Our Story

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Deeply embedded in the history of the settlement of Augusta County, Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church welcomes you to the heart of the Shenandoah valley of Virginia. The first settlers from the north were john Lewis, who arrived in 1732, and William Beverly who was given a large land grant in 1736. The Scots-Irish Presbyterians who followed lost no time in forming the Triple Forks of the Shenandoah Congregation and in petitioning the Donegal presbytery for the services of a minister. Two centers of worship developed – Tinkling Spring and Augusta Stone Meeting Houses, which were served by the same minister. Tinkling Spring Church was officially founded in 1740. The first meeting house was a log cabin measuring twenty-four by fifty feet.

We invite you to celebrate the differences Christ makes in our lives through ministry in our church, our community, and our world. We would be happy to have you become a part of our church family and invite you to visit our worship services, classes and programs. 

A local artist has generously donated prints of the church that were drawn in 1992. The prints are available for purchase for $15 each. Please call the church office or email office@tinklingspring.com to get yours today. All proceeds will go toward the building fund. 

The same artist also has pen and ink drawings of 52 homes with historical narratives in Augusta County, as well as on of the 50 drawings of historical homes in Staunton. These soft copy books are also for sale. The “Historic House of Augusta County VA” sells for $30. The “Historic House of Staunton, VA” Sells for $40. Portions of these proceeds will also go toward the building fund. For more information about these prints or sketch books, or how to donate to our building fund, please call the church office at 540-885-0746.

On early 2008, the tinkling spring, in which the church is named after, was renovated. Howard McKnight Wilson in his book, “Tinkling Spring – Headwater of Freedom” shares the following information about the spring: “A cool spring of water – issuing from beneath a rock, gathering into a pool from which man lives, overflowing into a stream by which the plains were made alive – is a delightful work of nature. The earliest pioneers in the Valley of Virginia found a bold spring whose emerging waters made a musical sound upon the cavernous rocks, and they called it the tinkling spring.” 

It is believed that two major trails used by the Native Americans and pioneers alike have crossed at this spring and it became an oasis where weary travelers were able to refresh themselves. The spring became the site where the first meeting house of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church was located and remains active. However, the musical sounds emanating from the spring have somewhat dimmed over the passage of many years. 

A monument stands outside the Fellowship Hall which “Sacred to the Memory of the Immigrants to this Valley who turned the wilderness into habitation.” It lists the names of the original members who were assessed twelve shillings each to build the first meeting house. 

A visit to the Tinkling Spring Church museum will provide a memorable introduction to our rich history. Many of the early settler and founders of Tinkling Spring Church were persecuted Scots-Irish who came to the colonies in the first half of the 1700’s, bringing their Presbyterian faith with them and found their way from Pennsylvania and points north to the Shenandoah Valley. 

The museum exhibits trace this migration and highlight the contributions made by these early settlers, not only to the founding of Tinkling Spring Church, but also to the birth of a free Christian nation. Interesting activities of the Tinkling Spring Church over the past 270 years are also included in the exhibits. Our museum provides an opportunity for us to share with pride our history and heritage from the 1740’s to the present. 

The Tinkling Spring Headwater of Freedom was written by Rev, Dr. Howard McKnight Wilson in 1954. The second edition with an update was published in 1974. The book provides a comprehensive 540-page history of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, including appendixes with genealogical information. 

The Headwater of Freedom committee has worked hard and has completed the task of having the original 1974 book reproduced and ready for sale. As we were in the process of updating the church history, we decided to make our final work in two volumes. Volume I consists of the original 1974 book with no changes and Volume II will be the updated version 1974-2010. Volume I and II may be purchased as singles or as a set. 

The cost of Volume I is $40.00 plus $5 for shipping and handling. Volume II is $25.00 plus $5 for shipping and handling. For further information, please contact the church office at (540)885-0746.