USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 23
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Hopewell class was one among the first (perhaps the very first) church organizations in Madison town- ship. This class was organized by Rev. James Quinn at the home of Ezekiel Groom in 1805, and was then called the "Groom class." At first it consisted of nine persons : Ezekiel Groom, wife and two daughters, Mary and Sarah, Wm. Bush and wife, Mrs. Nancy Burton and two daughters, Lucy and Betsy. Meetings were held at the homes of Mr. Groom and Jeremiah White until a frame meeting house was erected at the graveyard on Mr. Groom's land and then named Hopewell. The deed is dated June 19th, 1819, and is from "Ezekiel Groom and his wife, Rhoda, for twenty dollars in specie, to Charles Rarey, Alexander Cam-
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eron, and Adam Havely of Franklin county, and Shadrack Cole, William Brown, Daniel Ranier, and David Morris of Pickaway county, trustees." This building continued in use until 1844. The heating was unique; a hearth of loose brick was laid on top of the floor near the center of the room and a charcoal fire built on it which furnished the heating "apparatus" and answered in lieu of a stove, no flue being re- quired. The old church building stood until in the winter of 1852-1853. On December 22, 1852, Thomas Groom was given permission to take away the old church and if he suffers the roof to fall on the fence, he is to repair the same." It is reported that Isaac Ranier tore it down.
On November 25, 1843, the following persons were present at a trustees' meeting: Rev. J. F. Donehue, Alexander Cameron, Thomas Groom, Isaac Ranier and John B. Moore. "It was moved that we accept the resignation of the following trustees: Shadrack Cole, Philip Pontius and Charles Rarey, and Bro. Adam Havely, having deceased and the vacancies be filled by Charles Pontius, Moses Groom, Wesley Toy and Jeremiah White." "The trustees went into the consideration, which would be best at this time, to repair the old meeting house or to build a new one." "A motion was made to repair; after being discussed this motion was laid on the table, in order to examine the probable amount it would require to repair, and the following committee was appointed: Thomas Groom, Charles Pontius and John B. Moore, who after examination, reported forthwith, 'that it is not expedient to expend any considerable amount of money on the old house, further than to patch the roof and mend the windows,'" and Chas. Pontius and Moses
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Groom were appointed to attend to said repairs. A committee of four was appointed "to draught a sub- scription for the purpose of raising money to build a new meeting house on the county line site, viz. : Charles Pontius, Isaac Ranier, Alexander Cameron and John B. Moore. At a meeting held on December 23d, it was "Resolved, that we build a frame church and that it be not less than 35 by 45 feet and 13 feet clear ceiling. At a meeting held in the old church on January 20th, 1844, the committee on subscription re- ported $819.50 subscribed." "Adjourned until the trustees can examine the site immediately on the east bank of Walnut creek, north of the county line be- tween the counties of Franklin and Pickaway, to determine whether it is a suitable location to erect the new church on. If so to go on to build with the present subscription. If not to build at the old black- smith shop, the site previously determined on." Rev. C. C. Lybrand was present at this meeting. February 26th. "The trustees proceeded to examine and view the site on the east bank of Walnut creek, and having viewed it they decided that the location is eligible for erecting a church on and provided the present sub- scription can be applied here we will go on to build a church on this site." Chas. Pontius and Jeremiah White were appointed a committee to ascertain if the present subscribers are willing to apply their subscrip- tions for building said church on the creek location, and if any part is withdrawn then to solicit sufficient to build with. On March 10 the committee reported $883.80 subscribed for the creek location, then the board proceeded to form the plans and dimensions of said church, and after consideration the following plan was unanimously agreed upon, that is: The said
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perth take a beach 46 feet. and 38 feet wide, with and shot of brisk foundations three feet high and :8 inches chick A good substantial frame, to be maie ci sound timber. said church to be finished off in a good assimmanlike manner. On March 30th, bids were received and opened. The following proposals were handed in: Mr. Turney's was for $1.370. Pat- terson Harrison's was for $1.165. Michael Ebright's for Soso. and John Groff's for $850. These bids, in the wide margin between the highest and lowest re- minds one of some of the modern contrasts in pro- posais. The proposal of John Groff was accepted, and Alex. Cameron. Thos. Groom and Charles Pontius were appointed a building committee, and the article of agreement was signed up. One Jonas Bichart sign- ing it with John Groff. Under date of May 31st, the record says, "We, the trustees, being prepared on our part to make the first payment, and having been informed that the said Groff does not intend to com- ply with the article of agreement, nor to build said church, resolved, therefore, that we consider ourselves at liberty to put an end to our contract with the said John Groff and Jonas Bichart." Under date of Au- gust 7th, the minutes says: "Michael Ebright being present proposes to build and finish off said church for the sum of $1,050 and no less. His bid was accepted and he put up and completed the building. At a meet- ing held at the new church on January 31st, 1845, it was resolved, "That we accept the lamp proposed to be given by - Kinear of Circleville," and $36 was paid for two stoves, and the church was accepted from the contractor. July 17th, 1847, it was recorded "settled in full with M. Ebright giving him a note for $46.70 to balance."
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Fortunately we obtained an account of the dedica- tion of Hopewell Church, which was written by Chas. Pontius, on the fly-leaf of a little book, three by four inches in size, entitled "Christian Perfection" by Rev. John Wesley, published in New York, 1842. "Feb- ruary 16, 1845, dedication sermon of the new Hope- well meeting house, delivered by Rev. James Laws; text 122d Psalm, Ist verse, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go up to the house of the Lord."
The following list of members is taken from John Groom's class leaders' book dated August 10, 1835. There were very likely two or three other class leaders' books besides this one. John Groom, Charity Groom, Wm. H. Selby, Mary Selby, Wm. H. Selby, Jr., Ivy Decker, James Evans, Huldah Evans, Margaret Evans, Noah Groom, Lucy Groom, Hosea Britton, Tamson Britton, John Giberson, Sarah Giberson, Marenda Giberson, Nancy Burton ("Died in peace October 5, 1836"), Eleanor Burton, John G. Bennett, Melvina Bennett, Isaac Childs, Sarah Childs, Geo. Evans, Oaky Moore, Orlando Fuller, Francis Fuller, Sarah Hunter, Catharine Johnson, Joshua Burton, Susana Burton, Thomas Groom, Nancy Groom, Sarah Ann Groom, Rhoda Groom, Henry Moore, Rebecca Moore, Moses Groom, Catherine Groom, Philip Pontius, Catherine Pontius, Chas. Pontius, Christian Hulva, Henry Bunn, Elizabeth Bunn, Amos S. Bennett, Mary Bennett, Henry Bennett, Sarah Sawyer, Catharine (Sawyer, Nancy Sawyer, Jane Egbert. Additional names found on roll of membership, 1846: Elizabeth Pontius, Wm. Rarey, Rachel Rarey, Amanda Rarey, Wm. Ranier, Isabelle Berk, Daniel R. Groom, John F. Groom, Christena Groom, Rhoda Groom, Jr., Nancy R. Groom, Loisa Knoderer, Abraham Sawyer, Dr. B. F.
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Gard (Dr. Gard died in Columbus, July 12, 1849, of Cholera, and was the first adult buried in Green Lawn Cemetery ), Elizabeth Pontius Gard, George Rarey, Sarey Rarey, Margaret Rarey, Mary Dildine, Mary Ann Rarey, Enor Ann Moore. List of 1851 : Hester Ann Ranier, Franklin G. Pontius, Margaret W. Rarey, Elizabeth Bunn, William H. Pyle, Rachel Pyle, and in 1854, John Sharp, Sr. Franklin G. Pontius has been a member of Hopewell Church for 51 years and is the only man living who has continuously worshipped here during the whole history of the present building.
The following have been class leaders: Jeremiah White, Isaac Ranier, John Groom, Thomas Groom, Chas. Pontius, for 47 years, and others. The present class leaders are F. G. Pontius, John F. Ranier, Sister Allie Ranier and Harley E. Ranier. In 1850 W. H. Pyle and G. Adel were licensed as local preachers.
In 1851 D. C. Shockley was given a contract to put a new roof on the church and some months later the secretary was authorized to divide a balance of $50 yet due among the trustees, "as he thinks best," then follows this division : Chas. Pontius, $18; Thos. Groom, $15 ; Moses Groom, $8; A. Sawyer, $3.50; D. J. Groom, $3.50; E. Groom, $2. In 1852, L. Tower was elected sexton at $12 per year. "He to furnish wood and lard for which he is to be paid market price." The lard or fat lamp gave way to the lard oil lamp in 1859, when a hanging lamp and one gallon of lard oil was purchased. November 25, 1861, kerosene oil was introduced, three gallons being purchased at 50 cents per gallon. The expenses for the year ending May 1, 1856, were: Lard, $1.29; wood, $3.12; sexton, $12.
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Early in the spring of 1901 plans for remodeling .
the building were being considered. In April the women organized a Ladies' Aid Society with a view to lending financial assistance to the proposed pro- ject, and through their zeal and activity along with the special committee consisting of John F. Ranier. J. P. Sawyer and Lyman P. Moody, extensive im- provements were made. The primary Sunday school room and the vestibule were partitioned off from the main room. The large Gothic window was put in the front gable, the new box windows with colored glass took the place of the old 10 x 12 light windows, the furnace compelled the old stoves to yield the space they so extravagantly occupied, new pews took the place of the old ones; these improvements, together with papering, painting and a new carpet were made at an expenditure of $1,350. The building was re- opened with special services on Sunday, January 26, 1902, when $650 was subscribed which amount more than provided enough money to pay for all the im- provements.
A Sunday school was organized in 1823 or 1824, with Geo. W. Glaze as superintendent. He continued to hold the position until 1835, when he moved to the west, and Alexander Cameron was elected, serving un- til 1843; since then Isaac Ranier, Jeremiah White, James Pyle, Chas. Pontius, Sr., Henry Long, 1854- 1864; D. R. Groom, 1875; John F. Ranier, 1877 and 1882; F. G. Pontius, 1878-1881, 1883-1885, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892; Nathan Whaley, 1886; Harley E. Ranier, 1889, 1890, 1896, 1897; Mrs. Hattie Myers, 1894, 1895; Emma Ranier, 1898-1900; Mrs. Mame Couch, 1901, have served.
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Assistant Superintendents: J. F. Ranier, 1875, 1878-1881, 1883, 1886, 1887, 1892,; Levi Cavinee, 1877; F. C. Miller, 1884, 1885; Mrs. J. F. Ranier, 1888; F. G. Pontius, 1889, 1890, 1896; H. E. Ranier, 1894, 1895; Miss Hattie Arnold, 1897.
Secretaries: Miss Emma Wright, 1875; F. G. Pontius, 1877; C. R. Pontius, 1878-1880; C. E. Ra- rey, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1886; F. C. Miller, 1882, 1886; H. E. Ranier, 1884; Miss Eva R. Pontius, 1887; Ag- gie W. Wright, 1888; Frank C. Ranier, 1889, 1890, 1892; Miss Hattie Arnold, 1891 ; M. C. Ranier, 1894; E. E. Lincoln, 1895; Edson Ranier, 1896; Miss Mary Flowers, 1897; John Moody, 1900-1901.
An Epworth League was organized during the pas- torate of Rev. Prior in 1893. Mrs. Hettie Myers, Miss Emma Rainier and Harly E. Rainier have served as presidents.
Pastors: James Quinn, familiarly known as "Jimmy Quinn," the pioneer Methodist preacher, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and was licensed to preach by Bishop Asbury in 1799. The same year that he was licensed he made his first missionary trip to Ohio, visiting Fairfield county. May 1, 1803, he was married to Patience Teal, near Baltimore, Maryland, and soon after returned to Ohio, becoming the "circuit rider" of the Hockhocking cir- cuit, which embrace dthe valleys of the Muskingum, Hocking and Scioto rivers. His wife died February I, 1820, and he followed her in 1847. Jesse Stoneman, Asa Shinn, John Meek, 1805; James Oxley, 1805; Joseph Hays, 1806; James King, 1806; W. Patterson, 1807; Ralph Lotspeich, 1808; John Bowman, 1808; Francis Travis, 1810; Isaac Quinn, 1811; James B. Finley, 1811 ; Wm. Lambden, 1812; Archibald McElroy, 1813;
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Charles Waddle, 1814; 1824; Michael Ellis, 1815; John McMahon, 1816; Sadosa Bacon, 1818; Peters Stephens, 1818; Abner Gough, 1819, 1820; Henry Mathew, 1819; Charles Thorn, 1820; Wm. Stephens, 1821, 1822; Zarah Coston, 1821; James Gilruth, 1823; J. C. Hunter, 1823; Leroy Swormstedt, 1825; Homer Clark, 1824; James Quinn, 1825, 1826; James Laws, 1826, 1827; Gilbert Blue, 1827; Jacob Young, 1828; C. Springer, 1828; Z. Connell, 1829; H. S. Fernandez, 1829, 1830; Samuel Hamilton, 1830, 1831. In 1831 the circuit was again divided, and perhaps the follow- ing pastors served: Wm. Swazey, Ebenezer Webster, Harvey Camp, Oliver Spencer, Isaac Hunter, Philip Nation and others. In 1839 Lithopolis circuit was formed, and in 1848 the name of this circuit was changed to Groveport circuit. Since 1838, when the Groveport class was organized the pastors have been the same as those mentioned in connection with that church.
Asbury Methodist Episcopal.
At about the same time that the Hopewell class was organized a class was organized in the Stevenson set- tlement. Meetings were held at various residences and barns. Among the first such meetings were those held at the residence of John Stevenson-one of the most active Methodists in that neighborhood-as early as 1806, and continuing on to about 1820, when a log "meeting house" was erected near Mr. Stevenson's house on Blacklick, now owned by Benj. F. Bowman.
Some twenty years later a difference of opinion arose, some favoring the repair of the old meeting house, others, perhaps the majority, selecting the White Chapel site. Those favoring the old site then spent some $75 in repairing the old log building. Many years
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later Jacob Bowman, Sr., purchased Mr. Stevenson's farm, and in the early fifties, when his residence burned he moved into the old meeting house, where Benj. F. Bowman was born. Those favoring the new site pro- ·ceeded to erect a frame meeting house on the Thomas Needels farm, about one mile further west, and on the northwest corner of the intersection of the Bixby road from the north and the Columbus and Winchester road. This building was erected in 1842 or 1843, and was known as "White Chapel." The old White Chapel building was sold to W. Leasure, who moved it to Brice and constructed his residence of it.
The present substantial brick building was erected in the summer of 1872 at a cost of about $7,000. It was begun under the pastorate of Rev. C. M. Bethau- ser, and completed under the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Ferris. It was dedicated in December of 1872, Rev. J. M. Trimble officiating.
Among the early members of Asbury class were : John Stevenson and wife, Philip Hooper and wife, Ja- ·cob Algire and wife, Richard Stevenson and wife, Phil- omen Needels and wife, Zachariah Stevenson and wife, George Powell and wife, John Algire and wife, Rich- ard Derrick and wife, Archibald Powell and wife, and .others.
Among the early pastors were: Revs. John Big- low, Charles Waddle, John W. Powers and others. Since 1872 Asbury has been a part of the Winchester ·circuit, and the pastors the same as those mentioned in th : Winchester congregation.
A Sunday school has been maintained for many years, but we were not able to secure a list of the offi- ·cers, nor particulars of its history. Among the super- intendents were: James Sandy, Henderson Miller,
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Jacob Bowman, James P. Kalb, John Pontius, James Fickel, Theo. D. Kalb, E. M. Mills, Clint A. Stevenson and Mrs. Ellen Bowman.
An Epworth League was maintained during the pas- torate of Rev. Joseph Clark. The present membership is about 200, and the Sunday school has an enrollment of about 150. Asbury is one of the most prosperous rural churches in this section.
Groveport Methodist Episcopal.
This class is an offspring of the Hopewell and As- bury classes, and was organized in 1835 or 1836, and in the same year a brick church was erected on the site of the present one. The brick were made near by and the clay of which they were made was taken from the lot just west of the church; the clay was mixed by driving cattle around over it during the day and then during the night a number of hogs were turned into the lot and they rooted and mixed it up in their search for the shelled corn that had been scattered over it dur- ing the day previous.
In 1839 Rev. Jacob Young (grandfather of ex- Sheriff Wheeler Young) was sent here to form a new circuit. Previous to this Groveport was in the Circle- ville circuit. This circuit included White Chapel, Rey- noldsburg, Pickerington, Asbury, Lithopolis, Hope- well, Walnut Hill and Groveport. Among the first members were: Charles Rarey and wife, Mrs. Adam Rarey, Mrs. Margaret Chandler, Mr. J. Watson, Mrs. Harmon Dildine, Mrs. Elizabeth Whetzel, and a few years later Wm. H. McCarty, William and Salem Dar- nell, Samuel Leigh, Wm. H. Rarey, Parker Rarey, Sr., Jacob Andricks and others.
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In 1851 the old church had become too small, when the present large structure was built. A small memo- randum book in which the subscriptions were kept has been preserved by Samuel Leigh; this little book re- veals the fact that building churches fifty years ago met with the same difficulties and required very much the same sacrifices that building churches does now. Five separate subscription lists circulated at different times were secured. The first one amounted to $2,- 232.00, the second to $554.00, the third to $295.00, the fourth, a monthly payment plan, $591.00, and the fifth $550.00, a total of $4,222.00. Quite a large amount of these subscriptions could not be collected and are still unpaid. The dates of these different subscriptions are not recorded, but it is safe to infer that some length of time intervened between them. With all this effort it was still impossible to plaster the auditorium, so the basement was used for several years, being seated with the pews from the old church. After the auditorium was plastered the pews from the old church were still used and did service for several years. Cornelius (Un- cle) Black, Sr., has been a member of this class since 1840, and a class leader since 1862.
Presiding Elders: Jacob Young, 1838; John Terce, 1839-1841 ; J. M. Trimble, 1842; David Whit- com, 1843, 1844; R. O. Spenser, 1845, 1846; J. W. Clark, 1847-1850; Cyrus Brooks, 1851 ; Uriah Heath, 1852, 1853; Z. Connell, 1854, 1856-1858; Job Stewart, 1855; J. M. Jameson, 1859, 1860, 1865, 1866; Geo. W. Brush, 1861-1864; C. A. Van Anda, 1867-1870; B. N. Spahr, 1871-1874; A. B. See, 1875-1878; T. R. Taylor, 1879-1882; J. T. Miller, 1883-1886; J. C. Jackson, Jr., 1887-1890: H. C. Sexton, 1891-1895; J. C. Arbuckle, 1896-1901.
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Pastors: Many years two and sometimes three pas- tors served the circuit at the same time, which explains the following long list of the pastors: David Lewis, 1838, 1839; Jacob Young, 1839, 1840, 1852; T. A. G. Phillips, 1840, 1841 ; James Gilruth, 1841; James T. Donahue, 1842, 1843; William Litzenger, 1842; C. C. Lybrand, 1843, 1856, 1857; James Laws, 1844, 1845; Sheldon, 1844, 1845; A. N. Musgrove, 1845; S. Bate- man, 1846, 1858, 1859; Andrew Carroll, 1846, 1847, 1862, 1863 ; Joseph S. Brown, 1847, 1848; Joseph Mor- ris, 1848; James Hooper, 1849; R. Doughty, 1849; E. B. Chase, 1850; Archibald Fleming, 1850; J. S. Vail, 1850; J. W. Clarke, 1851 ; Lovett Taft, 1851, 1852; S. M. Merrill, 1853; David Young, 1853; F. A. Timmons, 1854, 1855; J. Martin, 1854, 1855; Levi Cunningham, 1856; H. Gartner, 1857; S. Fleming, 1858, 1859; H. H. Ferris, 1860, 1861; F. F. Lewis, 1860, 1861 ; S. C. Riker, 1862, 1863; James Mitchell, 1864; Samuel Donahoo, 1864; Samuel Tippett, 1865, 1866, 1867; J. E. Moore, 1865, 1866, 1877; Ancil Brooks, 1867; Daniel Horlocker, 1868, 1869, 1870; S. M. Bright, 1871, 1872, 1873; A. C. Kelly, 1874-1876; R. Pitzer, 1877; J. W. Wait, 1877; B. F. Thomas, 1878; J. M. Rife, 1879-1881; J. B. Bradrick, 1882, 1883; W. T. Harvey, 1884-1886; A. R. Miller, 1887, 1888; Geo. W. Lott, 1889-1891 ; C. F. Prior, 1892- 1896; J. W. Atkinson, 1897, 1898; John F. Grimes, 1899-1901. Rev. John F. Grimes in a list of the Hope- well pastors read at the reopening of that church in the spring of 1901 includes the names of J. W. Steele (He was a pastor on the Tarltort circuit in 1851, 1852) and R. W. Musgrove. Rev. Geo. W. Lott included the name of A. N. Musgrove, 1845.
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. The bell was purchased in 1863. The first organ was purchased in 1869. The following have served as organists: Lillian Horlocker, Mrs. Flora (Rarey) Peters, Mrs. Mattie (Long) Rarey, Mrs. Lizzie (Long) Eyeman, Mrs. Minnie (Denton) Decker, Mrs. Lizzie (Zinn) Denton, Mrs. J. L. Chaney, Francis Denton, Irenus Denton, Mabel Long, and Nellie Decker.
The Sunday school superintendents have been : Wm. Chandler, 1863; Henry Long, 1864-1881 (Mr. Long served as superintendent at Hopewell . and Groveport for twenty-five years) ; Z. C. Payne, Cor- nelius Black, Sr., Chas. P. Long, Mrs. John Leigh, Wm. Hutson and Mrs. Mattie L. Rarey, the present incumbent. Mrs. Hester Ann Long taught the pri- mary class-"Bird's Nest"-for thirty-eight years, 1864-1902. The Woman's Missionary Society was organized in 1874 with Mrs. Samuel Leigh as pres- ident, which position she held until her death in 1898.
The Epworth League was organized during the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Lott in 1890.
A Sunday school was begun in the Leigh school house in about 1847. William English, a brother-in- law of Samuel Leigh, was the first superintendent. Daniel Leigh served one year and Cornelius Black, Sr., for about twelve years. Stated preaching services were also held.
Powell's Methodist Episcopal.
A class was organized at an early day, and a church building begun near the Vandemark grave- yard. Edward Hathaway was given a contract to erect a frame church in 1823, and he had proceeded so far as to get the frame of the building up, when some of the most active and financially able members
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WINCHESTER.
Built in 1850. Photo taken February, 1902.
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died, and so many others were sick that the project was abandoned and the frame allowed to rot down.
In the summer of 1850 a class was organized by Rev. E. B. Chase; the first class leader was Edward Long and the first members Archibald Powell and wife, Jacob Powell and wife, George Powell and wife, Edward Long and wife, and Elizabeth J. Peters. A chapel was erected in 1852 and dedicated in October of the same year. Among the early pastors were James Hooper, - Baile, Dr. - Hoor, Daniel Lewis, John Stewart, Richard Pitzer, Jacob Young, Wm. Filler, Dr. - Banner, and John Longman. Since 1872 the pastors have been the same as those at Winchester.
The present church building was erected in the summer of 1899, and dedicated on December 3d of the same year, Prof. Richard T. Stevenson of Del -. aware, Ohio, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The. building committee consisted of J. B. Powell, H. F. Groves, John H. Motz, Perry O'Roark, and Robert A. McClure. The building cost about $2,500. A Sunday school was organized in 1850 by Edw. Long- who was the first superintendent, followed by J. N. Peters, Calvin Groves, Charles Groves, Amos Med- ford, Andrew Gray, J. Wilson, - Lower, James Wingert, Robert A. McClure, Daniel Springer and Frank Wright.
Winchester Methodist Episcopal.
In 1838 Rev. Abner Gough came to Winchester and preached in the United Brethren Church, using the first Psalm as a text. It was on a Tuesday after- noon at two o'clock. Rev. Gough is described as a large man. He only preached here two or three times until conference met, when he was succeeded by Rev. 23 H MT
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James Gilruth and Andrew S. Murphy, pastors of the Worthington circuit.
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