For its first 100 years, Cloverdale Church of the Brethren has been marked by hearts given to God and hands given in service. The Cloverdale church organized in December 1912, one of three congregations formed from the bursting-at-the-seams Botetourt congregation, which in turn traced its origin to the arrival of German Baptist settlers from Pennsylvania around 1780. The Brethren constructed the Cloverdale meeting house in 1913 with the work of many volunteer hands, and dedicated it with grateful hearts in December of that year. Whether loading and unloading building materials carried from Roanoke by horse-drawn wagon, hauling water from the creek to mix concrete, or fashioning the oak paneling for the sanctuary, everyone contributed.
Cloverdale Brethren have reached out to build many ministries across the years: devoted worship, with a consistently strong music program; a Christian Education program that has nurtured faith in each succeeding generation; calling persons into pastoral ministry and supporting ministry training; and participating in the programs of the wider church, including Camp Bethel, National Youth Conference, Work Camps and Disaster Response. For more than 50 years, Cloverdale Preschool has been a blessing to the children of the community. For more than 35 years, the church's food pantry has been a blessing for struggling neighbors. Nearly 20 years ago, the Cloverdale Women's Fellowship began operating a thrift shop, with proceeds going to help the food pantry, the Botetourt Resource Center, and Bradley Free Clinic, among other local organizations.
With Jesus Christ at the center, the Cloverdale Church of the Brethren now continues into our second hundred years, hearts given to God and hands ready to serve.
