The McAfee Company first visited Salt River in 1773 to choose a location for settlement. While returning to Virginia, they were near starvation until Robert McAfee killed a deer that provided food for them. When they later built their church on Salt River, they named it New Providence in remembrance of this act of divine providence on their behalf. The McAfee Company returned to Salt River in 1779 to establish their permanent settlement. In 1785, the first building to serve as a meeting place and schoolhouse was erected three-quarters of a mile east. The present church building was started in 1861, but the Civil War delayed its completion until 1864. Worship services have been held continuously since the church's founding.