About Us

A Unique and Historic Gathering Place

Smyth

Chapel

Located on Smyth Chapel Road just minutes from the village of Meadowview, Virginia, and Emory & Henry University, Smyth Chapel, a beacon of hope to the local community, has been standing proudly since 1892.

This historic structure was in danger of being razed until a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of Smyth Chapel, Inc. and charged themselves with saving one of the area’s excellent examples of rural church architecture.

It commands a scenic spot and a quiet place of reflection overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Smyth Chapel, a historic structure that dates back to 1892, can now be the place for you to host your meeting or special event.

Smyth Chapel: Still Serving the Community

Support Us

Friends of

Smyth Chapel

The Friends of Smyth Chapel's mission is to restore, maintain, and keep available for the community and interested parties the Smyth Chapel building for uses such as celebrations, community and educational gatherings, retreats, meetings, and worship.
We are a membership organization with an all-volunteer Board of Directors. We have working committees for the following: Budget and Finance, Building and Grounds, Program/Publicity, Event Committee, and Fundraising/Membership. As a member, we encourage you to be involved in a committee. We are all volunteers and can use your assistance if you are interested.
2025 Friends of Smyth Chapel Board of Directors
David St. Clair, President
Sam Cassell, Vice President
Aileen Duffy-Brown, Treasurer
Dayle Zanzinger, Secretary
Linda Gray, Tammy Martin, Christine Mitten, Sally Morgan, Tom Taylor, Johnny White, Nancy White
We need people like you who are interested in our mission to preserve and maintain the chapel as a vibrant community meeting place and event center. Whether you have time to devote to serve on a committee OR just want to help keep our mission alive, we ask that you please consider becoming a Member for only $25 (individual) or $40 for the entire household. JOIN NOW!

The Friends of Smyth Chapel, Inc. is a non-profit Virginia corporation in Meadowview, Virginia, with a Board of Directors and many dedicated volunteers and supporters.

A Brief History of Smyth Chapel

1860s

In the 1860s, civic leaders established a log schoolhouse across the road from the current Smyth Chapel property.
Smyth Chapel Methodist Church began its existence using this building.
1890s

In 1891, fundraising efforts to build a chapel began. Popular events held included ice cream suppers attended by community members and Emory & Henry students.

The structure, typical of 19th-century rural church architecture, was built in 1892.

Circuit-riding Methodist preachers held monthly church services in the early days of the Chapel and Emory & Henry ministerial students would preach at the Chapel as part of their education and training.
1890's to 2000

Smyth Chapel served the community for many years as a rural church in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, and held revivals, Christmas programs, baptisms, and weddings.
It was well-known for its ice cream socials and cake walks, a tradition that is still maintained by the Friends of Smyth Chapel in late June every year.
Early 2000s

Attendance declined in the early 2000s and the congregation was disbanded in 2011.
The Chapel remained the property of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, but with disuse, the structure suffered and was closed in 2013, declared “abandoned” by the Conference.
2014 - 2017

In 2014, the Friends of Smyth Chapel (FOSC) began efforts to gain ownership of the Chapel to restore the historic structure and offer it for community use.

FOSC became incorporated in 2015 and received tax-exempt status in early 2016.

In July 2016, FOSC was granted ownership of the structure and began raising funds and interest in the project.

In late summer 2017, the initial restoration phase was begun. This involved repairing and reinforcing the steeple, stabilizing the entire structure, and redoing the electrical wiring. In the second phase, the doors and windows were repaired or replaced.
2019 - To Today

In late fall 2019, construction started to add onto the back of the chapel for a kitchen and handicapped-accessible bathrooms and a new ramp to facilitate use of the structure for events.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a postponement of opening the Chapel in the Spring of 2020, but by 2021, activity at the chapel began to grow.