During the late 1800s, several families from the north moved to Chester Station, Virginia, to hunt buried treasure. A true treasure of religious heritage emerged. Seventeen charter members were present for the organization of Chester Presbyterian Church on June 16, 1878. The members met in the hall of the Chester Hotel until the first church building was finished in 1880. The Chapel, as it is now known, was built on a small lot purchased for $40.00 and remained there until it was moved to Osborne Road in 1951, where it remained until moved, once again, to its prominent location at the corner of West Hundred ( US-RT 10) and Osborne Roads. The Chester Presbyterian Chapel is now a Virginia registered landmark and, from its beginning, was at the heart of the ecumenical spirit in the Chester community and remains so today.
In 1956, a new building with a sanctuary, a fellowship hall with kitchen, Sunday school rooms and offices, was built facing West Hundred Road. This addition to the church campus allowed the congregation and ministry to continue in its growth. Though most activities moved to the new building, the Chapel continued to be used for Sunday school, scouts, and intimate wedding ceremonies. A new educational building was completed in 1967, providing much needed Sunday School space.
With the continued growth in the congregation, long range planning was begun. The decision was made to move the Chapel once again, and a new larger sanctuary and narthex were completed in 1995. The facilities continued to expand, and an addition with a fellowship hall, kitchen and classrooms was completed in 2000. In Spring 2008, renovation of the old educational building and the renovation of the former "youth house" into a new "meeting center" with larger multi-functional spaces was completed.
In December 2002, a new 31 rank pipe organ manufactured by the A. E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company was installed. This wonderful addition to the sanctuary assists each Sunday, as the congregation worships our Lord with the spoken word and music.
The church's past, however, is only part of its story. The witness it has borne throughout the years is carried on today by an active, dedicated congregation, which welcomes you to its midst. We are excited about the new growth opportunities these changes afford the congregation, and the many possibilities they provide in carrying out our Christian mission in the community and in the world.