953 thru January 1956

      S. M. McFall and Derwood Yates served during the early 1960’s

Derwood Yates elected 1967.  Derwood Yates served as Pastor of Valley View until his death on February 8, 1991.

Lynn Vanover elected May 4, 1991 continues to serve as Pastor of Valley View Freewill Baptist Church.

In 1994, a new church building was constructed on land adjacent to the old church site.  The Building Committee for our present church were:

A. C. Blevins, Chairman, Paul Dingus, Carrol Dotson, Johnny Branham, Edmund Edwards, Clinton Rakes, and Lynn Vanover.

The Deacons at the time were:

Sam Anderson, Johnny Branham, Paul Dingus, Carrol Dotson, Edmund Edwards, and Bobby Hammons.  Life-time Deacon – Wes Edwards