Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church, Selma, Virginia

The U.S. state of Virginia is a state full of historic cities like Richmond, Alexandria, Manassas, Williamsburg, Norfolk, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, and many more.  It is a state with many historic sites from the first English settlement, numerous Civil War battlefield to include the battlefield that hosted to major wars, and the many homes of U.S. Presidents.  Among these sites is the Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church in the small town of Selma in the western region of the state.  What is special about this church?  Originally called ‘The Church of the Springs’, it was used as a hospital during the American Civil War.  Today, you can visit the church and the surrounding cemetery and see this great historic site.

Some of you are saying, “This is nice.  I love these little churches and their cemeteries.  The problem is that there is no railroad history here.  Therefore, I will not be paying a visit here.”

What is special about this church?  As mentioned, it was a hospital during the American Civil War.  Some of you are wondering where this place is.

Selma, Virginia is a very small town, and it is very small.  You can say that it is a suburb of Clifton Forge, a major railroad town that was the home of the Virginia Central Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Railway which have been taken over by CSX who still has a big yard here.  It is also the home of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Heritage Center.  The small town of Selma is just west of Clifton Forge, and the railroad passes by the Oakland Presbyterian Church.

Some of you are saying, “The railroad passes by the church.  However, the church has nothing to do with the railroad.”

That is where you are wrong.

If you visit the site today, you will see the church.  What you will not see is the Jackson River Depot.  Many structures were on the property.  One of them was the church which is in its original location, and another was an old train station called the Jackson River Depot.  The church was located at the western terminus of the Virginia Central Railroad.  The passengers who needed to continue west continued from this location on horseback.  Also, as the church was being used as a war hospital, wounded soldiers were brought here by train and transported a short distance to the church.  As with many train depots, they were no longer used, and they were eventually demolished.  The church is the only standing structure on this site today.

The Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church is located west of the town of Selma on Selma-Low Moor Road west of the town of Clifton Forge, and it is just minutes from Interstate 64 and U.S. Routes 60 and 220.  There is a small gravel parking area.  (Not recommended for large vehicles like motor homes and busses.)  The site of the depot is next to the parking area but is not open to the public.  The church itself is also not open to the public.  Although there is handicap parking, the grounds may be difficult for wheelchairs.

Not you have a reason to visit the Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church.  You can tell your mother that you went to church.