Jordan's Chapel

Jordan’s Chapel is on the National Register of Historic Places. The following description is drawn from the nomination form that was approved December 12, 1979.

Jordan's Chapel was constructed in 1852 near the village of Pipestem in what was then Mercer County, Virginia. The property on which the church was built was donated by Gordon L. Jordan (1812-1886), a prominent early settler, merchant, and community leader who at various times served as a justice of the peace and member of the Mercer County Court. His brother, Thomas Jordan, also donated a portion of the land. The church was constructed from locally obtained materials, much of which was also donated by the Jordan brothers, and with labor donated by area residents. At the time of its construction Jordan's Chapel was the first frame church in the area, indeed the first such church in all of what is now Summers County, West Virginia.

While the church was constructed, Gordan L. Jordan also constructed the first frame residence in the area, which not only served as his home but as a place of public entertainment. Many individuals prominent in 19th Century Virginia and West Virginia history are known to have stopped here, some staying long enough to worship at Jordan's Chapel. After the church was completed, it was donated to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is still the legal property of the Methodist Church.

Jordan's Chapel was the scene of many memorable worship services and revivals and was a favorite pulpit for the famed 19th Century Methodist circuit rider Robert Sawyers Sheffey. The church is no longer used regularly for religious services. Once a year, in August, there is a "Jordan’s Chapel Home-coming" during which a service is held in the church, funds are collected for its upkeep. Members of the community, as well as former church members from far away, gather to renew old acquaintances, strengthen community ties, and pay respect to this integral part of their historic heritage.

When Jordan's Chapel was constructed in 1852, this area was sparsely populated, being isolated by mountains and poor to nearly non-existent roads. Dwellings were few and mostly of log construction. The area, which is very scenic and fertile, was growing, however, and the erection of this, the area's first frame church, represented an important aspect of that growth. It took nearly twenty years, however, for this area to reach the point: where the need for a separate county (and closer Courthouse) became apparent. The formation of Summers County in 1871 was a response to this need. Jordan's Chapel stands as one of the oldest structures in that county and, as such, a vital link with the area's past.

There are some wooden outbuildings, including---two privies (the chapel has no indoor plumbing). These outbuildings also date from the 19th Century. The original wooden steps leading to the entrance were replaced in 1952 by concrete ones. Above the entrance is a wooden plaque, erected in 1952, which states:

Jordan’s Chapel

1852

Jordan's Chapel, sitting as it does in a peaceful, expansive rural setting, has a quiet, simple dignity that greatly contributes to its aesthetic significance and its secure place in the hearts of the people of this small Summers County community.

Prepared by Michael J. Pauley, Historian

West Virginia Department of Culture and History