Restored historic church at The Water’s Edge Country Club has become a wedding venue for many couples
When Virginia developer Ron Willard began clearing property around Smith Mountain Lake in 1985 for the course that would become The Water’s Edge Country Club, he had little idea he’d uncover a piece of history. It wasn’t until one of his crew came upon an old building that Willard knew they’d found something special.
“He got off the bulldozer and noticed it was an old church,” says Willard. “He refused to tear it down, because it was God’s house.”
The old church, now a beautifully restored chapel used for wedding ceremonies at The Water’s Edge, hadn’t shown up on the land survey when Willard purchased the property. Curious, he decided to dig into its history, and ultimately rerouted the course to avoid tearing down the church.
Having grown up in the area, Willard soon discovered the building was the old Rising Sun African American Church. After talking to his father, Walker Willard, Willard uncovered a wealth of stories about the church, including some Willard himself can remember. Off an old state gravel road, the church used to be surrounded by big trees with picnic tables spread out underneath the branches. Willard can remember driving down the road as a boy and catching sight of revivals at the church, with all the members gathering around the tables in the yard.
“My father can remember when it was a two-horse wagon road,” Willard says.
“They’d come that way before the lake was built, and people would have their horses tied up to the trees in front.”
After purchasing the church from the Rising Sun congregation, Willard used the building for storage until he was able to restore it in the late 1990s. After adding a copper roof and redwood siding, along with new floors, electricity, and some support, the old church transformed into a lovely chapel. Willard celebrated the restoration with a christening, inviting the grandchildren of the old Rising Sun congregation. And in 2010, his own daughter Heather was married there, complete with a gospel choir.
Since the church’s restoration, many have tied the knot at this beautiful venue. While the interior can be used for smaller ceremonies, couples tend to utilize the chapel as an altar background with guests seated outside on either side of the walkway. Kasey Outen, stepdaughter of McConnell Golf CEO John McConnell, and her husband, Stewart, held a destination wedding at The Water’s Edge in the fall of 2020. Outen grew up swimming at Smith Mountain Lake with her family, and as it quickly became a special place for the couple while they were dating, she knew the property would make an ideal spot for their wedding.
“Having a chapel on-site at a beautiful property with all of the other event amenities is rare,” Outen says. “This made our experience particularly special. The chapel is chic and rich in history, it’s such a neat addition to the property.”
A former country club employee, Crystal Dofflemyer worked at The Water’s Edge in high school and through college on her breaks. Hosting her wedding at the property was incredibly special for her.
“The chapel entrance was our altar, and the walkway to it was the aisle,” Dofflemeyer says. “Our family and friends sat on each side of the aisle under the shade provided by mature trees. There was a slight breeze coming off the water so despite having a late August wedding, it was absolutely perfect.”
The chapel continues to create special memories for countless newlyweds at The Water’s Edge Country Club. And to think it’s all thanks to a crew member in 1985 who refused to tear down an old church.