District Superintendents

 

District: Blairsville: Commenced in 1851. John Coil 1851-1852; Gideon D. Kinnear 1852-1856; David L. Dempsey 1856-1860; William Lynch 1860-1864; Thomas McCleary 1864-1868; Discontinued 1868; South Pittsburgh District: Commenced 1868; Lancelot Robinson Beacom 1868-1872; Hiram Miller 1872-1876; Thomas Newton Boyle Spring-Fall 1876; Blairsville District: Reactivated 1876; Isaac Newton Baird Fall 1876-Fall 1879; Henry Conley Beacom 1879-1883; Jesse Franklin Core 1883-1887; Asbury C. Johnson 1887-1890; Robert Thompson Miller 1890-1896; William Pitt Turner 1896-1902; Silas Thayer Mitchell 1902-1906; William Francis Conner 1906-1910; John J. Hill 1910-1914; Jesse William Cary 1914-1919; Benjamin Burton Wolf 1919-1925; Nolan Hardin Sanner 1925-1931; Ralph W. McKenzie 1931-1936; John F. Jose 1936-1942; William Leroy Hogg 1942-1945; Roy Lincoln McQuiston 1945-1951; Walter Fred Preset 1951-1956; Edward Louis Boetticher 1956-1962; Continued in Western Pennsylvania Conference: Raymond W. Faus 1962-1965; Clarence Wilbur Baldwin 1965-1970; Greensburg District: Commenced in 1970 from former Blairsville District; Paul Mechem Easter 1970-1976; Clark Russell Kerr 1976-1982; Donald James Joiner 1982-1988; Gerald Allen McCormick 1988-1994; William Delano Schmeling 1994-1998; Rudolph Gerald Schmidt 1998-2004; Richard Donnelly Markle 2004-2006; William Bright Meekins, Jr. 2006--.

 

ARMBURST                                                                                                      GREENSBURG DISTRICT

UNITED BRETHREN                                                                                                                1???-1???

 

History: United Brethren. Closed.

 

ARONA                                                                                                            GREENSBURG DISTRICT

UNITED BRETHREN – ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE                                                                          1894

Mailing Address: PO Box 145, Arona, PA 15617-0145                                                            724/446-3318

ID: 189418

Location: Located on Main Street in Arona, Westmoreland County, PA

 

History: United Brethren Church - Allegheny Conference. Preaching began in the Arona school house in 1894, by Dr. S. S. Hough. In the spring of 1900 Reverend J. S. Fulton held a revival meeting in which many were converted and resulted in the organization of a class of 70 charter members. Steps were taken at once and resulted in the building of a brick church at a cost of $8,000. It was dedicated March 31, 1901 by Dr. W. R. Funk It was made part of the Madison Charge. An Educational unit was dedicated September 16, 1956. In 1970 it was linked with Herminie #2 and Middletown. The membership was 144. The membership on January 1, 2001 was 153.

 

Pastors: Arona/Madison: J. S. Fulton 1900-1903; T. W. Parks 1903-January 1906; C. W. Hutsler January 1906-September 1906; Andrew Davidson 1906-1907; Joseph S. Showers 1907-1912; W. A. Wissinger 1912-1913; Joseph B. Kern 1913-1914; Arona/Middletown: George Elwood Buhan 1914-1916; F. A. Risley 1916-1917; D. W. Willard 1917-1919; J. C. Moses 1919-1921; C. L. McCoy 1921-April 1926; W. Maynard Sparks April 1926-1926; Paul A. Morris 1926-1927; J. H. Weaver 1927-1928; Frank B. Hackett 1928-1932; J. J. Thompson 1932-1935; William B. Tobias 1935-1938; Dwight M. Spangler 1938-1940; James Nevin Strohm 1940-1942; Gertrude Halliwell 1942-1947; Rupert Halliwell 1947-1948; J. Wilbur Watson 1948-1953; Warren L. Lonas 1853-1958; David Herbert Stevenson 1958-1963; Robert Reaford Blank 1963-1970; Arona/Herminie #2/Middletown: Robert Reaford Blank 1970-1975; John Howard Smith 1975-December 1979; John Campbell McAdoo December 1979-1980; Larry Alton Reitz 1980-January 1985; Charles Duane Moore February 1, 1985-August 1, 1989; To Be Supplied August 1989-1990; Kenneth Lynn Bossart 1990-1993; Arona/Herminie #2: Thomas Alexander Topar 1993-1996; Richard J. Helsel Associate 1995-1997; Dale Webster Roddy 1996-1997; Richard J. Helsel 1997-2002; Wayne Leroy Plyler August 8, 2002-2004; Mildred E. Monticue 2004-2006; Dale Webster Roddy 2006-2007: Bruce Anthony February 1, 2007--.

 

BOLIVAR: FIRST                                                                                               GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1835

Mailing Address: PO Box 192, Bolivar, PA 15923-0192                                                           724/676-5120

ID: 97364

Location: Located in the Borough of Bolivar on Route 259, on the Conemaugh River, in Northeastern Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. The Society was organized on June 5, 1853 by Elliott Robinson, who continued as class leader until his death. He had been class leader of the Germany Class from 1841 to 1853. There had been occasional Methodist preaching in Bolivar by the preachers on the Black Lick Circuit from as early as 1847. Services were held in a School House until the first Church was built and dedicated on February 2, 1856 by Bishop Matthew Simpson. A great revival in 1857-1858, conducted by Reverend Wiley W. Roup, produced over one hundred converts and increased the number of classes in the Society to four with Elliott Robinson, Benjamin Stuart, James Hammond and Colin McCurdy as Class Leaders. Germany and Bolivar were made a charge in 1887 and the parsonage was built that year. The new Church was built in 1893 and dedicated on January 7, 1894. It has been substantially renovated in the 1960’s. In 1966 this church had the distinction of having its pastor Reverend Ralph Kenneth Keiper, Jr. to serve as one of the twelve Commemorative Circuit Riders who rode horseback to Baltimore to commemorate the Bicentennial of American Methodism. The ride was sponsored by the Conference Historical Society and covered the historic National Road, Route 40, from Uniontown to Baltimore, April 10-April 20, 1966 with Keiper representing John Cooper, the senior pastor of the Original Redstone Circuit in 1784. The Bolivar congregation supported their pastor in the unique effort by a breakfast and send-off program on April 9, 1966. The membership in 1968 was 223. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 226.

 

Pastors: Blairsville Circuit: Bolivar: James Beacom and James Sansom Bracken 1853-1854; James L. Deens, Richard L. Miller and Benjamin F. McMahon 1854-1856; Thomas Higgins and John McIntyre 1856-1857; Thomas J. Higgins and James Alexander Miller 1857-1858; Robert Cunningham and Joseph Neigh 1858-1859; New Florence - Bolivar Charge: Robert Cunningham and Henry L. Chapman 1859-1860; Warner Long 1860-1861; Warner Long and Amos Potter Leonard 1861-1862; P. G. Edmonds 1862-1864; John Coleman High 1864-1865; New Florence/Bolivar Charge: Edward Williams 1865-1868; Alexander Scott 1868-1869; William Alexander Stuart 1869-1872; John T. Riley 1872-1875; John S. Wakefield 1875-1877; Jacob Brenneman Uber 1877-1880; Joseph N. Pershing 1880-1881; John W. McIntyre 1881-1884; Morris B. Pugh 1884-1885; Daniel J. Davis 1885-1887; Joseph Jackson Hays 1887-1888; Bolivar Charge: Joseph Jackson Hays 1888-1890; George H. Huffman 1890-1893; Robert L. Hickman 1893-1894; Weldon P. Varner 1894-1897; Wesley G. Mead 1897-1900; John J. Davis 1900-1903; Henry Conley Beacom 1903-1905; Walter Bryant Bergen 1905-1906; William Floyd Hunter 1906-1908; Arthur Staples 1908-1909; Oscar Burdeth Emerson 1909-1912; William L. Wilkinson 1912-1915; George Grant 1915-1917; Norman Bruce Fierstone 1917-1919; Joseph James Buell 1919-1922; Arthur Russell Groves 1922-1924; Olin E. Rodkey 1924-1926; George E. Letchworth 1926-1928; Alvina Jones 1928-1929; John J. David 1929-1932; Bolivar/West Fairfield: Wayne W. Patch 1932-1937; A. H. Bankert 1937-1939; Bolivar Charge: Bolivar: Wilford Stanley Crum 1939-1941; Franklin Lawson Teets 1941-1949; Charles Amos Hartung 1949-1950; E. C. Bowser 1950-1951; Bolivar: First/West Fairfield: James Elmer Breakiron 1951-1953; Ernest M. Beard 1953-1957; Bolivar: First: Camby L. Moore 1957-1959; Ralph Kenneth Keiper 1959-1966; Bolivar: First/Germany: Ralph Kenneth Keiper 1966--.

 

BOSTON                                                                                                          GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1874

Mailing Address: 6103 Smithfield Street, McKeesport, PA 15135-1011                                    412/751-5815

ID: 99124

Location: Located at 6103 Smithfield Street in the Borough of Boston, two miles east of McKeesport in Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. Organized as an appointment on the Dravo Circuit by Reverend John Coleman High in 1874. The first building along Route 48 was dedicated January 6, 1881 It became a Station appointment in 1923. To make way for the new bridge across the Youghiogheny River the Church and its property was purchased by Allegheny County in 1930. The last services in the old Church were held January 26, 1931. The congregation held services in the Knights of Pythius Hall while the new building was under construction. The new building was constructed on a two acre plot of ground on Smithfield Street four blocks east of the location of the first Church and was consecrated on March 6, 1932 during the pastorate of Reverend Graham E. Chandler. The mortgage was burned November 19, 1944. A new parsonage was built adjacent to the Church in 1948. An additional acre of land was purchased for use as a parking lot in 1960. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 264. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004.

 

Pastors: Dravo Circuit: John Coleman High 1874-1876; John Conner 1876-1877; Robert Stover 1877-1878; Thompson F. Pershing 1878-1881; Robert Stewart Ross 1881-1884; Reimund C. Wolf 1884-1887; Henry J. Hickman 1887-1888; William Craft David 1888-1893; Robert D. McKee 1893-1898; Preston C. Brooks 1898-1900; Calvin H. Miller 1900-1903; John W. Otterman 1903-1905; Franklin Lawson Teets 1905-1908; James A. Younkins 1908-1911; Edward G. Heal 1911-1912; Watson M. Bracken 1912-1914; George M. Allshouse 1914-1915; John M. Cogley 1915-1917; Harry H. Household 1917-1922; Arthur Sellers 1922-1923; Boston: George M. Allshouse 1923-1927; William Reese Gregg 1927-1928; Graham E. Chandler 1927-1934; Leonard Hyskell Hoover 1934-1935; Hallie Blaine Moose 1935-1937; Robert W. Jackson 1937-1940; Merrill Vernon Stone 1940-1942; Thomas Franklin Chilcote, Sr. 1942-1947; Ralph Waldo Huntsman 1947-1949; Robert Henson Ling 1949-1953; James Bartlett Hodges 1953-1958; Wayne M. Miller 1958-1959; Kenneth Charles Fordyce 1959-1967; Leroy Lyon Hollenbeck 1967-1971; Paul Anthony Dunn 1971-January 1, 1974; John M. Scott January 1, 1974-January 1, 1980; Joseph Peter Trunzo January 1, 1980-June 1982; Ward Elliott July 1, 1982-November 1, 1982; Francis Leonard Storer November 1, 1982-1990; Charles Gilbert Wright Courson 1990-December 10, 1992; Robert Clyde Gumbert December 10, 1992-1993; Earle Henry Fouts 1993-April 1, 1996; Timothy John Emmett 1996-August 1, 2000; Marjorie Ellen Delaney Lindahl August 1, 2000-2002; Boston/McKeesport: West Side: Gail Meredith Walker August 2002-2006; Kenneth Elliott Jones 2006--.

 

BRADENVILLE                                                                                                  GREENSBURG DISTRICT

UNITED BRETHREN – ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE                                                                          1851

Mailing Address: PO Box 307, Bradenville, PA 15620-0307                                                     724/423-3457

ID: 170658

Location: Located on High Street in the village of Bradenville, Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: United Brethren Church - Allegheny Conference. Preaching services were held in a union church in Saint Clair, now Bradenville, as early as 1851. In 1860 a Union Sunday School was organized and Isaac Pershing, great uncle of General J. J. Pershing, was the Superintendent The United Brethren used the Union Church from 1851 to 1891 when Reverend J. S. Leshler, pastor of the Greensburg: Otterbein Church, led them in the building of a new church. The new Church was dedicated by Dr. L. W. Stahl on May 25, 1898. This building was greatly improved under the pastorate of Dr. W. A. Sites at a cost of $5,000 and was rededicated by Dr. J. S. Fulton April 27, 1927. From this church Reverends J. N. Munden, Orian Mickey and Glen Mitchel have entered the ministry. Changes resulted in rededications in 1974. In 1970 the membership was 178 and the membership on January 1, 2003 was 168.

 

Pastors: Bradenville: J. S. Miller 1878-1879; David Sheerer 1879-1881; R. S. Woodward 1880-1881; B. F. Noon 1881-1882; J. L. Risler 1882-1883; J. C. Sheerer 1883-1884; J. N. Munden 1884-1886; L. L. Keister 1886-1887; Lazarus W. Stahl 1887-1891; E. J. Blackburn 1891-1892; J. Warren Wilson 1892-1896; J. S. Fulton 1896-1901; J. S. Hayes 1901-1902; Warren S. Wilson 1902-1903; E. F. Wriggles 1903-1904; James Fish 1904-1905; A. E. Fulton 1905-1906; S. H. Ralston 1906-1908; Joseph B. Keirn 1908-1909; H. N. Sipes 1909-1911; W. Henry Mingle 1911-1913; Oliver Thomas Stewart 1913-1914; R. H. Arndt 1914-1917; C. W. Robb 1917-1919; A. J. Orlidge 1919-1921; John Fretts Cope 1921-1922; Alonzo Bailey Sprague 1922-1923; F. A. Mousley and A. B. Sprague 1923-1924; Donald L. Clark 1924-1925; S. J. Wilson 1925-1926; W. A. Sites 1926-1940; Arthur Thomas Moffat, Sr. 1940-1946; Albert Jacob Steiner 1946-1947; Hubert Boles 1947-1950; Ivan Steele Thompson 1950-1955; Elias Alvin Kessler 1955-1958; Warren L. Lonas 1958-1965; Ralph Weber 1965-1968; Robert Hooper April 1968-June 1968; Raymond Aurelius Halula 1968-1995; Clark Russell Kerr, III 1995-November 1, 1996; Bradenville/Pleasant Unity/Lycippus: Clark Russell Kerr, III November 1, 1996-1999; Bradenville/Pleasant Unity: Clark Russell Kerr, III 1999-October 15, 2004; Georgia Joan Scarff October 17, 2004--.

 

BRAEBURN                                                                                                      GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1905

Mailing Address: 4146 Arnold Avenue, Lower Burrell, PA 15068-2255                                     724/339-2377

ID: 97386

Location: Located in the village of Braeburn four miles north of Arnold, along the Allegheny River in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. The Braeburn Methodist Church was erected in memory of Isabel and R. Parks Arnold. The ground was given to the congregation as a memorial to these people. The Church was established in May 1905 by Reverend John Lane Miller and was known as Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church. The first pastor was Reverend John Lane Miller. Trustees were Jacob Artman, Harry Dougal and Milton Rice. Of interest to individuals delving into the history of the Church is the big bell in the belfry. The bell was used for many years on the McBride farm in Loyalhanna Township, Westmoreland County. The bell was given to the church in 1921 with the understanding that should the congregation have no further use for it, that it would be returned to the McBride Brothers. But to this day the worshippers anticipate the tolling of the big farm bell on Sundays. In 1943 a basement was added to the Church, the work being done by the parishioners, for a much needed Children’s Department. A well-equipped kitchen was installed at that time. In 1947 a new roof was needed and the outside of the building was covered with insulbrick. A new railing was placed on porch and steps. In 1961 the interior of the Church was completely remodeled. In 1968 the exterior was remodeled. A complete installation of aluminum siding was added and a gold illuminated Cross was erected in front of the steeple. A stone bulletin board was set on the church lawn. The basement entrance was enclosed by new aluminum doors. The sanctuary was carpeted wall to wall in 1969 and new sections of drapes have been added to the Sunday school rooms. The membership in 1968 was 293 and the membership on January 1, 2003 was 112.

 

Pastors: Braeburn: John Lane Miller 1905-1906; James L. Duff 1906-1908; George A. Barnard 1908-1910; Percy E. Burtt 1910-1911; Arthur W. Davies 1911-1912; Joseph B. Starkey 1912-1913; James L. Duff 1913-1914; A. M. Rhodes 1914-1915; Roger W. Conner 1915-1916; William J. Painter 1916-1934; Creighton: Janes/Braeburn: Charles L. Cusick 1934-1935; Arnold/Braeburn: Charles Albert Tracey 1935-1937; William Calvin Marquis 1937-1939; Braeburn: William Pledge Parker 1939-1945; Hugh Clark 1945-1951; Ardith Hays Shaffer 1951-1953; Braeburn/Millerstown: Arnold Ardell Slagle 1953-1954; Bethel Community/Braeburn: Arnold Ardell Slagle 1954-1954; Braeburn: Arnold Ardell Slagle 1954-1956; Harry Thorne 1956-1957; David Stuckey 1957-1958; Hallie Blaine Moose 1958-1961; James Smith Delo 1961-1962; C. Albert Skoog 1962-1965; Edward Merville Ashbaugh 1965-1966; Leland Clyde Brown 1966-1970; William Cunningham Miller 1970-1976; Joseph Peter Martin, Jr. 1976-1977; Seth Thomas Stewart 1977-1982; Robert Norman Janacek 1982-1988; Larry G. Dunn 1988-1993; Ralph Wayne Brownfield 1993-2001; Thomas E. Dougal 2001-September 21, 2003; Braeburn/Arnold: Joseph James Yurko September 2003-2004; Braeburn: Rudolph Gerald Schmidt 2004--.

 

BUENA VISTA: BELL CHAPEL                                                                            GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1886

Mailing Address: PO Box 45, Buena Vista, PA 15018-0045                                                       41/678-3110

ID: 99283

Location: At 105 Bernard Drive at the corner of Bell and Byerly Streets in the Borough of Buena Vista, Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. The Society was organized in January 1886, at a meeting in Sager’s Hall, above a grocery store. The meeting was in charge of Reverend Richard Muse, a Local Preacher from the Dravo Methodist Church, located two miles north of Buena Vista, and C. E. “Uncle Eddie” Heisterman, a dedicated leader of the church for many years. In the fall of 1886 the Pittsburgh Conference of the Methodist Church granted their petition for a place in the Conference and it became a preaching point on the Dravo Charge. The original Church built and dedicated in 1892. The land for the building was given by Mr. and Mrs. William A. Bell and the balance of the debt on the building at the time of the dedication was paid by them. In appreciation of their generosity and dedicated services, the Church was named Bell Chapel. The Buena Vista Church became a part of the Lowber/Buena Vista Charge in 1922. In 1934 it became a part of the Greenock/Buena Vista Charge and remained so until 1954 when it became a Station. Bell Chapel and McKeesport: Hope were a two point Charge in 1990. McKeesport: Christy Park and Bell Chapel were together in 2001. The membership on January 1, 2002 was 34. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004.

 

Pastors: Bell Chapel: Reimund C. Wolf 1886-1887; Henry J. Hickman 1887-1888; William Craft Davis 1888-1893; Robert D. McKee 1893-1898; Preston C. Brooks 1898-1900; Calvin H. Miller 1900-1903; John W. Otterman 1903-1905; Franklin Lawson Teets 1905-1908; James A. Younkins 1908-1911; Percy E. Burtt 1911-1911; Edward G. Heal 1911-1912; Watson M. Bracken 1912-1914; George M. Allshouse 1914-1915; John Martin Cogley 1915-1917; Harry H. Household 1917-1922; William Collins 1922-1924; Norman Bruce Tannehill 1924-1925; George Campbell 1925-1927; Earl Taylor 1927-1927; Harry H. Household 1927-1927; Francis McClure Kees 1927-1928; Joseph Matthews Somers 1928-1930; Earl E. Slonecker 1930-1934; George M. Burnsworth 1934-1937; Walter Leslie Morgan 1937-1938; Remo Pletcher 1938-1940; John William Lofgren 1940-1942; Charles Hanko 1942-January 1943; George Allison 1943-1947; Lester G. Hillegass 1947-1951; Carl Edson Chapman 1951-1954; Thomas E. Stoffel 1954-1955; Robert Thomas Roche 1955-1958; Ralph W. Willfinger November-December 1958; Richard L. Gifford 1958-1960; Richard Kimble March-May 1960; Joseph Dushane Piper 1960-1974; Richard Donald Updegraff 1974-1975; Robert Norman Janacek 1975-1978; William Anthony Messina 1978-1981; Ronald C. Haywood 1981-1984; Ronald A. Pociask 1984-1985; Molly Omega Brown 1985-1987; Kathleen A. Storer 1987-1990; Bell Chapel/McKeesport: Hope: William Donald Heaton 1990-1992; Michael Lewis Kundrat 1992-1997; To Be Supplied 1997-July 1, 1998; Marjorie Ellen Delaney Lindahl July 1, 1998-September 1, 20001; Christy Park/Buena Vista: Bell Chapel: James William Kramer January 1, 2001-2003; Lola Jean Turnbull 2003-2005; D. Ronald Libengood 2005--.

 

CHARTER OAK                                                                                                 GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                                    1958

Mailing Address: 449 Frye Farm Road, Greenburg, PA 15601                                                 724/805-0355

ID: 97411

Location: Located at 449 Frye Farm Road and Beatty County Road on the Old Lincoln Highway, five miles east of Greensburg, at the Mountain View Inn Crossroads in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist – Pittsburgh Conference. The Board of Missions of the Pittsburgh Conference purchased land for a church for this area on December 17, 1958. The first regular worship service was held on April 9, 1961 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Kelley. Mr. Kelley was the son of Reverend Elijah Wilson Kelley, a minister in the Pittsburgh Conference. At the Conference in June 1961, Reverend Robert Fox Richards was appointed as the first pastor. He, too, was the son of one of the conference ministers, Reverend Nicholas F. Richards. The Church was formally chartered on October 8, 1961 with 69 members. For a period of two and one-half years, the congregation met in a chapel in the basement of the Parsonage. On May 10, 1963, the ground was broken for the first unit of the church and it was used for the first time on Sunday, December 22, 1963. On Sunday, May 5, 1968, all indebtedness on that building was cleared and that afternoon, ground was broken for a Christian Educational Building. It was completed in the Summer of 1969. The 1968 membership was 330. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 909. The new building was consecrated in 2006.

 

Pastors: Charter Oak: Robert Fox Richards 1961-January 1, 1971; Clifford Earl Buell January 1, 1971-August 29 1988; David Scott Lake Associate 1985-May 1, 1990; To Be Supplied August 29, 1988-November 21, 1988; Richard Harding Sanford November 21, 1988-1992; David Allen Eversdyke 1992--; Christian M. Whitehead Associate 2005--;

 

CIRCLEVILLE                                                                                                    GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1852

Mailing Address: 11600 Parkway Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642                                     724/864-1581

ID: 97422

Location: Located one block south of U. S. 30, Robbins Station Road and Parkway Drive atop Jackson Hill in North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. Organized as a class with Alexander Watson as leader in 1852, meeting in a building known as Clay Pike and Robbins Station Road. Due to rapid growth, a church was soon organized to become part of the Miller Circuit. The First building was erected in 1872 and temporarily given the name MacFarlane Church. In March 1950 the original structure was totally destroyed by fire, just 3 months after dedicating renovations at the church. A new sanctuary was erected and consecrated in 1953. In June of 1964, Circleville Church became a Station charge after many years on a circuit with Miller Chapel. In the face of continued growth, new building plans were begun in 1965, and in December of 1968, consecration services were held for the new Christian Education facilities, narthex, foyer and a remodeled chancel. In 1985 the newly remodeled sanctuary , fellowship hall, kitchen and entrance were dedicated. The 1968 membership was 479. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 444.

 

Pastors: Braddocksfield Circuit: Circleville: Walter Brown 1852-1853; McKeesport Circuit: Circleville: William Cooper 1853-1854; Charles H. Ziegler 1854-1855; Port Perry Circuit: Circleville: Benjamin F. Sawhill 1855-1856; Port Perry/Circleville/Harrison City: Benjamin F. Sawhill 1856-1857; David Hess 1857-1859; Circleville: William Page Blackburn 1859-1861; Joseph Jackson Hays 1861-1862; Francis D. Fast 1862-1864; Irwin Circuit: Circleville: William F. Lauck 1864-1866; George Washington Cranage 1866-1867; Noble Garvin Miller 1867-1868; David Hess 1868-1871; Miller Charge: Circleville: John W. McIntyre 1871-1873; Miller/Circleville: Joseph N. Pershing 1873-1874; Circleville: Joseph N. Pershing 1874-1876; Samuel H. Cravens 1876-1877; Nelson Davis 1877-1878; Circleville/Christ: North Huntington: Theodore N. Eaton 1878-1879; Barnett B. Thomas 1879-1880; John S. Wakefield 1880-1883; William S. Cummings 1883-1885; William Carson Weaver 1885-1890; John C. Gourley 1890-1892; Robert D. McKee 1892-1893; Sherman W. McCorkle 1893-1896; Richard M. Fowles 1896-1898; James Law 1898-1901; William T. Robinson 1901-1906; Frank Howard Callahan 1906-1907; Sherman W. McCorkle 1907-1909; Frank J. Sparling 1909-1913; Charles Wesley Hoover 1913-1919; William Johnston Turner 1919-1921; George M. Allshouse 1921-1923; Walter R. Robinson 1923-1925; Paul Otterbein Wagner 1925-1929; Edgar Vickers Shotwell 1929-1934; J. B. Dodd 1934-1943; Circleville: George E. Buhan 1943-1944; John ValJean Mullins 1944-1948; Hibbard G. Howell 1948-1949; David Dayen 1949-1950; Circleville/Miller: James Hartland 1950-1952; Joseph Christy Brown 1952-1957; Robert Dawson Hopson 1957-1960; Merrill Vernon Stone 1960-1964; Circleville: Brian Kelley Bauknight 1964-1971; Paul Edward Inks 1971-1983; Herbert Ellsworth Claar 1983-April 15 1991; Franklin Delano Bishop 1991-2000; Roger Alan Peterson, Jr. 2000--.

 

CLARIDGE                                                                                                        GREENSBURG DISTRICT

EVANGELICAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                        1897-1987

 

Location: Claridge was located on Main Street in Claridge in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Evangelical - Pittsburgh Conference. The Church was built in 1903 and dedicated as the Claridge United Evangelical Church. For several years before that time meetings were held in a schoolhouse and a union Sunday school was organized. In 1970 it was linked with the Jeannette: Gethsemane Methodist Church. In 1987 they merged and maintained the name of Jeannette: Gethsemane United Methodist Church. The membership in 1970 was 104.

 

Pastors: Claridge: L. D. Wortman March 1897-July 1897; F. W. Barlett August 1897-October 1897; T. J. Bartlett October 1897-March 1898; C. H. Stewart March 1898-March 1899; E. W. Rishel September 1899-September 1900; M. V. DeVaux September 1900-September 1901; A. J. Bird 1901-1904; C. D. Slagle 1904-1905; D. L. Yoder 1905-1907; William A. Wissinger 1907-1911; T. J. Bartlett 1911-1912; G. C. McDowell 1912-1913; F. M. Brickley 1913-1917; I. L. Peters 1917-1922; James G. Clark 1922-1925; W. W. Elrick 1925-1927; Greensburg: Fourth Street/Claridge: Alonzo G. Meade 1927-1930; W. M. Peffer 1930-1933; J. D. Hammer 1933-1938; James G. Clark 1938-1942; Nevin H. Peterson 1942-1944; Paul James Halstead 1944-1953; Dewayne Calvin Carter 1953-1959; Jeannette: Gethsemane/Claridge: James Nevin Strohm 1959-1963; Jack Levi Hemskey 1963-1969; William Owen Anderson January 15 1969-1978; Gordon Barry Davis, Jr. 1978-1981; Roy Eugene Heinlen 1981-1987; Claridge and Jeannette: Gethsemane merged and took the name Jeannette: Gethsemane 1987.

 

COKEVILLE                                                                                                       GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                            1???-1951

 

Location: Cokeville was located in the Old Blairsville District, Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist – Pittsburgh Conference. Abandoned and sold to the United States Government in 1951.

 

COUNTRY HILLS                                                                                              GREENSBURG DISTRICT

EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN – WESTERN PA CONFERENCE                                        1963-1984

 

Location: Was located at 9799 Laurel Avenue, North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Evangelical United Brethren – Western Pennsylvania Conference. The first service was held June 16, 1963 in the basement of the former Sowash property with 44 persons present. This was a mission project. A building was erected and dedicated as the sanctuary May 23, 1964. In 1970 there were 156 members. In 1984 the Church was closed and the records went to the Commission on Archives and History.

 

Pastors: Country Hills: Jack R. Rees 1963-1967; Howard LeRoy Weisz, Jr. 1967-1971; David Allen Eversdyke 1971-1975; Clifford Herbert Moore 1975-1978; Steven Robert Rich 1978-November 1, 1979; Albert Allen Bryan November 1, 1979-August 1, 1981; Florence Clark August 15, 1981-1982; To Be Supplied 1982-1984. Country Hills closed in 1984 and the records went to the Commission on Archives and History.

 

CRABTREE: ROSS CHAPEL                                                                                GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                            1???-1946

 

Location: Crabtree was located in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist – Pittsburgh Conference. In 1848 Ross Chapel at Crabtree shared preachers with Hopewell, New Derry, New Alexandria, Saltsburg and Jacksonville. Crabtree was abandoned and sold in 1946.

 

DELMONT: FAITH                                                                                            GREENSBURG DISTRICT

UNITED METHODIST – WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE                                                  1986

Mailing Address: 305 Freeport Street, Delmont, PA 15626-1223                                             724/468-0040

ID: 170671

Location: Located one block off Route 66 at 305 Freeport Road in the Borough of Delmont in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: United Methodist – Western Pennsylvania Conference. Faith United Methodist Church in Delmont had existed in some minds for 40 years or more as a necessary part of Christ’s Ministry in Delmont. During the year of 1984-1985, The Greensburg District United Methodist Church Council on Ministry began to concretely work toward the fulfillment of this vision. An extensive study of the Delmont area was done utilizing the research talents and experience of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, an ecumenical organization of the Pittsburgh Area. It was noted that we had no United Methodist Church between Murrysville to Blairsville on Route 22 and from Greensburg to Vandergrift on Route 66. Delmont was the perfect center or hub for a new church. In March 1985 members of the Murrysville United Methodist Church worked with the churches of the Delmont area on a cooperative Community Survey. It was determined that the fourth largest denominational preference was United Methodist, even though no United Methodist Church currently existed in Delmont. In March 1986, Bishop James Mase Ault assigned Reverend Deryl Kent Larsen to the Delmont area. Arrangements were made with the Delmont Borough Council to rent space in an abandoned school building, which the Borough owned. Reverend Donald James Joiner, Superintendent of the Greensburg District United Methodist Church joined Reverend Larsen to hold the first worship service on Sunday, June 1, 1986. One hundred and ten persons attended the first service. On April 14, 1986 a down payment was made on a parsonage at 38 Buena Vista Drive at the corner of Clover Drive in Delmont. On Palm Sunday 1987, the congregation voted unanimously to purchase the Walter’s property on Freeport Street. The congregation moved into the new church sanctuary on Christmas Eve 1989. Consecration services were held on Sunday, January 28, 1990 with Reverend Gerald Allen McCormick, Superintendent of the Greensburg District, Bishop George Willis Bashore, Reverend Donald James Joiner, former Greensburg District Superintendent, Reverend Stephen Elwood Cupcheck a retired Methodist Minister, Rev. Paul Edwin Schrading, Conference Council Director and Reverend Deryl Kent Larson participating in the services. A large fellowship hall and classroom were added later. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 480.

 

Pastors: Delmont: Faith: Daryl Kent Larsen June 1, 1986-1994; James Richard Wagner 1994--.

 

DERRY                                                                                                             GREENSBURG DISTRICT

UNITED BRETHREN – ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE                                                                 1911-1968

 

History: United Brethren – Allegheny Conference. The Church had its inception in 1911 through W. C. Pringle and Dr. W. A. Sites, then pastor at Latrobe. Preaching services and a Sunday School were started in a School House and later Reverend J. S. Fulton and Dr. W. A. Sites met with Mr. Pringle and decided to make this an appointment and attach it to the Middletown Charge. Reverend J. H. Lilly was the first pastor and the Class was organized with 18 members. A sectional chapel was placed in 1913 under the pastorate of Reverend R. H. Arndt. Under Reverend A. J. Orlidge a new site was secured and a building erected on it under Reverend J. F. Cope and dedicated by Dr. J. S. Fulton. This building served until 1929 when it was converted into a parsonage and the new building was erected and dedicated by Dr. W. S. Wilson and assisted by Dr. L. W. Stahl. Derry merged with Derry: First Methodist in 1968 to become Derry: First.

 

Pastors: Derry: J. H. Lilly; W. Henry Mingle 1911-1913; Oliver Thomas Stewart 1913-1914; R. H. Arndt 1914-1917; C. W. Robb 1917-1919; A. J. Orlidge 1919-1921; John Fretts Cope 1921-1922; Alonzo Bailey Sprague 1922-1923; F. A. Mousley and A. B. Sprague 1923-1924; Donald L. Clark 1924-1925; S. J. Wilson 1925-1926; W. A. Sites 1926-1940;

 

DERRY: FIRST                                                                                                  GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1867

Mailing Address: 313 North Ligonier Street, Derry, PA 15627-1632                                        724/694-8333

ID: 97626

Location: Located at Third and Ligonier Streets in the Borough of Derry in Westmoreland County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. This congregation resulted from a Methodist revival at New Derry Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867. The first congregation met in an old log structure school house on Norris Street, on the south side of the community of Derry Station. Later the community became known as Derry Borough. The church then was known as the Derry Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation built a church on the north end of town in 1876. It was remodeled in 1900 and 1913. The church was a part of the New Derry Circuit until 1895 when it became a station charge. The parsonage was built in 1888. The 1968 membership was 609. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 561.

 

Pastors: New Derry Charge: New Derry/Derry: First: Hugh H. Pershing 1867-1870; George Washington Cranage 1870-1872; Asbury C. Johnson 1872-1875; Joseph H. Henry 1875-Spring 1876; John W. McIntyre Spring 1876-Spring 1878; Robert J. White 1878-1879; William Alexander Stuart 1879-1882; Albert R. Cameron 1882-1885; William Alexander Stuart 1885-1890; Simon P. Woolf 1890-1894; George S. Holmes 1894-1895; Derry: First: George S. Holmes 1895-1896; Josiah Elmer Kidney 1896-1898; Robert D. McKee 1898-1901; Nathaniel P. Kerr 1901-1904; Samuel M. Mackey 1904-1907; Alexander Earl Husted 1907-1911; Mark A. Riggs 1911-1916; John C. Burnsworth 1916-1921; William F. Seitter 1921-1925; John Wesley Hall 1925-1926; William T. Robinson 1926-1931; Frank J. Sparling 1931-1935; George M. Hartung 1935-1939; Graham E. Chandler 1939-1945; Ralph Edward Spangler 1945-1948; Lester M. Bonner 1948-1953; John Calvin Cox 1953-1957; Taylor H. Carson 1957-1958; Robert Glendon Krouse 1958-1962; Clifford Eugene Stollings 1962-1966; Clarence Peter Dalton 1966-1968 Derry: First Methodist/Derry: Fourth Avenue Evangelical United Brethren: Victor Leroy Redfoot 1968-1973; Derry: First: Charles Frederick Olson, Jr. 1973-1978; Derry: First/New Derry: Charles Frederick Olson, Jr. 1978-1980; Derry: First: Charles Frederick Olson, Jr. 1980-1985; Merritt Howard Edner 1985-1993; David Dean Wilson, Jr. 1993-2003; Debra Darlene Palmer Eberhart Rogosky 2003-2006; Keith Herbert Lohr 2006--.

 

DRAVO                                                                                                            GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                        1824-1920

 

Location: Located on the banks of the Youghiogheny River along the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad in Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. The Dravo church was established in 1824. It dates back to the old Redstone Circuit. A building built in 1864 was destroyed by fire on July 18, 1920. The building burned to the ground but some contents were saved. It was located along the Pittsburg and Lake Erie railroad tracks and it was a spark from one of the engines which is thought to have started the blaze which ended in the destruction of the edifice. At the time it was established and for years afterwards, the church flourished and was a power in the community. Its membership dwindled and in 1920 the membership was about 50. The church was not rebuilt due to loss of membership.

 

Pastors: Dravo/Boston: John Coleman High 1874-1876; John Conner 1876-1877; Robert Stover 1877-1878; Thompson F. Pershing 1878-1881; Robert Stewart Ross 1881-1884; Reimund C. Wolf 1884-1887; Henry J. Hickman 1887-1888; William Craft David 1888-1893; Robert D. McKee 1893-1898; Preston C. Brooks 1898-1900; Calvin H. Miller 1900-1903; John W. Otterman 1903-1905; Franklin Lawson Teets 1905-1908; James A. Younkins 1908-1911; Edward G. Heal 1911-1912; Watson M. Bracken 1912-1914; George M. Allshouse 1914-1915; John M. Cogley 1915-1917; Harry H. Household 1917-1920. Church burned in 1920.

 

DRAVOSBURG                                                                                                 GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1899

Mailing Address: 109 Maple Avenue, Dravosburg, PA 15034-1219                                         412/466-0112

ID: 102963

Location: This church serves a community on the Monongahela River 15 miles south of Pittsburgh in the Borough of Dravosburg, in Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. After several attempts to organize a Methodist Church in the community dating from 1892, Reverend Marshall B. Lytle, the pastor at Peter’s Creek, was appointed by Bishop Charles H. Fowler to organize a congregation in 1898. The congregation was chartered on October 31, 1899 with 27 members. The congregation worshipped in the German Lutheran Church until 1901. The Lutheran Brethren complained that “The Methodist sing so loud that they are sure to crack the plaster on the walls.” The Church met from 1901 to 1902 in a clapboard building built by the members of the church. In June of 1902 the first permanent building was dedicated. It was used until November 1962. On November 5, 1962 the Congregation moved into a new building which is located on the site of the former Methodist Home for the Aged of the Pittsburgh Conference known then as the Hamilton House for the Aged Persons. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 255. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004.

 

Pastors: Dravosburg: Marshall B. Lytle 1899-1904; George Emmor Brenneman 1904-1908; George M. Dougherty 1908-1910; Thomas Morgan Dunkle 1910-1911; Waitman Thomas Hartley 1911-1912; John S. Allison, Jr. 1912-1915; Samuel H. Greenlee 1915-1917; Joseph William Garland 1917-1919; Charles T. Murdock 1919-1920; Charles William Oresek 1920-1924; Charles Wesley Hoover 1924-1927; Taylor H. Carson 1927-1929; Roy Curtis Ehrheart 1929-1931; Francis Emmer Kearns 1931-1932; Adam A. Nagay 1932-1935; John William Black 1935-1939; Ralph Greiner White 1939-1942; Richard R. Griffiths 1942-1946; William Egli Mays 1946-1948; Henry F. Pollock 1948-1951; Robert Porter Graham 1951-1956; Paul Mecham Easter 1956-1960; Raymond Dale Graham 1960-December 15, 1963; Donald Everett Bloomster January 1, 1964-1968; Wendell Eugene Paul 1968-1976; James Frederick Bray 1975-2000; Edwin J. Herald 2000--;

 

EAST McKEESPORT: FIRST                                                                                GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                                  1896

Mailing Address: 1128 Fifth Avenue, East McKeesport, PA 15035-1498                                   412/824-0234

ID: 97648

Location: Located at Miami and Fifth Streets in the Borough of East McKeesport which is on Route 30 east of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Methodist Episcopal – Pittsburgh Conference. East McKeesport Village was incorporated into a borough on December 21, 1895. The Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated in March 1896. There were twelve charter members. The original building was located on Route 30 or the Greensburg Pike. The original building was dedicated on September 13, 1896. The Methodists were the first to incorporate and build a Church in the community. The original building was destroyed by fire following a Watch Night Service on December 31, 1918. Services were held in the school auditorium until 1920. A new site was purchased and a Tabernacle was built and dedicated December 12, 1920. Sunday school unit was built and dedicated October 28, 1923. In 1929 the congregation decided to build a sanctuary. The new sanctuary was contracted for $28,000.00 and was completed and dedicated December 1-8 1929. The Educational Unit was constructed in 1953 and the Parsonage was erected in 1963. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 237. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004.

 

Pastors: East McKeesport: Sherman W. McCorkle 1893-1896; Oscar Adams Emerson 1896-1897; Barnett T. Thomas 1897-1899; W. E. Houck 1899-1900; Thomas Charlesworth 1900-1902; Howard Ross 1902-1902; Alfred Cookman Elliott 1902-1904; Grant S. Pollock 1904-1908; James M. Mason 1908-1915; Oliver B. Patterson 1915-1917; George J. Rowe 1917-1921; Norman Bruce Fierstone 1921-1925; William T. Hilbert 1925-1931; Marshall L. Gamble 1931-1937; Arthur W. Sandberg 1937-1941; Earl Leroy Abbott 1941-1944; Henry Carl Buterbaugh 1944-1950; Harold Inghram Zook 1950-1960; Ralph Waldo Huntsman 1960-1966; William Harvey Miller 1966-1974; Herbert Lawrence Lohr 1974-1978; Hugh Ashby 1978-1987; Charles Frederick Harper 1987-1990; James Earl Davis 1990-1994; Olivia Elaine Graham 1994-1999; Paul Anthony Dunn 1999-2002; Miller/East McKeesport: Linda Louise Tunnell Merz 2002-January 1, 2003; East McKeesport: First: Linda Louise Tunnell January 1, 2003-2006; Rebecca W. Patterson 2006--.

 

EAST PITTSBURGH                                                                                           GREENSBURG DISTRICT

EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN – WESTERN PA CONFERENCE                                        1893-1969

 

Location: Located on the East Side of Pittsburgh, near Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, PA.

 

History: Evangelical United Brethren – Western Pennsylvania Conference. In November 1893 Reverend J. M. Lesher, pastor at Wilmerding, organized the East Pittsburgh Class with four members to which five more were added early in December. Permission was obtained to hold services in the Oak Hill School House and here the new Class worhipped for one year. Trustees for Brinton, as the Class was then called, Reverend T. P. Orner, Presiding Elder; Doctor Norris Cameron, of Pitcairn; E. M. Gross, of Greensburg; Reverend J. M. Lesher, and Elmer Miller. With the aid of the conference church extension society the new church was secured August 15, 1894, and a chapel erected and opened for service December 9, 1894. Steps were taken May 14, and the first United Brethern Church of East Pittsburgh was incorporated April 18, 1896 with Dr. A. E. Roose, N. H. Meyers, G. W. Mackey, G. W. Grubbs, and Reverend J. M. Lesher as trustees. In 1897 Reverend A. L. Funk became pastor and in four days began the building of a parsonage of six rooms. In 1898 the chapel was greatly improved and the tower was added. John A. Glant presented a bell which was later exchanged for a larger one. On March 8, 1901, the interest bearing debt was paid in full. In 1900 East Pittsburgh was separated from Wilmerding and made a station. A Sunday School room was built and dedicated December 1, 1901, by Dr. S. W. Keister, Presiding Elder. The next year the auditorium was completed and the whole church was formally dedicated by Dr. W. R. Funk, October 18, 1903. It cost $15,000. Reverend J. T. Farnsworth and D. M. Spangler entered the ministry from this church. In 1968 the membership was 154 and was on a two point Charge with Wall. It closed in 1969. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004.

 

Pastors: East Pittsburgh/Wilmerding: J. M. Lesher 1893-1897; A. L. Funk 1897-__; East Pittsburgh: J. E. B. Rice unknown; J. E. Comer unknown; U. B. Brubaker unknown; W. G. Fulton 1911-1918; C. C. Kratzer unknown; W. H. Spangler unknown; M Elizabeth Spangler January 15, 1923-1930; J. N. Boyer 1930-__; unknown ___-1963; East Pittsburgh/Wall: Paul E. Toothman 1963-1968; To Be Supplied 1968-1969. Closed in 1969.

 

FAIRVIEW                                                                                                        GREENSBURG DISTRICT

EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN                                                                                        1???-1965

                                                                                                                                                           

History: Evangelical United Brethren. Was on the Paradise Charge. Discontinued in 1965.

 

GERMANY                                                                                                        GREENSBURG DISTRICT

METHODIST EPISCOPAL – PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE                                                            &n