You are on page 1of 24

// eaven and, eantA aAall pa^a

auta! ) 6 ut ny wo nda aAal'l not


pa^^ away, "fio.nA /3:3/
'[. u* Cnu ncin
I 867 - t ?2 /

llt, {ry CAnLatLan CAuilcA

Founder's Day .. 0ct 26 ) 2003


l49th Anniversary

0ur Area Churches

Data compi I ed i n th'i s handout conta'i ns excerps from a Scioto


County H'i story pub'l i cati on, i nf ormat'i on f urn'i shed by
Church members and personal records.
Eounder's Day Oct . 26 , 2003
t{ve{ C4, u?..- r-tt l.'t4- A
7<

en and, ealtA
/{ ee.v paaa
away; 6 ut mgt
o
^Aall
wo nd,a aAal'l not
pa^^ awagt,, llanA / 3: 3 /
*
Lug CAu,tcAn
t867-t?2t

tllt, goy CAnLatLan CAurLcA


i
Memor i es

Rembrance of the little counLry churches in the rurar area


around and about Mt . Joy , Camp cree]< and Rarden i s st i 11
vivid.
On Dunlap Road stood one such Church. The one room structure
was the scene of many spirited meetings. Nearby rlras an old
well with a pump. A nail driven in a tree held the tin cup
from lrhich everyone drunk. One would slosh the eup with a
little water before drinl<ing from it. A tin can on t,he wetrl
topr f il1ed with water, served to prime t,he pump.
The littl-e one room Church located on Hackworth Hill cou1d,
truly, have been described as The Church in the Wildwood.
Situated in a cl-earirg, atop a high hiIl, the building was
flanked by woods. A small cemetery was at bhe side, toward
the rear. A one l-ane road went past the front of the Church
yard. People walked to and from the Church.
The front Lawn was a gathering pLace for people of all ages.
The Church itsel-f was 1ive1y as gospeL songs rang from the
mountain top. young boys and girls flirted thrrbugh the gpen
windows. When the Altar CalI was made, however, a reverent
hush descended upon the assembly as t,he organist played t)
the old hymnEi "Throw out the Lifeline:" and ,,Why nt:d; Il'e,,niglr"f".
An elderly gent 'l eman, Mari an "Toad" Ri l ey, l ed the va'l l ey
people down a h 'i I I s'i de path by I antern I i ght. 0thers wal ked
home by way of the one I ane road, there t^lere few cars.
A test of true love was walking a g'i rl home from Church and
returning home alone through the dark woods.
New highways replaced the wagon roads and woodrand paths.
Most of the abandoned frame bu'i ldings are destroyed and
little trace of the small country churches remain except jn
mem0 ry .

I understand their disappearance is termed "progress" but they


had their day in time. During the Great Depression they came
into their own and served well the spiritual and social needs
of many people.
tnJhen the
"Annals of Memori es, is wr itten, the small country
Church will take its rlghtful place along side the many things
that helped make our Country great.

//7r-ur-./'|4"
UUJ \./ \. u LU ) L UUJ t+yIn annrversary

en and, eantA aAall pa.a/L


// ea.v
away; b ut mgt wo od,d aAal'l not
pa^a away. "fianA. /3:3/
'L r? CAu ncA'
t867-/?21

tlt, goy CARLatLan CAuRcA

Mt. Joy Christian Church


0n 0ct. 30, I 854 , 149 years ago, the Mt. Joy Chri sti an Church
was organjzed.
Dav'id and Mary Day, Johnson and Judi th Lawwi I I and J. C. Jones
met with Rev. Matthew Gardner and circuit rider, Peter
Devore at a one room school house. They agreed to unite in
Church order and be known as the Christian Church of
Mt. Joy. Taking the Scriptures of Divine Truth;,as the only
rule of faith and practice and ho'l iness of lifeas a test
of Church fel I owsh'i p. These organ'i zers were the f i rst
five membens of the Church. Rev. Matthew Gardner was the
fi rst m'i ni ster. Servi ces were hel d 'i n a Mt. Joy one room
school house.
In 1867 a log churchhouse was being built. It was completed
i n 1868 and used unt j I 1921 when the present day Church bu'i 1di ng
was compl eted.
ng comm'itt i e members f or the Log Church were, Hi ram Jones ,
Bu'i I d'i
J. , Jones, Dav j d Day, l^l'i I I i am Ri l ey and Dav'id Rose.
C

Committie members bui I di ng the present day Church were )


David Day, S[., A. B. McBri de, Robert K. Day,
Thomas P. Thompson, Charles Chandler and Roe (C. M.) glackburn
The old log bujlding was moved to Camp Creek and serv'i ces t^lere
held there for several years. John Shel ton tttas their first
pastor.
In lB56 0sborn Paton deeded land for the Church.
In I863 John E. Dodds deeded land for the Church.
I n I BB0 S. S. and Artewesha Rose deeded 3/4 acre for the
cemetery.
In the early .I900's much land was deeded for the Church and
cemetery byJames Scott.
Jan. 1917, 1 and was deeded to the Church by Ed and Bertha
Branan.
Apr. l9'l 7 land was deeded to the Church by James and Hattie
t^/aldo.
The first pet^ts, wooden and stra'i ght backed, painted numerous of
times, were purchased by Irene(Koch ) Syroney. The second
pews, rounded, varnished and ornate were brought into the
Church by Ruth and Blanchard Scott. The present pews, Rev.
Dale Beery, [-evine and Bob Sites., as committee members were
purchased by the church in I ggz.
Mt. Joy Christian Church continued.
Rev. Beery, pastor of the Church for over a decade 'l ead
the way 'in bui'lding the Fellowship Hall and the Shelter
House. Installation of the water system and the many beneficial
projects during his tenune are too many to Iist.
l,rlhile Rev. C. Meyers was pastor the kitchen in the Fellowship
Hall was completed. Tony Harr hruilt the ramp leading into
the Hall. Alma and Drex Bates vvere responsible for the
repair of the steps as they had pu11ed away from the foundation
of the Church.
Rev. Delbert Copas followed as pastor. Sidewalks lvere laid. A furnac
and air conditioning system insta'l led. A sound system was put
'i n and during the past year the building was repaired and
renovated. The work 'i n restoring the originai cei1ing, the
painting and drywalf ing etc. was accomplished by the trusttees
of the Church, Roger Bittinger, Kev'i n Copas, J. D. Copas and
our pastor, Delbert Copas. 0ne outsjde workman helped on
the restoration of the cei'l ing. Roger was the person in
charge as well as the electrician and leader of the work force.
0ur new doors are a gift from Bob Medlin.
There i s no way the wonderful acts of g'i v'i ng of tjme, money,
1abor, essentia'l items, legacies can be enumerated.
A Church record would be incomplete w'ithout mentioning
Gentrue (OAt e) tutarshal'l . She accepted Chri st 'i nto her l'ife
at age'1 6 and never wavered in her belief in our Savior nor
her love for His Church at Mt. Joy during her lengthy life.
A bronze p'l aque furnished the Church by a granddaughter
serves as a cornerstone of the Church. The words on the
ori g'i na'l stone were ch'i seled out several years ago by an
unknown person.
God, in his jnfjnite w'i sdom, has inspired his children,
you and I and a host of others too numerous to mention,
to keep H'i s Church
'l
doors open this past 149 years and serve
as a beacon of ight to the community.
Today, as always, everyone is welcome at the Mt. Joy Christ'i an
Church.
0ld Log Church at lt4t. Joy .. Built l867-68

-.+fFnr.)ir:-
'\,

,#
oS

,#
.isj
1

,q1Y*r$i*+'5' "-.ap\qr.. . ,.-,".


: ii$$ttr'l!i\'. ., ..n -i.f'
. :.!::...: . '

i
$ii,, .:,6p

\u
i$i{i

o'!
192 tlre Mt. Jo Christian Church

Patricia

\r
I-*lx,\"
:
l

i
t
\
lifi!"rtt
I
.,1

I
I !\r+
t
tt*-qt
t
,T '.

rl
.t ,

J ;,,&$$r*qt
+
;t
''l
''
iii , : :.

t ez;Ded i ca ht day Mt. Joi Chr.iJtian-Church


Front: Davi d Day, Sr... Lef t..C. M. Bl ackburn, R. K. Day.
Rep. from hrjstian Churches, Charles Chandle r, Tommie Thompson,
C
John Lawwi I l, Pastor, A. B. McBri de.
'il
.,*{

.*
!
The United Presbyterian Church on East Mt. Joy, known by
many as the old UP Church.
The orig'i na1 Church was organized by Rev. Marvin Morrison,
grandfather of Audrey Reynolds. (Great grandfather of
John Reynolds of Mt. Joy). History of Lower Scioto Va11ey
shows the ori g'i na1 Church buiIt jn I855. Average attendance
of 56 members. Pastor Rev. J. B. Gowdy. Trustees: Robert
Dunn, Martin Roney and John McMurray.
The ori ginal Church building was destroyed by f ire and later
rebuilt. The minister of the rebuilt Church was Rev. Bonner.
The trustees were l^J. J. Shannon, M. L. Bonner and l^,. A.
McGeorge.
The Church maintajned good membersh'i p and attendance for a
number of years.
At the onset of the Great Depression, attendance dw'i ndled.
During the early .l930's the Mt. Joy Chri stjan Church and the
U.P. Church worked c'l osely together. Sunday School was held
mornings at the Mt. Joy Christian Church and afternoons at the UP Church.
Memorial Day Programs were important events in those early
days, fhe two Churches alternated the years in presenting
the program. Church and Sunday School continued for some time.
The township trustees took over maintenance of the cemetery
and a new part was added.
The Church doors were closed a number of years and the building
had deteri orated.
During the late 60's the townsh'i p trustees, with Chuck Mecum
as aucti oneer, hel d a publ i c aucti on and the Church bu'i I d'i ng
was so'l d to Roger Fi tzpatri ck. Roger repa'i red and renovated
the old Church build'i ng and started a Church. Sunday School
and Worship servjces were held weekly. The Church flourished
for several years.
Ihe doors again closed and the Church was abandoned. The building
was resold and eventually was torn down.
A picture depicts the level spot where the old Un'i ted Presby-
terian Church once stol/. Today the locale serves to dividcthe
ol d cemetery from the nevv.
Mt. Joy United Presbyterian Church continued

,ffi+
s
'\fr
t *
{.*

jh
ffi t'&-
.\
t

i,s
1

\
IF

:' L:
i
., :-
t *''
*'*'-
.;$ -rex" r\
E*tt*...sy$ di $.-" ,

il**f / fd$,

Sunday School on summer afternoon at the UP Church


A Sunday 'i n l93l
Row l, L to R _, _, _, Homer Penn, Kenneth Penn,
R'ichard McChesney, Carlos Penn.
Row 2Lenore McChesney, Ruth Penn, Eva Penn and Baby Jean,
Ruth McChesney, Hazel Penn, Mrs. McChesney, Mary McChesney.
Row 3 Robert McChesh€y, Renee McChesrey, , Bill Penn, Albert
Bonner and Perry Bonner. ( If these names are ident'if ied
i ncorrect'l y, maybe someone can he'l p me. The ones I was
certain of were the pictures of my family. (Ruth Mecum).
ir.qr
tt"W,

.l}t

Spot where the old UP Church


0nce stood.
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint
(RLDS)

Located one mile north of Rarden on Rt. 77?

The Churchhouse was built by Minor Copas.


f'lorship serv'ice was held there unt'il .I967.
The doors are now closed.
The 0ld Hoffer Hil Baptist Church was the first community
Church on Hoffer H ll It was built by Samuel Hoffer
with the help of h brothers and the Ross fam'i ly in lBB4.
The cemetery adjo'i ned the Church. The 0ne room school house
was bu'i lt next to the Church in .I902'
Th'is served the community until 1917 when there t,las a djvjsjon
within the Church. At this time, Rosanna (Grandma Hoffer) donated
land and the Znd Hoffer Hill Church was bujlt. Today the
0ld Hoffer Hill United Baptist Church has a beautful building
with well kept grounds. Sunday School and worship service
are conducted on a weekly basis.

Ffr,
-t
Sul phur Spri ngs United Bapt'i st Church. Have history

.. I

tr'l
!

rfi-
-;+;f

.t
,"-, I

t.
l

)tt
t5

i it ur'
,4r-iL'
',
ly
.,,1
The Harmon Church sjtuated in the northwestern part of the
townsh'i p at the head of Rarden creek was bu'i I t of 1 ogs
about lB75 by an organization of Protestant Methodists.
This organization ceased to exist about lBBT and by
permission the Chrjstian organization was permitted to
use 'i t. The minister was John a. Law.
The pi'cture shown is the present day Church at Harmon
Rarden Methodist Church.. Construct'i on of the Church was
begun in .I887 and completed in 1897 at a cost of $2,000.
The minister was Rev. Philf ips. The trustees were A. B.
McBride, Charl es C. ln/a1 1 er, Al ex Mu1 1 en, G. M.
Wikoff and Charles S. Freeman. The stone used for the
foundation was hauled from the Forsythe quarry
The seat'i ng 'i n the Church i s uni que as the congregati on faces
the entrance. Until 1937 Rarden High School commencement
and baccalaurate services were held at the Church.
A Church-School homecoming is held annually at the Church
on the first Sunday of 0ctober.
Dunlap United Baptist Church
In l90l The Church on Dunlap was organized.
Services were held in the one room schoolhouse.
The Church thri ved for a number of years. , The Church
doors have been closed for some time. The building still
exi sts.
-nL
-tu

.- -$

The builAing as of yesterday,


Charl ie and Alta Ryan are sitting
on the door steps.

The bujlding gsday


Mt. Hope Church

Serv'i ces were held in the t']t . Hope one-room Schoolhouse


Sunday School was organi zed in 'I9.I4. Rev. Ad Singer,
the horse and buggy preacher ,was the first m'in'ister.
0f f i cers commenci ng 'i n l9l5 were: Frank Arnol d , Superi r=
tendent, Horace Adams, Asst. Superjntendent, Ed na
l,li edenbe i n, Secretany-Trea s urer, Corda Smal 1 ey, Asst. Secretary
Grace Steele, Librarian and Ehel Powei'l , Asst. L'i brari an.
Teachers were H. S. Hoopie, Frank Arnold, Mrs. H. S. Hoople
and Mrs. Steele.
The Mt. Hope Sunday School continued many years . Church
.I940's.
services continued until the early
The Rarden Nazarene Church v,/as organized'i n l9l7 by Roy
eaver, who was also the first pastor. Services
Inl

u{ere held 'i n the Red Men's Hall unt'i I property across the
street t^tas purchased from Esto t,J'i ndl e.
The Church was closed for a few years. It was then reorgan'i zed
under Edgar Gardner and services were held in a one room
schoolhouse on Mt. Joy. It was later moved back to the
former property, which was then owned by James Kates.
Church serv'ices were held in this bu'il d'i ng several years.
In I 960 the former school manual tra'i ni ng shop bui'l di ng
was purchased and moved to the present loL next to the old
schoolhouse (now the Rarden Community Center.) Lots (tne
former Sam I'Jal I s pl ace ) were so'l d to the Church by Bob
and Thursa Morgenson. The former Sam Walls home had burned
the year before.
In .l965 the Rarden Nazarene Church was erectedtu In .I970
an addition was built to the Church. In 1975 a social room
was added at the rear of the Church.
Charter members t^tere Rev. and Mrs Edgar Gardner, Rev. and Mrs Roy
[,Jeaver, Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Cooper Mr. amd Mrs. Fred Moore
) )
Mrs. Flora Rector and Mrs. James Kates
Rarden Nazarene Church

+.4d-.'-'.'...]s
*-.-*"" **q
**.*.**1:"**li
-.-,w-qq'r**t
*."--";
.'$..*>B{,\
Unjted Baptist Church was organized 'i n lBB2 by Rgv. G. tnJ.
Hackworth. Trustees were Abraham 0ppy, Dav'i d Thompson and
Jackson McCann. The f irst meet'i ngs were held in the Mt. Joy
School House. I n I BB4 the Campbe'l 1 fam'i'l y of Hackworth H'i I I
deeded the Church land adjoining their farm. A Church House
.l885.
was erected 'i n

,.}4

)
'*:*,

L*.*#-*

The old Church building no I onger exi sts The small cemetery
is on the lot.
In the late .I930r s Church serv'i ces were held in the Red Me n's
Hall in Rarden. In l93B the Imperial 0rder of Red men dee ded property
on the northeast corner of their lot to trustees of the
Church f or $t.00. The Hall was being rased. A new Church WA S
erected and compl eted about 1944. Alton Ross of Hoffer Hi il
was the pastor.
In l9B9 an ice storm of great magnitude hit the val'l eys and
h'i lls of Rarden Township. The Church col I apsed from the wei ght
and 'i mpact of the ice.
.I940
SSU Baptist Church at Rarden built
Razed
.l994 due to 'i ce storm damage D

An Easter Sunday morning at the Church. Alton Ross, Pastor

isrrn-t4'-,Sj*dto*ft sff,f;l.};tiiJiE$

'J -d S
lil
rT}
4r'
"

I
[,.{tru
--'S'f,i---*t qFl+

ffirW#H
w$,$'i,;
,"i#ltr

rnf, ffi"
Kjn H Y
I

!
1

i
jl'

r**
United Bapt'i st Church Continued

Land was acquired on State Route 73, east of Rarden and


new Church House erected. Th'i s opened in l g96.

Burlin Strickland is the pastor


.I999
0ut Reach Mi nistrjes f ounded June l,
Located B'i g Bear Creek Rd. Pastor) Elmer (Bub) Stevens

l $; * ,h, , 'r'*.*
Sedan Bapti st Church. H'i story unknown
.l00 A Church member
tells me it was founded over years ago.

Located Big Bear Creek Rd. Pastor C. tnJiltshire

ri' 'tf,lfr..., ,rt' '

t
ftF
ffir
f5
New L i fe Baptist Church
Hoffer Hill
Pastor Loren Hyatt

You might also like