|
The Methodist Episcopal Church
was organized in August, 1830, its members then consisting of George W. Lee, Griffith Burnett and
wife, Cyrus Church, James Dunn
and wife and Letitia Hazen.
At first preaching was done in the village school-house by Rev. John Somerville, a jolly
Irishman, an eloquent preacher and valuable pastor. No rapid growth
occurred until 1846, when, under the labors of J.
Crum and A. Calender,
many additions were made to the hitherto feeble ranks. The first
class-leader was Cyrus Church,
who held his membership as one of the charter members, and continued in
such relation nearly sixty years. He was born October 16, 1803, and
died in Sheakleyville February 15, 1888, in his eighty-fifth year. The
building was erected in 1842, upon a lot deeded by Justus Holcomb, Jacob Vaughn
and James Dunn were
the contractors, they receiving for their services something more than
$100.
The first church bell in the
village was put into this structure soon after its completion. It is
said to be a sweet-toned instrument for calling worshipers to the place
of assembling. We are unable to
present a complete list of those who have preached for this
congregation. From 1860 to 1888 the pastors have been Revs. J. B.. Orwig, S. S. Stuntz, F. Brown,
M. Smith, R. C. Smith, J. F. Perry, C. W. Foulke, J. W. Crawford, A. J.
Lindsey, J. Boyd Espy, J. H. Vance, J. M. Foster and C. C. Hunt.
The History of Mercer County, 1888, page
477-478
 --
THE FIRST PREACHING WAS IN THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE
The
Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in August, 1830, with
the following members: Cyrus Church, Griffith Burnett and wife, James
Dunn and wife, Letitia Hazen, and George W. Lee, of whom the last
has not been a member for years. The first preaching was in the old
school-house, in the village, by Rev. John Somerville, who is described
as being a whole-souled Irishman, an eloquent speaker, and a very
acceptable pastor. In 1846, under the preaching of Rev. J. Crum and A.
Calender, a large addition was made to the hitherto small society, and
the revival spread into the other churches, and great numbers were
added to them. The first class-leader was Cyrus Church. The
building was erected in 1842, upon a lot deeded by Justus
Holcomb. Jacob Vaughn, and James Dunn were the contractors, and
the cost was but little over $100. The first church-bell in the place,
was planed in its small cupola shortly after its completion, and, upon
the Sabbath, it still calls its worshipers to prayer, with tones as
sweet as Moore’s evening bells. There are now 237 members, including
probationers, and the Sabbath-school is the largest in the place. Among
the original members of the church, Cyrus Church is the only one now in
communion with it.
Years
before its organization, there was a small association of
Methodists in the northern part of Sandy Creek township, which
was occasionally supplied by itinerant preachers, but no church had
been established there, and upon the formation of one in Sheakleyville,
the families from the country united there.
History of Mercer County, 1877, page 123 |
|