Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church was originally a
class connected with Harrisville, the earliest traces of which run back
as far as 1845. The organization, however, it is claimed, had
been effected in connection with Clintonville long before
this. The pastors of the church have been: Revs. G. F. Reeser, 1845; J. Wigglesmith, 1845; A. Hildebrand, 1846; W. M. Bear, 1846; T. Benn, 1847; G. Stocking, 1849; R. Norton, 1850; J. W. Wilson, 1851; J. S. Lytle, 1852; J. Schofield, 1854; T. G. McCreary, 1857; F. Vernon, 1857; R. B. Boyd, 1858; W. R. Johnson, 1859; S. A. Milroy, 1860; J. Abbott, 1861; B. Marsteller, 1863; R. Beatty, 1865; J. M. Groves, 1868; J. Crumb, 1869; L. Wick, 1871; J. M. Foster, 1872; N. Morris, 1875; L. G. Merrill, 1877; C. M. Morse, 1879; G. W. Chesbro, 1881; J. B. Espy, 1883; and A. R. Rich, 1886, the present
pastor [1888]. The present building, a handsome brick structure,
costing $12,000, is the successor of an old frame that stood north of
town.
It was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies February 27, 1885, and is by far the finest
church edifice in the borough. The present officers of the
congregation are:
Trustees:
William Mc Connell, J. N. Emery, J. J. Cornelius, J. P. Locke, W. P.
Sutherland, J. N. Kennedy, I. N. Fithian, J. A. Spear and D. G.
Courtney. Stewards: James Crawford, D. F. Courtney,
Sylvester Gulick, F. E. Porter, C. F. McConnell, B. R. Welsh, A. A.
Little, Samuel W. Lawrence, J. G. Perry, Isaac Hilkirk, and J. P.
Locke, the Recorder. Class leaders: Joseph Jackson,
F. E.
Porter, William McConnell, J. W. Campbell, J. P. Locke, B. S. Atkinson,
Henry C. Tear, and J. G. Perry, treasurer of the board; superintendent
of Sunday-school, S. P. Barr. There is in connection with the
regular church organization a Young People's Society of Christian
Endeavor, of which the president is Miss Ella Kinder; secretary, Miss
Florence Perry, and treasurer, J. B. Fithian. A Ladies' and
Pastors' Union, of which Mrs. Mary Gulick is president; Mrs. Sarah
Gulick, secretary, and Mrs. Christiana Kerr, treasurer; and Miss Carrie
McElwain, secretary, and Miss Florence Perry, treasurer. The
membership of the congregation is 350, of its Sunday school, 275.
History of Mercer County, 1888,
pages 507-508
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Grace Methodist
Church
photographed in May 2000
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