Ivanhoe Presbyterian Church

About Our History

On September 2, 1984, Ivanhoe Presbyterian Church became part of a seven church field known as the Parish of the Valley's. The Parish added an eighth church and now consist of Cedar Creek, Clearbrook, Middletown, Mt. Hope,  Round Hill, Second Opequon, Wardensville, and Ivanhoe.  Dr. Homer T. Cornish was the original pastor of this eight church field and he was helped by several associates.  These associates are retired ministers.  Ivanhoe's Associate Minister at that time was Rev. William Ramkey.                              

Evolution of the church

Ivanhoe Presbyterian Church, Lost City, West Virginia was erected during the years of 1898 and 1899.  It was named after the pastor during that time, Rev. Ivanhoe Robertson.  No manse was ever erected.  Mr. Lynn S. Holmes built the church.  The church was dedicated on June 11, 1899, with the following charter members: Moses W. Hutton, Mrs. Moses W. Hutton, James Ward Wood, Mrs. James Ward Wood, Mrs. Frank B. Chrisman, Charles T. Hutton, Mrs. Charles T. Hutton, Mrs. Thomas O. Davis, Mrs. Harry Rollings, James Stonaker, Jacob W. Gochenour, Miss Cora Gochenour, and Mrs. Lizzie Kline.

      In 1956-57, the Sunday School rooms were added. The original pump organ that Ivanhoe started with in 1899 is in the Sanctuary.  The interior of the sanctuary features beaded diagonal oak in the ceiling and the siding.  The original handmade wooden benches are still being used.

      The first Presbyterian Sunday School was organized in 1897, and met in the school house until the church was erected.  Our Sunday School has been in session each and every Sunday of this and the last century.  It is truly an "evergreen school".

       The women of the church were organized in 1898, and have remained active over the years.  The women's organization was called Ladies Aid Society, Ladies Auxiliary, Women of the Church and are now known as Presbyterian Women.  Mrs. Moses W. Hutton served as the first president of the Ladies Aid Society followed by Mrs. Frank B. Chrisman, and Mrs. Mary Marshall. We have no written history of the women's group from 1945 until 1958 when Mrs. Paul Funkhouser became president of the Women of the Church.  She was succeeded by Mrs. J. Ward Wood, Mrs. John Wood, Mrs. Golda Ritchie and others.  The women of the church have contributed much to the spiritual and financial success of Ivanhoe Church.

        Many of the years, Ivanhoe Church was kept active with a student minister from Union Seminary of Richmond, Virginia. These students came twice a month during the winter months and sometimes only came once a month.  During the summer, they often came and lived at Wardensville.

       Ivanhoe was yoked to churches in the Shenandoah Parish during the years 1969 to 1975, when Rev. P. Parker Perkins was the pastor.