CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE
PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each
church is arranged in alphabetical order within counties. Select a county.
Adams | Bedford | Blair | Bradford | Centre | Clearfield | Clinton | Columbia | Cumberland | Dauphin | Franklin | Fulton | Huntingdon| Juniata | Lackawanna | Luzerne | Lycoming | Mifflin | Montour | Northumberland
| Perry | Pike | Potter | Schuylkill | Snyder | Sullivan | Susquehanna | Tioga | Union | Wayne | Wyoming | York
LUZERNE COUNTY PA
Albert ME
[see Rippletown]
1. Alden UMC
[Newport ME]
Address: 29 E. Kirmar Avenue, town of Alden
Municipality: Newport township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
US 11 and PA 29, cross the Susquehanna River on PA and take the second exit
after crossing the river. Go west 4
miles to the town of Alden. This road is
Main Street in Askam and Middle Road in Nanticoke before becoming Kirmar Avenue
in Alden. The church is on the left, at
the corner of Kirmar Avenue and Church Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal References:
1978,146 – received the members of
Wanamie UMC; renamed Newport UMC
2016,147 – discontinued
Brief History:
This congregation was
incorporated 9/27/1889 as the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Alden. The class met in a schoolhouse for a number of years
before dedicating the existing structure in 1890 on land donated by the
Delaware, Lackawana and Western Railroad Company. An 1899 revival added 25 to the membership. Wanamie and Alden were always served
together, and in 1978 (with an average weekly attendance of 90 for Alden and 16
for Wanamie), the two congregations merged to form the Newport United Methodist
Church and meeting in the Alden building.
Final Disposition:
2. Ashley Centenary UMC
Address: 26 N. Main Street
Municipality: borough of Ashley
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
The church is on the south
side of Main Street between Hazleton Street (which goes south to PA 309) and
Ashley Street (which goes north and becomes St. Mary’s Road).
Note: This Main Street is the first exit
on PA 29 north of its southern terminus at I-81, and it becomes Hazle Street in
Wilkes-Barre. It should not be confused
with the Main Street at the second exit on PA 29 north which is Main Street in
Askam (going south) and Wilkes-Barre (going north)
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2021,267 – sold 12/2/2020 for
$70,000 Mision Cristiana Juan 3:16
Brief History:
Revival work was begun here in 1868 and in
the following year the Lehigh and Susquehanna Coal Company donated land for a
brick church which was built and dedicated on Nov. 11, 1869. Significant
improvements were made in 1884, and then a new front was put on the church in
1892. The building was destroyed by fire
on February 29, 1972, and rebuilt and rededicated with new memorial widows on
September 29, 1974. In the face of
declining membership and necessary improvements to the building, the church
closed 12/31/2018.
Final
disposition:
The building was sold 12/7/2020 for
$77,000 to Mision Cristiana Juan 3:16.
3. Beach Grove ME
Address: Beach Grove Road
Municipality: Salem township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From Berwick, go 3 miles
north on US 11, just past the power plant, to Beach Grove Road. Go west on Beach Grove Road ½ mile. The cemetery is on the laft.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal References:
Brief History:
This was a schoolhouse
appointment when the Beach Haven circuit was formed in 1875 and remained an
active appointment until 1882 – although loose membership records and
occasional meetings were held into the early 1930’s. The school house stood near
the present Beach Grove Cemetery, final resting place of the area’s namesake
Nathan Beach.
Final Disposition:
Only the cemetery remains.
4. Beach Haven UMC
Address: 145 Main Street, village of Beach
Haven
Municipality: Salem township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Beach Haven
is 3 miles east of Berwick, between US 11 and the Susquehanna River. Main Street runs parallel to US 11, one block
south.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal References:
2021,182 – closed 10/22/2020
2022,273 – sold 6/11/2021 for
$79,000 to RCB Beach Haven LLC
Brief History:
The earliest settlers in Salem Township were worshipping in private homes and had constructed the old Log Church at Briar Creek in 1824. The first church building in Beach Haven was a frame structure, on the west side of Mill Creek by the railroad tracks and open to all denominations, erected on land donated by Nathan’s son Josiah Beach. The Methodist Episcopal class was organized in 1848 and worshiped in the wooden union church until their present brick structure was dedicated in February 1870 – on land which had been deeded to the Methodists March 24, 1868. The old frame church stood empty from 1870 until it burned in 1877 from a spark off a passing locomotive.
Beach Haven was originally part of the Berwick circuit. A separate circuit was formed in 1875, and Beach Haven continued to be an appointment for another 145 years, through two denominational unions, until holding a final worship and decommissioning service on October 25, 2020. The educational wing was added in 1962.
Final Disposition:
The property (church and parsonage)
were sold 4/10/2021 for $79,000. The
property is now named “Red Brick Chapel” and advertised as a venue for
weddings, receptions and special events.
In addition, an independent congregation is using the facility for
weekly services..
5. Bethel Hill UMC
Address: 300 Bethel Hill Road, village of
Bethel Hill
Municipality: Fairmount township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
PA 118 and northbound PA 487 in the village of Red Rock, go 3 miles east on PA
118 to Bethel Hill Road. Turn right and
go 2 miles south on Bethel Hill Road to the intersection with Goss Road. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1891,64 – building dedicated
Brief History:
On 12/19/2022 the congregation
voted 8-0 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that
disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special
session of the Susquehanna Conference.
6. Bloomingdale UMC
Address: 85 Silo Road, village of Bloomingdale
Municipality: Ross township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From US 11 in the village
of Hunlock Creek, go 6 miles west on Main Road, through the village of
Muhlenburg, to the Y intersection with Silo Road. Bear right on Silo Road and go 1 mile. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Local preacher Thomas Bowman from Briar
Creek was likely the first Methodist to preach in the area. About 1796 an itinerant from the Berwick
circuit preached in the old log school house.
In 1800 a class of 7 persons, with E. Wadsworth as the leader, was formed
by Rev. William Brandon and taken into the Wyoming circuit. The church building was erected in 1846. Bloomingdale circuit was created from
Berwick circuit in 1843 and existed until 1882, when it was divided into the
Harveyville and Town Hill circuits. In
2018 the church was having an average attendance of 3, and at special church
conference on June 12 those present voted unanimously to close. The final service of deconsecration was held
Sunday, June 24, 2018.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to a Mr. Joe
Perry.
7. Bloomingdale MP
Location: 238 Silo Road
Municipality: Ross township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From US 11 in the village of Hunlock Creek,
go 6 miles west on Main Road, through the village of Muhlenburg, to the Y
intersection with Silo Road. Bear right
on Silo Road and go 1.5 miles. The
church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1883, Benjamin and
Susan Rood sold this land to the Methodist Protestant Church for $25. In 1939, the charge (consisting of
Bloomingdale, Koonsville and Rayburn) stayed out of the Methodist union and
became part of the newly established Bible Protestant denomination.
Final disposition:
The
congregation is now the Bloomingdale Bible Church.
8. Broadway UMC
Location: Broadway Road, community of Broadway
Municipality: Ross township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA 29
and PA 118, go 0.1 miles east on PA 118 to Main Road. Bear left onto Main Road and go 3.7 miles to
Broadway Road. Go straight onto Broadway
Road and go 4.2 miles to the community of Broadway. The church is on the left just before the
crossroads that marks the community of Broadway.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1999, 217/331 – abandoned
Brief History:
The class was organized
May 1870, with services held in the Marsh (later called Broadway) school house
every other Saturday night. The
appointment was part of the newly formed Muhlenburg charge (created by
splitting the large Bloomingade charge the year before) consisting of Broadway,
Cragle Hill, Muhlenburg, Van Horns and Rock (Oakdale). The land on which the church building was
ereted was deed to the Methodist Episcopal Church by Henry W. Long in November
1885. In 1887 the appointment was placed
on the Harveyville charge, where is remained until it was closed because of
dwindling attendance. Membership appears
to have peaked at 64 in 1972. A final
Homecoming Service was held April 25, 1999.
Final disposition:
The property was sold June
9, 2000, to Leonard J. Zarnoch for $15,000.
9. Cambra UMC
Location: village of Cambra
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
The church is on the road from
Cambra to Register.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1869,25 – building erected
1888,58 – new building projected for next year
1889,62 – new building, 30x42 with recess,
dedicated 2/25/1889
1944,94 – building destroyed by fire a year
ago; new building dedicated 2/27/1944
Brief History:
This building was
erected east of Cambra in 1833 and originally known as the Pine Creek Meeting
House. The congregation erected a new building in 1869 and another one in
1889. When the 1889 building was
destroyed by fire in the 1940’s, the congregation relocated to a donated plot
of ground several hundred yards nearer to the village of Cambra and erected a
block building that was later remodeled and covered with siding. In 1967 Cambra joined the six other
appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite into a single congregation and
erect a new building near Town Hill that was dedicated in 1971. The recorded membership in 1971 was 61.
Final disposition:
10. Carverton UMC
Location: Mount Olivet Road
Municipality: Kingston township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From US 11 in Wyoming, go north 4
miles on Eighth Street, through West Wyoming, to Mount Olivet Road. Turn west on Mount Olivet Road and go 1
mile. The church is on the right, across
from Mount Olivet cemetery, behind the Catholic church.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2009,186 – discontinued
Brief History:
Methodism started in Carverton in 1799 when
a class was formed at Harris Hill by Elijah Harris, one of the 40 men who came
from Connecticut in 1769. Religious
meetings were held in a school house on the land of Jabez Carver about ¼ mile
from the present site. Rufus Carter and
his wife Nancy deeded the land for the present site in 1853, and a church
building was erected the following year.
In 1860, Rufus Carver donated the ground for the parsonage, which was
erected that same year. During William
Lathrop’s 1912-14 tenure, a new parsonage was built on a corner lot acquired
from the Ralph Lewis farm, and the old parsonage was sold to I.H. Coursen for
$350. In 1958, additional land for
parking space was purchased from the adjoining Frank Hilstosky farm.
Final disposition:
The structure is now a Unitarian Universalist
church.
11. Cragle Hill ME
Location:
Municipality: Union township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On March 5, 1890, this
property was deeded to the church for $1 by Joseph B. Benscoter and his wife
Nancy. Before the erection of the church
building, the congregation worshiped in the school house. The appointment was one of the four original
ones [Bloomindale, Van Horn, Cragle Hill and Rock (Oakdale)] on the Bloomindale
circuit of 1869. By 1880 there were 8
appointments and seven classes – with preaching at
Final disposition:
12. Demunds ME
Location: Ryman Road, village of Demunds
Municipality: Dallas township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Heading north out of Dallas on
PA 309, turn right at the stoplight by the shopping center at the north end of
Dallas on to Upper Demund Road. Go 3.5
miles on Upper Demund Road to the stop sign with Lower Demund Road. Turn left on to Lower Demund Road and go one
block to Ryman Road. Turn right on to
Ryman Road and go 200 yards. The
building is the second house on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1928,98 – purchased their
school building and transformed it into “a cozy church”
1952,1083 – in statistics for
Centermoreland charge with 45 members
1953,1405 – not in statistics for
Centermoreland charge, but Centermoreland church membership is
increased by 45 over 1952.
Brief History:
This was originally a
schoolhouse appointment on the Carverton charge, which was dropped in
1882. Both The Methodist Protestants and
Free Methodists continued to hold meetings, but neither denomination organized
a class. The Centermorland pastor
organized a class in 1896, and eventually a church building was erected –
although local lore says that the structure was always “a work in progress” and
never fully completed with all the characteristics of a church building. This church was on the Centermoreland charge
from 1896 until about 1952, when it was closed
Final disposition:
The building is now a
private home.
13. Dodson Chapel UMC
Location: village of Southdale
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Town Hill, go south 3 miles
on Dodson Cemetery Road (the west branch of the road south from the middle of
Town Hill) to its terminus with Southdale Road.
The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1888,58 – building repaired
Brief History:
This structure was
erected in 1875 when the church building shared by this class and the one at
Town Hill was removed to the village of Town Hill. In 1967 Dodson Chapel joined the six other
appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite into a single congregation and
erect a new building near Town Hill that was dedicated in 1971. The recorded membership in 1971 was 38.
Final disposition:
14. Dymond Hollow ME
[Lockville ME]
Address: Church Road
Municipality: Exeter township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Centermoreland, go 3 miles east on
PA 292 to the crossroad with Village Road.
Turn south on Village Road and go ¾ mile to the crossroad with Lockville
Road. Turn east and go ¾ mile to Church
Road. Turn north on Church Road and go
200 yards. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal References:
2016,147 – discontinued n
Brief History:
This congregation began in the early
1800’s and met in a school house until trouble with the Methodist Protestants
prompted the congregation to erect their own building in 1835. This building stood on private land below the
present church and was later turned into a barn, which has since been
razed. The present church was erected in
1869. In 1917 the structure was raised
to allow for the addition of a basement.
Final disposition:
The property was trasnferred
to the Dymond Hollow Church Cemetery and Preservation Association for $1 on
June 7, 2018.
15. East Dallas UMC
Location: 2812 Lower Demunds Road
Municipality: Dallas township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Dallas, go north on PA
309 to the stop light with Center Hill Road at the north end of town. Turn east at the stop light and bear right
onto Hildebrandt Road. Go east on
Hildebrandt Road 1 miles to Lower Demunds Road.
Turn south onto Lower Demunds Road and go 300 yards. The church is on the left, past Wyoming Road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1927,99 – canvass to complete the roofed
basement in which the congregation meets
1946,335 – served as part of Dallas charge
1947,611 – served as part of Centermoreland
charge
2005,181 – sale approved
2006,93 & 162 – discontinued;
membership and resources to Centermoreland
Brief History:
This congregation began in a school house on Hildebrandt Road. The cornerstone for the first and present
church building was laid in 1920. The
basement was roofed over and used as a church meeting place for about 8 years
until the sanctuary was completed. The
church was originally on the Courtdale charge, moved to the Dallas charge in
1922, and to the Centermoreland charge in 1947 – where it was when the
appointment was closed in 1996.
Final disposition:
The building was sold in
September 2005 to an owner of adjoining property who wanted to maintain the
integrity of the church. He fixed up the
building and is renting it to a small Baptist congregation.
16. Fairmount UMC
Address: 17 Old Country Road, village of
Fairmount Springs
Municipality: Fairmount township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection in
the village of Red Rock of PA 118 with PA 487 (to the north) and the Old Tioga
Turnpike (to the south), turn south and go 4 miles on the Old Tioga Turnpike to
the village of Fairmount Springs and Old Country Road. Turn left on Old Country Road and go 100
yards to the church.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On 12/19/2022 the congregation
voted 14-0-1 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that
disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special
session of the Susquehanna Conference.
Final disposition:
17. Fairview MP
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The Central charge of
the Methodist Protestant Church reportedly covered parts of two counties: in
Columbia County in church buildings at Central, Coles Creek and Elk Grove; in
Luzerne County in church buildings at Fairview and Red Rock, and the
schoolhouse at Oakland (although the Varker book, page 14, states there was a
MP church building at Oakland). The
Varker book, page 9, states that the Fairview Church was “blown-down” by
Final disposition:
18. Forty Fort Meeting House ME
Location: River Street
Municipality: borough of Forty Fort
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The Forty Fort Meeting House was built
1807-08. It was the first finished church in which religious services were held
in northeast Pennsylvania, and was used for services by the Presbyterians and
Methodists. Bishop Francis Asbury preached and ordained Christian and Thomas
Bowman on the grounds of the meeting house in the summer of 1807 before its
completion. The facility has been kept in good state of preservation.
In the nearby cemetery is the grave of George
Peck, a guiding force in the founding of Wyoming Seminary. His ministry lasted
from 1816 until 1873. He was a General Conference delegate from 1824 to
1876. During the Agnes flood of 1972,
one third of the Forty Fort Cemetery was washed away by the raging waters of
the Susquehanna River. Among those lost from the flood of June 23 were four
former presidents of Wyoming Seminary (Revs. Reuben Nelson, Young C. Smith,
Levi L. Sprague, and Wilbur H. Fleck).
Final disposition:
19. Glen Lyon UMC
Location: South Market Street, village of Glen Lyon
Municipality: Newport township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of
I-81 and PA-29, go north on PA-29 2 miles to the second interchange. Go west on Main Street – Middle Road – Kirmar
Avenue for 7 miles (through Askam and Alden and Wanamie) to Glen Lyon. Turn left on Market Street and go 2 blocks to
the T with Main Street. The structure is
on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1996,224&302 – regular services
discontinued, placed on limited service
1998,221&229&230&314 –
discontinued
1999,282 – property turned over to conference
trustees; unspecified legal issues
2001,183 – sold
Brief History:
Prior to 1888 a group of Methodists
worshiped in a one-room schoolhouse on what is now called Newport Street,
across from the Pulaski Junior High School. In 1888 the Susquehanna Coal
Company gave the society a 50x165 lot on South Market Street, and a church
building was dedicated July 22 of that same year. Originally served in
connection with Wanamie, Glen Lyon became a station appointment in 1894 and was
served as such for over 75 years. In 1901 more land was acquired from the
Susquehanna Coal Company, and a parsonage was erected.
Final disposition:
The building was sold to the plumber
who lives next door and uses the building for storage.
20. Glen Lyon MP
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
1888,6 – deed for church
lot secured and placed in hands of the treasurer
Brief History:
The cornerstone
for this building was laid September 18, 1887.
Final disposition:
21. Harmony UMC
Location:
Municipality: Union township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1893,52 – building
dedicated 7/17/1892
1928,624 – permission to sell
1971,97 – discontinued
1972,203 – treasurer directed to
turn over all congregation funds to Muhlenburg charge
1973,205 – permission to sell
1979, A61 – sold
Brief History:
The first church
building was erected in 1886 in front of the present structure, which was
erected about 1950.
Final disposition:
This building was sold to
Ms. Maxine Bolt for $6000 and is now a private dwelling.
22. Harvey’s Lake MP
Location: Maple Street and Lake Shore Drive, village of
Laketon [aka West Corner]
Municipality: borough of Harvey’s Lake
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Lake Shore Drive is PA 415. The building is at the west end of the lake.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
1888,6 – deed for church lot secured and
placed in hands of treasurer
1910,16 – concrete
block church under construction
1922,52 – probable sale;
declared extinct
1923,58 – sold to Lutherans for $400
Brief History:
In 1889 Abel Perrego
donated a lot at the West Corner for a Methodist Episcopal Church although the
terms of his gift permitted all denominations to offer religious services when
the ME was not using it. A tablet on
this frame church reportedly read “Harvey’s Lake MP Church.” The building was
destroyed on July 4, 1905, after a stray firework set it ablaze. The church was
not rebuilt until 1912 as the Laketon MP Church.
Final disposition:
The building was sold to the
Lutherans in 1923 and charted in 1926 as the Lutheran Church of the Reformation
of Laketon. The building has since been
vacated as a house of worship and renovated into a private residernce.
23. Harveyville ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1891,64 – church building and parsonage destroyed by
a cyclone
Brief History:
Final disposition:
24. Headley Grove ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
25. Hughes EV
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1928,63 – permission to dispose of vacant church “at the Hughes appointment,
near West Nanticoke”
Brief History:
Final disposition:
26. Huntington Mills Nelson Chapel UMC
Location: village of Huntington Mills
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the borough of New
Columbus, go north 1 mile to PA 239. Go
east 5 miles on PA 239 to the village of Huntington Mills. Go east ¼ mile on
Shickshinny Lake Road (immediately after PA 239 crosses the creek). The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Journal references:
1888,58 – building repaired
1910,75 – building moved to new lot and
placed over a basement
Brief History:
This class erected the
Pine Grove Meeting House, the first Methodist church building on the circuit,
in 1822 within the walls of the present Pine Grove Cemetery between Huntington
Mills and Harveyville. That building was
abandoned in 1871, and the present structure was erected in Huntington Mills. It was dedicated by Reuben Nelson, president
of Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, and named in his honor. In 1967 Huntington Mills joined the six other
appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite into a single congregation and
erect a new building near Town Hill that was dedicated in 1971. The recorded membership in 1971 was 178.
Final disposition:
27. Idetown UMC
Location: Idetown Road
Municipality: Lehman township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the eastern terminus of PA
118 at PA 415, go 1 mile west on PA 118 to Idetown Road. Go north 1 mile on
Idetown Road. The church is on the
right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1894,31 – church building dedicated last
December
1929,96 – looking forward to a new building
2004,99 – merged into Lehman
2006,168 – permission to sell building to a
local physician
Brief History:
This class was
organized about 1865 and met in school houses until purchasing land and
erecting the present building in 1893.
In 1910, the building was raised and the basement and during the renovations. The church house at the rear of the property
was built in 1932.
Final disposition:
The property has been sold
and converted into office space.
28. Jackson UMC
Location: Smith Pond Road
Municipality: Jackson township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From West Nanticoke, take PA 29
4 miles north to Smith Pond Road. Bear
right off of PA 29 (just after the crossroads at Zbick’s Corners) onto Smith
Pond Road and go 1 mile. The church is
on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2000,233 – merged into Idetown effective 8/30/1999
Brief History:
Local tradition states
that Methodism was introduced to Jackson township by 1820, with schoolhouse
appointments at Lamoreaux in the lower part, Forrest in the upper part, and
Union near the center. These classes united
when the present church, originally known as the Union Methodist Episcopal
Church, was erected in the center of the township in 1883. In July 1999 the remaining members decided to
disband and the property was sold in January 2000 for $20,000 to the God’s
Missionary Church denomination, which had been holding services there on Sunday
afternoons for the past three years.
Note: Bradsby’s 1893 History of Luzerne County describes this
as the Van Loon church and gives a consnelsontruction date of 1877.
Final disposition:
The building now houses a
congregation of God’s Missionary Church.
29. Koonsville MP
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
30. Laflin ME
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: borough of Laflin
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1923,100 – funds from sale of Miner’s Mills property set aside for future
building in Laflin
1924,60 – $1500 from Miner’s Mills loaned
to Laflin for 5 yrs w/o interest to erect a building
Brief History:
This congregation was
started about 1916 and last appears in the journal in 1940 (page 773) with a
membership of 64. Local pastor Harold G.
Moore was assigned to Laflin Mission in April 1940, with church at 10 AM and SS
at 11 AM, but apparently the mission ceased during the 1940-41 church
year. It had been served during its
existence almost entirely by retired persons and other supply preachers. It appears that the congregation may never
have owned a building.
Final disposition:
31. McKendree UMC
Address: 447 McKendree Road
Municipality: Union township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
US 11 and PA 239 in Shickshinny, go 2 miles north on PA 239 to Koonsville. Turn right onto the road to Reyburn. Go 200 yards and turn left onto McKendree
Road. Go 2 miles on McKendree Road. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On 9/24/2022 the congregation
voted 5-0 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that
disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special
session of the Susquehanna Conference.
Final disposition:
32. Meeker ME
Location: 41 Meeker Outlet Road, community of Meeker
Municipality: Lehman township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA 118
and PA 29, go east on PA 118 1.5 miles to Loyalville Road. Go north on Loyalville Road ¼ mile to Meeker
Outlet Road. Go east on Meeker outlet
Road 1/3 mile. The site is on the right,
occupied by a modern ranch house, between Slocum Road and Meeker Road. The picture on the left is the church
site. The picture on the right is the
remaining outhouse – the only church-related structure left on the site.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church
Journal references:
1913,81 – church building in the
process of erection
1914,74 – church building finished and
ready for dedication
1915,70 – new “basement building” church
dedicated 4/29/1914
1963,69 – declared closed and abandoned;
permission to sell
Brief History:
The Meeker appointment
met for many years in a schoolhouse. It
was always on the five-point Maple Grove charge: Loyalville, Maple Grove,
Meeker, Mooretown Ruggles. In October
1962, the congregation voted to discontinue services and permanently close the
church building.
Final disposition:
The
site was sold, the church building razed, and the property
divided into two lots – front and back – with a house built on each lot. The church building stood on the front lot,
the cement block outhouse facilities still stand on the back lot.
33. Miner’s Mills ME
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Miners Mills is now the
northeast corner of Wilkes-Barre and may also be reached by taking the bridge
from Plains across Mill Creek.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1897,25 – Sunday School organized, $1,000 subscribed toward a church building
1898,58 – Plains church purchases house and
lot in Miner’s Mills for Sunday School use
1914,75 – concrete steps and sidewalk added
in front of church building
1921,80 – taken from Bennett Memorial
charge and added to Laflin
1923,100 – property sold for $3500; money
to be used to build church in Laflin
1928,57 – funds from sale NOT sufficient to
adequately repair Yatesville
1924,60 – $2765.01 realized from sale;
$1500 to be loaned to Laflin w/o interest
Brief History:
The borough of Miners Mills, named for the Miner family, was
created in 1883 and annexed into Wilkes-Barre along with Parsons in 1927. A Sunday School was organized with support
from the Plains church and held in the public school beginning in 1897. A dwelling on Mock Street [present Mayock
Street?] was purchased in 1898 and remodeled to contain an assembly room and a
classroom. This was the home church of
deaconess Mary Flaherty.
Final disposition:
34. Mooretown ME
Location: Mooretown Road
Municipality: Ross township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA 118
and PA 29, go 2.5 miles north on PA 29 to Mooretown Road. Turn west on Mooretown Road and go 3
miles. The building is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1955,1873 – declared
abandoned
1959,979 – sold for $500 to the Assemblies
of God
Brief History:
Mooretown was also
known as Retreat. The church was
dedicated October 20, 1875, on land given by Archibald Moore. For many years this was part of the
five-point Maple Grove charge: Loyalville, Maple Grove, Meeker, Mooretown and
Ruggles.
Final disposition:
Originally sold to the
another denomination, the structure is now a private home.
35. Mossville ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
36. Mount Zion EV
Location: W. County Road
Municipality: Hollenback township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From
Wapwallopen, go 1.5 miles east on W. County Road (the eastern extension of Main
Street). The site is on the left. The 1873 county atlas gives the exact
location of the church and the parsonage.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1923,63 – Resolved, That the
Wapwallopen Mission be discontinued and that the Slocum and Mt. Zion
appointments be added to West Nanticoke, and the Hetlerville appointment be
added to Nescopeck, and Briar Creek to Berwick St. Paul's.
1924,90 – permission to sell parsonage, with proceeds
divided between West Nanticoke and Nescopek
1928,63 – permission to sell
parsonage
Brief History:
In 1847, preachers traveling the
Columbia circuit came here by invitation and established an appointment in the
Peters school house. The first church building was erected in 1849, followed
in 1869 by a new church and a parsonage. The presence of a parsonage made
this the seat of what was called for many years the Wapwallopen charge.
The charge was United Evangelical during the 1894-1922 denominational split.
The four-point Wapwallopen charge was divided in 1923, and
the parsonage was sold in 1924. The Mt. Zion congregation apparently
ceased to exist at that time or soon afterward, as the number of church
buildings reported on the West Nanticoke charge dropped from 3 to 2 in 1927.
Final disposition:
The building no longer stands.
Only the Mt. Zion Evangelical Cemetery remains.
37. Mountaintop ME
[no picture]
Location: Woodlawn Avenue
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Formally chartered
in 1880 as the “Mountain Top Episcopal Society,” the group purchased a property
on Woodlawn Avenue in 1881 and dedicated a new building there on Thanksgiving
Day of that year.
In 1929 the Wapwallopen
charge of the Central Pennsylvania Conference was discontinued and Rippletown,
Slocum and Stairville were returned to the Wyoming Conference. Rippletown was re-named Albert and placed
with Mountaintop. In 1955 Mountaintop
and Albert united to form a single congregation, eventually selling both
buildings and erecting the present Christ UM Church – just west of Mountaintop,
on the road to Albert.
Final disposition:
After the church merger,
the building was sold to a Mrs. Farrell and later used as a warehouse. It burned down on October 30, 1996.
38. Nanticoke First UMC
Address: 267 East Main Street
Municipality: city of Nanticoke
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
US 11 and PA 29, cross the Susquehanna River on PA and take the first exit
after crossing the river. Go east 2
miles. This becomes East Main
Street. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On 9/24/2022 the congregation
voted 36-1 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that
disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special
session of the Susquehanna Conference.
Final disposition:
39. Nanticoke Hanover Chapel ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1930,318 – “extensive improvements” made on the property
Brief History:
This was apparently an
outreach to immigrants and was “located in a detached section of Nanticoke
city.” Nothing else is known about this
ministry
Final disposition:
40. Nescopeck Albright UMC
Address: 507 E. Third Street
Municipality: borough of Nescopeck
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1942,57 – sold parsonage and are completing
new brick parsonage on lot adjacent to church
Brief History:
Final disposition:
The building now houses the New Heart
Christian Fellowship congregation.
41. New Columbus Stevens Memorial UMC
Location: Old Tioga Turnpike
Municipality: borough of New Columbus
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Benton, go east 6 miles on
PA 239 to Old Tioga Pike. Go south 1
mile on Old Tioga Turnpike. The church
is on the left, ¼ mile past Academy Road.
Historic Conference:
Central
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1913,84 – new church building dedicated July
21, 1912
Brief History:
The first building here was
dedicated in 1857 by Thomas Bowman, president of Williamsport Dickinson
Seminary and later a bishop. A new
building was erected in 1912 through the generosity of Mrs. E.D. Stevens as a
memorial to her late husband. In 1967
New Columbus joined the six other appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite
into a single congregation and erect a new building near Town Hill that was
dedicated in 1971. The recorded
membership in 1971 was 101.
Final disposition:
42. Oakdale UMC
Address: 485 Oakdale Drive
Municipality: Hunlock township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From US 11 at Hunlock
Creek, turn north onto Main Road and go 2 miles to Oakdale Drive (shortly after
Indian Cave Road goes off to the left).
Turn right onto Oakdale Drive and go 3 miles. The church is on the left, just before the
road comes to a T at Pritchards Road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This appointment was called Rock
until the church building was erected in 1874.
On 9/24/2022 the
congregation voted 24-5 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that
disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special
session of the Susquehanna Conference.
Final disposition:
43. Parsons Abbott UMC
Location: 28 Oliver Street, community of Parsons
Municipality:
city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: Scott Street is the main street through Parsons. It is the extension of North Street (after it crosses Pennsylvania Avenue) in Wilkes-Barre and turned north. Proceed north on Scott Street. One-half miles after going under PA 309, at the point where Scott Street crosses Laurel Rune, turn left onto Oliver Street. Go 1.5 blocks. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2008,99&158 – Parsons Abbott &
Wilkes-Barre First cease & join to support new church start
2009,185 – discontinued; assets to Wilkes-Barre Field of Grace UMC.
Brief History:
The borough of Parsons, famed for the
Parsons family, was created in 1876 and annexed into Wilkes-Barre along with
Miners Mills in 1927. This class was
organized in the school house in 1872.
The basement level of the church building was used for worship beginning
in 1873, and the complete sanctuary was finally dedicated in 1883. The named “Abbott” was adopted in 1880 in
recognition of the fact that Rev. W.P. Abbott was born near here.
Final disposition:
The building was sold
January 15, 2010, to the Osterhout Free Library and is now a public
library.
44. Pine Grove ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
45. Pittston UMC
[Pittston St. Paul’s]
Location: 66 Broad Street
Municipality: Pittston
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: The building was two blocks south from the present Pittston UM (former ME) Church, on the same side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church.
Journal references:
1977,147 – merged into Pittston First (former ME) to form Pittston United
Methodist Church, meeting in the Pittston First building
Brief History:
It appears that this
congregation was organized in 1852 as a Wesleyan Methodist Church and became
Methodist Protestant (in the New York Conference) in 1878.
Final disposition:
The building now houses the
independent Perspective Church. While
the front is new, and incorporates some of the old stained glass windows, the
sides and back of the church are unchanged.
46. Plains UMC
Address: 133 N. Main Street
Municipality: Plains township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
After crossing the PA 309
bridge from Kingston to Wilkes-Barre, take the first exit and go north on River
Road 100 yards to Maffett Street, a major intersection. Bear right onto Maffett Street and go 2
miles. Maffett Street becomes Main
Street in Plains. The church is on the
right, two blocks after the main intersection in Plains, at the corner of Main
and Henry Streets.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation traces its roots back to
a 1798 visit by noted circuit rider William Colbert. They met in a schoolhouse until dedicating
their first building on December 14, 1843.
The present building was dedicated July 10, 1884. In 1924 an addition was made to provide a
well-equipped kitchen and a larger social hall, and the front of the church was
rebuilt at the same time.
On 10/22/2023, Plains UMC voted to close
as of 11/30/2023.
Final disposition:
The property was sold at auction on
4/13/2014. Settlement was 7/25/2024 with
net proceeds of $242,780.42.
47. Plainsville ME
[no picture]
Location: community of Plainsville
Municipality: Plains township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
The community of Plainsville is
due north of Plains, between N. River Street (go east on Courtright Street) and
the Susquehanna River. The exact
location of the church has not been determined.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1935,511 – permission to sell, proceeds to Plains
Brief History:
This class was
organized about 1831 (some sources say 1838) and dedicated a brick building
2/13/1845. A wooden addition was
completed in 1887. The appointment was
attached first to Pittston and then to Plains before being served independently,
mostly by students from Wyoming Seminary, beginning in 1880. For a brief period the appointment was known
as North Plains. The appointment was
placed on the Yatesville charge in 1902.
Services were discontinued about 1920, and most of the members
transferred to Plains.
Final disposition:
48. Pleasant Valley ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
49. Plymouth UMC
Location: 238 West Main Street
Municipality: borough of Plymouth
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: Main Street is US 11. The church is on the south side of the street, west of the center of the town.
Historic Conference: Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2005,174 – motion to discontinue
2005,94 - discontinued
Brief History:
This .
Final Disposition:
The structure is now the home of the
International Christian Church.
50. Plymouth Elm Hill ME
[Boston Hill Mission]
[East Plymouth]
Location: 426 East Main Street
Municipality: borough of Plymouth
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: Main Street is US 11. The church is on the south side of the street, east of the center of the town.
Historic Conference: Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This appointment was established about
1882 as a mission of the Plymouth congregation to East Plymouth, and a small
chapel was erected. After continuing for
more than 10 years, the work was discontinued and the chapel was sold. For many years, an Assembly of God
congregation occupied this site.
Note: The structure pictured above is NOT
the original building, but the third church building to occupy the site. Previous church buildings here burned
completely to the ground in 1896 and 1939, and replacement were erected by the
no-longer-Methodist congregations.
Final Disposition:
The structure is now the home of the
Tree of Life Christian Fellowship.
51. Powder Glen ME
Location: east of Wapwallopen, in the village of Powder
Glen
Municipality: Hollenback township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Wapwallopen, go 1 mile east on W. County Road (the
eastern extension of Main Street) to Powder Glen Road. Turn right on
Powder Glen Road and go ½ mile to the village of Powder Glen. The house
on the southeast corner of Powder Glen Road and Bear Hill Road was the
parsonage. The church was on Powder Glen
Road, on the left side, ¼ miles past the parsonage. Only the cemetery remains.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1882,131 – first appearance as an
appointment in the Missionary Offerings
1888,58 – building dedicated 11/27/1887 and
destroyed by powder explosion 2/10/1888
Brief History:
Speaking of the village of Powder Glen,
the 1976 secular History of the Powder Hole states: "There
was also a Methodist Church, which was torn down when there were no longer
enough people to support it. A cemetery is in the woods near the site of
the church. The cemetery is still church property and is near the home of
the Hildebrand family. Mr. Bryce Readler lives in the home which was the
parsonage for the church. The church was torn down and carefully
reassembled at Blytheburn, [from its former location] only a few miles from
Hobbie."
This congregation was part of the Wapwallopen ME charge, and
additional information is given in connection with that church.
Final disposition:
A 1974 statement in the
Mountaintop Christ file gives the following statement concerning the need for a
new building at Rippletown: “Since the church at Powder Glen was to be torn
down, a group went to look at it, and finally secured the building. On Labor Day 1926 a group went to Powder
Glen, enjoyed a chicken dinner and later in the evening a corn roast, while
volunteers dismantled the building, loaded the limber on the wagons of George
Yeager Sr. and Chris Yeager, and on the truck of Albert Frye, who hauled it to
the new plot of ground located on the Albert-Nuangola road (opposite the old
chapel).”
52. Red Hill ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
53. Red Rock MP
Location: PA118 and PA487
Municipality: Fairmount township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
The site pictured is the present
campground at the northwest corner of PA118 and PA487. The church reportedly stood “behind” the Red
Rock schoolhouse and “closer to the mountain.
The 1873 county atlas appears to show the schoolhouse near the northeast
corner of PA118 and PA487.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The Central charge of
the Methodist Protestant Church reportedly covered parts of two counties: in
Columbia County in church buildings at Central, Coles Creek and Elk Grove; in
Luzerne County in church buildings at Fairview and Red Rock, and the
schoolhouse at Oakland (although the Varker book, pages 14 and 146, states
there was a MP church building at Oakland).
Final disposition:
54. Register UMC
Location: Holmes Road, village of Register
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the borough of New
Columbus, go north 1 miles to PA 239. Go
east 2 miles on PA 239 to Register Road.
Go north ¼ mile on Register Road to Holmes Road. Go east ¼ mile on Holmes Road. The church is on the left, just past a side
road off to the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Journal references:
Brief History:
The class worshiped in
the Methodist Protestant building until 1888, when a dispute arose over the use
of Sunday School materials and the congregation erected their own
building. In 1967 Register joined the
six other appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite into a single
congregation and erect a new building near Town Hill that was dedicated in
1971. The recorded membership in 1971
was 55.
Final disposition:
55. Register MP
Location: Holmes Road, village of Register
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the borough of New
Columbus, go north 1 miles to PA 239. Go
east 2 miles on PA 239 to Register Road.
Go north ¼ mile on Register Road to Holmes Road. Go east a few hundred feet on Holmes
Road.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The community of Register was originally called Pine Creek,
and the 1869 church building was sometimes called Webster’s Chapel after the
founding pastor. This was the oldest building and key appointment on the MP
Pine Creek circuit, later renamed the Reyburn circuit. The property, deeded to the MP church in
1870, was no longer being used in 1939 when the MP/ME denominational merger
took place. The Shickshinny MP church
stayed completely out of the 1939 union, becoming neither Methodist nor Bible
Protestant, and temporarily used the building as a second location, but the
efforts did not prosper.
Final disposition:
56. Reyburn MP
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Methodist Protestant
preaching is reported to have begun here in 1835. A class was organized in 1850, with preaching
in the old school house. In 1868 the
school board purchased a plot of land, across from the present church, from
Jacob Baer on which to build a new school house for both school and church
purposes. That building was sold and
torn down in 1959. An 1882 revival under
George Shaffer resulted in 66 conversions, which led to the building of the
present church in 1883. The land was
donated by the Masters family and members donated lumber that was saw free of
charge at Sylvester Sorber’s saw mill – bringing the total cost for the
structure at $1650. The formal
dedication occurred 10/5/1884. A social
hall was built in 1921.
In 1939 the congregation remained
out of the Methodist merger to become part of the newly created Bible
Protestant Church. The old social hall
collapsed from snow in 1994, and a new one was erected in 1996.
Final disposition:
57. Rippletown ME
[Albert ME]
Location: 865 Church Road
Municipality: Wright township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Mountaintop, travel south
on Main Road 2 miles to the crossroad at the village of Albert. Turn right on Church Road and go 300
yards. The building is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Central
Pennsylvania Conference
1928,650 – new building dedicated 10/2/1927;
renamed First ME Church of Wright Township
Wyoming
Conference
1929,108 – transferred with Slocum and
Stairville to Wyoming Conference
Brief History:
In the latter 1800’s
residents of Rippletown began meeting for religious services in an abandoned
one-room school house, located in the front part of what is now the Albert
cemetery, and in time the appointment was supplied by the Wyoming
Conference. In 1880 Rippletown, Slocum
and Stairville were transferred to the Beach Haven charge of the Central
Pennsylvania Conference. In 1894
Rippletown, Slocum and Stairville (along with Powder Glen and Schloyerville)
wre split off to form the Schoyerville (re-named Wapwollopen the following year
when the parsonage was constructed there).
In 1926 the Powder Glen church building was dismantled and re-erected in
Rippletown, across the street from the cemetery.
In 1929 the Wapwallopen charge was
discontinued and Rippletown, Slocum and Stairville were returned to the Wyoming
Conference. Rippletown was re-named
Albert and placed with Mountaintop. In
1955 Albert and Mountaintop united to form a single congregation, eventually
selling both buildings and erecting the present Christ UM Church – just west of
Mountaintop, on the road to Albert.
Final disposition:
The building now houses the
Mountain Top Baptist Church.
58. Ruggles UMC
Address: PA 29
Municipality: Lake township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
The church is 2 miles
south intersection of PA 29 and PA 415, at the intersection of PA 29 and Spruce
Tree Road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal
Journal References:
Brief History:
For many years this
was part of the five-point Maple Grove charge: Loyalville, Maple Grove, Meeker,
Mooretown, Ruggles. Ruggles was closed
in 2014 with 26 members reported on the rolls and placed on the Noxen charge by
Alderson.
Final Disposition:
The building was purchased by the pastor,
Linda Bryan, with the hope of using it for as a clothing/resource distribution
center.
59. Salem EV
Location: Moore’s Hill Road
Municipality: Salem township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From Berwick, go 1 mile east on
US 11 to Stone Church Road (first road outside the town). Go 1 mile north on Stone Church Road to
Varners Hollow Road (first road). Turn
left and go 1 mile on Varners Hollow Road to the T with Moore’s Hill Road. Turn right on Moore’s Hills Road and go about
100 yards. The site is on the left.
OR.
From Summerhill, go west and follow the main flow of traffic (dairy Road
– Moore’s Hill Road) for about 3 miles.
The site is on the right, just before Varners Hollow Road goes off to
the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.
Journal references:
1962,119 – land to Garrison Memorial Cemetery Association; funds to Stone
Church or future replacement building
Brief History:
This building was one of the five (along with Ebenezer,
Evansville, Stone and Summerhill) appointments on the historic and very
long-standing Columbia Circuit of the Evangelical Church. The building was destroyed by fire in
December 1958.
Final disposition:
The cemetery remains.
The cornerstone pictured above under the big tree reads “Salem EV Church
1881.”
60. Schloyerville EV
[Briggsville EV]
Location:
Municipality: Nescopeck township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building is shown in
the 1873 county atlas as an Evangelical Church.
The history of the surviving adjacent Mt. Zion UCC Church states “at a
later date an Evangelical, and then a Methodist organization, was established
and churches built.” The Evangelical and
the Methodist organizations failed “due to the lack of interest and the
buildings went to the winds and storms.
There is no semblance of the last built churches any more. The cemetery is well kept and peaceful.”
Final disposition:
61. Schloyerville ME
Location:
Municipality: Nescopeck township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church
Journal references:
1883,40 – building to be completed soon
1884,43 – nearly complete building
wrecked by cyclone, re-erected and dedicated 9/9/1883
1894,58 – 68 conversions, new church
building projected for next year
1938,27 – permission to sell
1939,27 – sale authorized, proceeds to
the Nescopeck charge
1953,55 – authorization
to convey title to Lutheran & Reformed Church at Briggsville
1955,56 – previous authorization rescinded, new
authorization to convey title to Schloyersville [sic] Cemetery Association
Brief History:
The cornerstone for this building was
laid September 16, 1882. The building was near completion when it
was almost totally wrecked by a cyclone. The structure was re-erected and
dedicated September 9, 1883. This congregation was part of the
Wapwallopen ME charge, and additional information is given in connection with
that church.
Final disposition:
62. [Shickshinny EV]
It
appears there was never an Evangelical church building in Shickshinny, but
Munsell’s 1880 History of Luzerne,
Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties, page 375, reports the following:
“The Evangelical or German Methodists have
quite a numerous society and Sunday School, with a stationed minister and
regular services, held in a room rented for the purpose, but have not yet built
a church.
“In
1876 Rev, W.M. Croman, then serving Berwick mission, made an appointment in
Shickshinny, and at the close of the year 1877 the communicants numbered
80. In 1878 Rev. Mr. Z. Hornberger
succeeded him, and at the conference session of 1879, Shickshinny, with 75
members, as added to Luzerne circuit, Rev. J.M. Price pastor.”
In 1877 and 1878, the appointment was
actually listed in the journal as Shickshinny.
63. Shickshinny MP
Location: 43 Furnace Street
Municipality: borough of Shickshinny
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
When entering Shickshinny on US
11 from the west, Furnace Street is the 3rd street to the left – a soft left,
the first street after the crossroads with Butler Street. Proceed up the hill; the church is on the
left.
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation was founded in 1852 and together with the
Presbyterians erected the first church building in Shickshinny in 1860 at a
cost of $800 – shared equally by the two denominations. The building was used by all denominations,
but gradually became strictly Methodist Protestant. The congregation and remained an active force
in that denomination until choosing not to participate in the 1939 Methodist
union. At that point the congregation
and its long-time pastor Rev. Archie Birdsall also declined to join other
Methodist Protestant dissenters that formed the Bible Protestant denomination
and became an independent congregation.
Final disposition:
The congregation is now the
Shickshinny Bible Baptist Church.
64. Stoddartsville ME
Location: Stoddartsville
Municipality: Buck township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
The town of Stoddartsville stood
where the Easton – Wilkes-Barre turnpike, present PA 115, crosses the Lehigh
River. Immediately north of the Lehigh
River, turn west on Maples Lane and go one block (past the cemetery) to the old
Easton – Wilkes-Barre turnpike. Turn
north and go 40 yards. The church is 100
yards down the first driveway to the east.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This church was built
about 1820 and was once the seat of the five-point Stoddartsville charge (along
with Thornhurst in Lackawanna County and Locust Ridge and Blakeslee and Pocono
Lake in Monroe County). In 1888 a
parsonage was erected in Thornhurst, and that community became the seat of the
charge. As the town of Stoddartsville
dwindled away, so did the congregation.
The church at Stoddartsville was closed in the 1920’s, Thornhurst was
attached to Gouldsboro in 1928, and the three Monroe County churches were
transferred to the Philadelphia [now Eastern Pennsylvania] Conference in 1933.
Final disposition:
The church building is now a
private residence.
65. Sugar Notch UMC
Location: 570 East Main Street
Municipality: borough of Sugar Notch
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of I-81 and
PA-29, go north on PA-29 ½ mile to the first interchange. Go west on Main street ¼ mile. The building is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1982,91 – merged into Ashley
Brief History:
From the opening of the Sugar Notch
mines in 1860, there was occasional Methodist preaching in the
schoolhouse. In 1878, the pastor from nearby Ashley organized a
class. In 1886 the appointment became part of the Askam charge.
Property was given to the society, and the church building was dedicated June
7, 1889. The congregation merged into
Ashley Centenary UMC in 1981.
Final disposition:
The building in now the
Coalville Masonic Lodge.
66. Sunshine UMC
Location:
Municipality:
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
67. Town Hill UMC
Location: village of Town Hill
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the borough of New Columbus,
go 2 miles east on Academy Street to the village of Town Hill.
Historic Conference:
Central
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Local preacher Thomas
Bowman from Briar Creek did the first Methodist preaching in the area in
1793. The following year Methodist
layman Epaphras Wadsworth moved to Town Hill from Connecticut, helped to
organize a class, and opened his home to preaching and the lodging of circuit
riders. In 1809 an annex for worship was
added to the school house, nearly a mile from town. In 1836 a church was erected at the crossroad
southeast of town. In 1875 that building
was moved into the village. In 1967 Town
Hill joined the six other appointments of the Town Hill charge to unite into a
single congregation and erect a new building near Town Hill that was dedicated
in 1971. The recorded membership in 1971
was 85.
Final disposition:
68. Wanamie UMC
Location: Main Street, village of Wanamie
Municipality: Newport township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of I-81
and PA-29, go north on PA-29 2 miles to the second interchange. Go west on Main Street – Middle Road – Kirmar
Avenue for 5 miles (through Askam and Alden) to Wanamie. Turn left on Center Street (at the sign for
the Newport township building) and go 2 blocks to the T with Main Street. The structure is straight ahead.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1900,71 – lot secured for a church and
parsonage
1902,56 – church erected
1978,146 – merged into Alden UM to form the Newport
United Methodist Church, meeting in the former Alden building
Brief History:
This congregation was incorporated 8/21/1865 as the First
Methodist Episcopal Church of Newport.
They society worshiped in the old Lutheran church before erecting their
own building in 1853 on a site donated by Squire Vandermark. That
structure was thoroughly renovated in 1881, and enlarged by the addition of two
wings in 1899. The site for the second building was purchased half from
the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company and half from Richard Morris.
That structure was dedicated in March 1902.
Final disposition:
The building is now a private home.
69. Wapwallopen ME
Location: village of Wapwallopen
Municipality: Conyngham township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Wapwallopen is on PA-239, across the
river and 6 miles south from Shickshinny.
The building pictured above was the charge parsonage, located at the
central intersection of the village of Powder Glen.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1905,66 – Wapwallopen adds $443 "to the betterment
of church property"
1935,61 – $106.40 from sale of
Wapwallopen parsonage given to the Annuity Fund
Brief History:
For 50 years there was a Wapwallopen
charge with 6 appointments: Powder Glen, Rippletown, Schloyerville, Slocum,
Stairville, and (possibly) Wapwallopen. The charge was envisioned in 1880
when Rippletown, Slocum and Stairville were transferred from the Wyoming
Conference to the Central Pennsylvania Conference and formally split off from
Beach Haven in 1888 and named Schloyerville.
It was re-named Wapwallopen in 1895 when the first parsonage was erected
there. The 1905 journal reporting the charge’s betterment of church
property declared that the charge had 4 church buildings (Powder Glen,
Schloyerville, Slocum and Stairville). The conference's 1915 first
official property listing does not include Wapwallopen at all, describes
Rippletown as a schoolhouse appointment, and states that the other 4 properties
are Methodist-owned. It is apparent that the denomination never owned a
church building in Wapwallopen, even though the charge was so-named. In 1926 the Powder Glen building was
dismantled and moved to Rippletown.
The charge was disbanded in 1929. At the end of 1928
Powder Glen and Wapwallopen reported no members; Schloyerville reported 27
members, but no financial contribution to the charge. Those three
appointments were abandoned in 1929 and Rippletown (31 members), Slocum (60
members) and Stairville (55 members) were returned to the Wyoming Conference.
See the 1929 Wyoming Conference Journal, pages 107-108. In the Wyoming Conference, Rippletown was
renamed Albert and placed with Mountaintop, Slocum (re-located near Slocum
Corners) was placed with West Nanticoke, and Stairville was placed with Wanamie
and Alden.
Final disposition:
The parsonage has been added
to and is now a private home.
NOTE: The Evangelical denomination also had a Wapwallopen parsonage, but no known church building in the town. Their 1924 journal, page 90, authorizes sale of the parsonage with the district superintendent and the pastors at West Nanticoke and Nescopeck to decide on an equitable distribution of the proceeds.
70. Waterton Wesley Chapel UMC
Location: village of Waterton
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the borough of New Columbus,
go north 1 mile to PA 239. Go eat 5
miles on PA 239 to Huntington Mills. Go
South on Waterton Road
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1888,58 – building, 30x42, dedicated 9/25/1887
Brief History:
This class was
organized in 1842 and met in Good’s school house until 1887 when, under the
leadership of Wesley Benscoter, the present building was erected and named
Wesley Chapel in honor of the class leader.
In 1967 Waterton joined the six other appointments of the Town Hill
charge to unite into a single congregation and erect a new building near Town
Hill that was dedicated in 1971. The
recorded membership in 1971 was 72.
Final disposition:
71. West Nanticoke Calvary UMC
Address: 39 E. Poplar Street, town of West
Nanticoke
Municipality: Plymouth township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From Shickshinny, go 9
miles west on US 11 to PA 29 in the town of West Nanticoke. Turn north on PA 29 and go one block to
Poplar Street. Turn east on Poplar
Street and go 1 block. The church is on
the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1936,49 – erected social hall
2021,182 – closed 4/4/2021
2022,273 – sold 11/12/2021 for $84
tom Dana Sutliff
Brief History:
Evangelical preaching services and Sunday
School began in the community in 1983. A
class was organized in the spring of 1895 and the deed for the present site was
conveyed to the congregation from the Susquehanna in 1896. The original wooden structure suffered two
fires – one in 1940 that destroyed the interior, and a fatal fire in 1948 that
destroyed the building and asphyxiated the sexton Andrew Cragle as he tried to
save the pulpit Bible. The congregation
worship in the nearby Methodist building while the present structure was being
built. The completed present structure
was formally dedicated September 16, 1951.
The building was completely flooded in 1972, but restored to be used for
almost another 50 years. Following
dwindling attendance, the church closed with a final service on Easter Sunday,
4/4/2021.
72. West Nanticoke First UMC
Address: 29 E. Poplar Street
Municipality:
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference: Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1887,17 – new church building erected
1933,82 – educational and social unit
“larger than the church” added
Brief History:
The congregation began with a community
Sunday School that met during the summer months. In 1872 a year-round Methodist Sunday School
was organized. Beginning in 1874
pastoral support was received from Nanticoke, and a separate appointment was
organized in 1886. A church building was
erected in 1886 on a lot secured from the Susquehanna Coal Company. Over the years the church and the community
suffered through many floods – most notably in 1936, 1972 and 1975. In the face of declining membership, the
flood of September 2011 proved to be the final straw. The congregation voted to discontinue,
effective as of November 30, 2011, and the property was returned via a
reversion clause to the Susquehanna Coal Company. The remaining members were transferred to
Nanticoke UMC or a church of their choice.
Final disposition:
73. West Wyoming Shoemaker Chapel UMC
Location: 571 Eighth Street
Municipality: borough of West Wyoming
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: From US 11 in Wyoming, go 1.5 miles north on Eighth Street. The street takes a jog to the left in West Wyoming. The church is on the right, across from a cemetery.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2009,188 – discontinued; assets to the Conference
Brief History:
Final disposition:
The building is now a hub
for Mission Center and a center for local outreach.
74. Wilkes-Barre Albright UMC
Address: 116 Dana Street
Municipality: borough of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in
Wilkes-Barre, go 5 blocks south on Main Street to Dana Street. Turn left onto Dana Street and go 3 blocks to
Grove Street. The church is on the
northwest corner of Dana Street and Grove Street.
Historic Conference:
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
United Evangelical Church
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
Brief History:
First (former United Evangelical, on Dana
Street) and Salem (former Evangelical Association, on Grove Street) EUB
churches united in 1961 to form Albright EUB and worship in the former First
building (pictured above at the right).
The current building was erected in 1973. In 2004 the congregations received the assets
and members of Parrish Street (former Methodist) UMC.
On 4/7/2024, the congregation voted to
close, with the effective date of closure being 6/30/2024.
Final disposition:
Arrangements in progress to sell the
property to an established Hispanic congregation for $50,000 plus all legal and
settlement fees.
75. Wilkes-Barre Bennett-Derr UMC
[Wilkes-Barre Bennett Memorial
ME]
Address: Chapel and New Grant Streets
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in
Wilkes-Barre, go 3 blocks east on Market Street to Wilkes-Barre Boulevard. Turn left onto Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and go
north 1 long block to the stop light at Scott Street. Turn right onto Scott Street and go 1 block
to Chapel Street. Turn right onto Chapel
Street and go 3 blocks to New Grant Street.
The church is on the southwest corner of Chapel Street and New Grant
Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the United
Methodist Church
Journal references:
2023,275 – sold 4/4/2022 for $50,000
to Iglesia Cristiana Camino Al Cielo, Inc.
Brief History:
This congregation has its roots in the Scott
Street Mission School, a branch of the Sunday School of the Wilkes-Barre First
Methodist Episcopal Church. That work
began in January 1893 in the Baltimore Public School building and quickly
developed into a possible congregation.
Land was purchased and the present building was dedicated January 20,
1895, as Bennett Chapel – named in honor of Mrs. Priscilla Lee Bennett, a
long-time faithful member of First Church whose financial contribution made
possible the timely erection of the structure.
The parsonage adjacent to the church was purchased in 1903. The church was a station appointment from
1906 unto 1927, when it was paired with St. Andrews to form a two-point
charge. The basement was dug out and
completed in 1928. In 1947 St. Andrews
(which closed in 1953) was placed on the Abbott charge and Bennett Memorial was
paired with Derr Memorial. In 1983 the
congregation accepted the members of the former Derr Memorial UMC to become the
Bennett-Derr UMC.
Final disposition:
76. Wilkes-Barre Derr Memorial UMC
Location: 489 N. Main Street
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1984,90 – merges into Bennett for form
Bennett-Derr UMC
Brief History:
This congregation
began as a mission of the Franklin Street [First] Church to the north part of
the city. A chapel was erected on a lot
on north Franklin Street, near Maple Street, in 1870, and in 1888 a charter was
granted to the “Fourth Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre” [the first
three being Franklin Street, Central and Parrish Street]. The congregation became a separate charge in
1891 and relocated to North Main Street in 1892 in a move largely financed by
Mrs. Mary D. Derr of First Church as a memorial to her late husband Henry F.
Derr. In 1893 the old chapel on North
Franklin Street was sold to the German Lutherans, and in 1894 the congregation
erected its parsonage. In 1947 Derr
Memorial became a two-point charge with Bennett Memorial, and in 1983 Derr
merged into Bennett to become Bennett-Derr UMC.
Final disposition:
The building is now home to
the New Hope Four Square Church
77. Wilkes-Barre Field of Grace UMC
[no picture]
Location: [various rentals]
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2008,158 – projected new church start
2009,106 & 188 – new church start
2013,149 – closed 1/24/2013
Brief History:
Final disposition:
78. Wilkes-Barre First UMC
[Wilkes-Barre Franklin Street ME]
Location: 47 N. Franklin Street
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions: The center of Wilkes-Barre is the intersection of Main Street and Market Street. Franklin Street is one block west of Main Street and is one-way heading north. The church is ½ block north of Market Street on the right side.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1886,23 – building dedicated 10/5/1885
2008,99&158 – Parsons Abbott &
Wilkes-Barre First cease & join to support new church start
2009, 187 – discontinued; assets to Wilkes-Barre
Field of Grace UMC
Brief History:
Final disposition:
The building was sold July 15, 2009, to Arts
Universe and is now the Downtown Arts Center.
79. Wilkes-Barre Italian Mission ME
Location: 220 East Northampton Street
Municipality: city of Wilke-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in Wilkes-Barre, go 6 blocks
east on Market Street to Welles street.
Turn south on Welles Street and go two blocks to Northampton
Street. The building stood on the northeast
corner of Welles and Northampton Streets, next to the abandoned Hebrew
Institute. Note: Welles Street is
one-way heading north, and so one must continue on Market Street one more block
to Hancock Street and “go around the block.”
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1915, 70 – purchased
former AMEZ building for $6,700
Brief History:
This property, a
former AMEZ brick structure on a large lot, was purchased for the Italian Mission
in 1914 by the Conference’s incorporated home missionary society, the Wyoming
Valley City Evangelization Union. The
church site is now the empty corner lot next to the abandoned Hebrew Institute
Final disposition:
As reported in Communities in Common: Pennsylvania’s
African American Historic Resources Target Community: Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne
County, page 18 of 37.
“An AME Zion congregation was
established in Wilkes-Barre as early as 1850; from 1850 to the late 1880s, the
congregation was itinerant and met inconsistently in private homes. In 1888, a
church facility was built at 220 E. Northampton Street at the southeast [sic]
corner of the intersection of S. Welles and E. Northampton streets. With
seating for 300, this moderately-sized brick church building included Late
Victorian-era Gothic inspired detailing executed in wood. By 1900, the
congregation was experiencing financial troubles and by 1907 the congregation
was dissolved. In March 1915, the parent AME Zion church in New York sold the property
to a local evangelical group, who in turn transferred the property to the
Wilkes-Barre Hebrew Institute around 1920. By 1922, the Hebrew Institute
constructed their school on an adjacent parcel of land and presumably
demolished the AME Zion church at or near the same time.”
80. Wilkes-Barre Parrish Street UMC
Location: Parrish and Collins Streets
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in Wilkes-Barre, go 1.5 south
on Main Street to Parrish Street (one block before the stop light at Blackman
Avenue). Turn left onto Parrish and go
several blocks to Collins Street, which only goes to the right. The church is on the corner of Parrish Street
and Collins Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2005,174 – motion to
discontinue; remaining financial resources to Albright UMC
2005, 94 – discontinued
Brief History:
This congregation
began when members of the Ashley and Ross Street [i.e., Central] churches
started a Sunday School in the area and dedicated the building on March 17,
1872.
Final disposition:
The building currently (2016)
is home to the House of Judah ministries.
81. Wilkes-Barre Salem EA
Location: 48 Grove Street, near McCarragher
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
1954,519 – question over liens on the
property
1955,69 – question over liens on the
property
Brief History:
This congregation began in
1871, when an Evangelical Association circuit rider visited the area and
preached in private homes. A chapel was
erected in 1873, destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1875. The 1891-94 split in the Evangelical
Association divided the congregation, and First United Evangelical Church was
formed by the dissenters. In the
denominational re-union of 1922, both congregations became part of the
Evangelical Church. In 1961 Salem merged
into its daughter congregation First to form Albright EUB church and worship in
the newer United Evangelical building on Dana Street.
Final disposition:
The site/neighborhood
(diagonally across from Albright UMC) has been completely redeveloped and is
now home to Heritage Point Apartments.
82. Wilkes-Barre St. Andrew’s ME
[Wilkes-Barre Sherman Street ME]
Location: 130 South Sherman Street
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in Wilkes-Barre, go
1 block south on Main Street to Northampton Street. Turn left onto Northampton Street and go east
about 10 blocks to Sherman Street. Turn
right onto Sherman Street and go ½ block.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1988,37 - organized
1953,1406 – discontinued
1954,1545 – sold to George L. Ruckno Inc.
for $5000
Brief History:
This church was
dedicated June 4, 1889, to do work among the Welsh-speaking people. When a majority of its members returned to
Wales or moved to other mining towns, a Sunday evening English-speaking service
was introduced. The congregation
eventually became all English and was re-named St. Andrews when it became
self-supporting in 1906. The church was
moved to the Bennett charge in 1927, and then moved to the Abbott charge when
Derr was placed with Bennett in 1947.
The church reported 67 members in 1952 and was discontinued in 1953.
NOTE1: The following 1888
superindent’s report, page 37, article describes the organization.
On the 19th of March, by request, I
organized the first Quarterly Conference of the first Welsh Methodist Episcopal
Mission in Wilkes-Barre…The mission now has fifty members, a Sunday School of
over one hundred… Lots have been secured
on Sherman Street for a church, which must be built soon to accommodate these
people.
NOTE2: The following series of
articles summarize an early controversy.
(1) from the Washington DC 7/17/1899 Evening Times, page 5:
Wilkes-Barre, Pa – The question of whether the pastor or the trustees are the
dictating power in the Methodist Episcopal Church is one which the courts were
asked to solve yesterday. Judge Woodward
heard the application for a preliminary injunction to compel the trustees to
deliver the keys of the First Welsh Methodist Episcopal Church of this city to
the pastor, the Rev. Hugh P. Morgan, and to restrain them from interfering with
the services. The church has been closed
for several weeks by the trustees, who refused to allow the Rev. Mr. Morgan to
hold services there because he would not hold one service each Sunday in
Welsh. Judge Woodward asked the
attorneys if it would not be advisable to settle the matter out of court and he
was informed that efforts in that direction had failed. The case was set down for argument at the
next term of court.
(2) An October 1899 article in the Wilkes-Barre
Record Almanac states that the Court decides the Welsh M. E. Church case of
Wilkes-Barre in favor of the pastor, Rev. H. P. Morgan, giving him possession
of the church.
(3) But the controversy was not yet settled, as noted in the 11/8/1899 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac:
WILKES-BARRE. Emanuel Davis, who was arrested in the Welsh M.
E. church, on Sherman street, on Sunday evening, charged with disturbing religious
worship, was given a hearing before the mayor last evening, the hearing taking
place in the mayor's court room in the City Hall, and the room was crowded with
people, representing both factions of the church. The ‘defense' was represented
by Attorneys O'Boyle and Baxter, while on the other side, representing the
minister. Rev. Hugh P. Morgan, was ex-Judge Rhone. The minister. Rev. Mr.
Morgan, Policeman Owen Hughes, who made the arrest, and George Roberts, one of
the members of the church, who witnessed the affair, were the witnesses for the
plaintiff and were the first to testify. Emanuel Davis, the defendant, together
with. Mrs. Richard T. Jones and Mrs. Mary Perry were the witnesses for the
defense. Attorney Rhone closed for the prosecution and offered to withdraw the
charge if the defendant would pay the costs in the case. Mayor Nichols then
stated that the defendant was virtually guilty of a violation of the city
ordinance regarding good [unclear] – and after giving the audience, the
minister and the defendant his views, he deferred judgment for two weeks. The
audience then dispersed.
Final disposition:
The property was sold and
the proceeds given to First Church. The remaining members were invited to join
First Church. The building now houses
the independent Salvation Christian Center.
83. Wilkes-Barre Midvale Settlement House
Location: northern edge of Wilkes-Barre
Municipality: Plains township
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1928,48 – report to conference on work being
done
Brief History:
The property was a
ten-room house given in 1910 by Kate Pettebone Dickson and managed by the
Women’s Home Missionary Sosiety. This
was a ministry to Slavic-Americans.
There were two buildings – one housed a residence and rooms for
meetings, the other housed the Sunday School. Programs included a playground,
medical clinics, sewing classes, English classes, etc. It was active into the 1940’s. See the article on “Blanche Kingery Carroll
in the 2017 issue of The Chronicle, pages 10-17.
Final disposition:
84. Wilkes-Barre Zion ME
Location: on the square
Municipality: city of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Itinerant preacher William
Colbert noted in his journal he had preached in Wilkes-Barre in the
courthouse as early as 1797. A need
for a union church was obvious as the Luzerne County seat grew in population. The
'Old Ship Zion' was erected on the public square between West Market Street and
North Main. The church was a wooden structure, 45x65, with a steeple and its
front was about three rods from the street.
The building was started in 1800, enclosed in 1803, and finished in
1812. The work on the building proceeded slowly because the people were poor
and funds were not readily secured. The building was erected with the
understanding that it should not be under the exclusive control of any
denomination. Inevitably, the Congregationalists claimed that they gave more
than the Methodists.
In 1827, Rev. George Peck petitioned the
Luzerne County Commissioners to give the Methodists a lease of a hall in the
upper part of the courthouse for a chapel. The action signaled that it was
being more and more difficult to get the use of the church when desired. The
Congregationalists became Presbyterians, who held the keys to the church.
A 'war' ensued with Methodists claiming
Old Ship Zion was a union church "toward the construction of which
they had liberally contributed." The animosity was drawn to a close when
the Methodists purchased the interests of the Presbyterians for $1,000 in
1831. A Methodist class formed a part of
the Wyoming circuit from its birth until 1826, and a Methodist society was
finally organized in 1830. In 1849, the
old church was sold to O. Collins, G.M. Hollenbeck, and Charles Dennison for
$600. It was torn down and removed.
Final disposition:
85. Yatesville ME
Location: 48 Hale Street
Municipality: borough of Yatesville
County: Luzerne
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA309
and PA315 go 5 miles east on PA315 to Yatesville Road [Pittston Avenue]. Go one mile north on Pittston Avenue to the
3-way stop. Bear left at the 3-way stop
onto Stout Street. Go one block north on
Stout Street to Hale Street. Turn east onto Hale Street and go 50 yards. The site is on the south side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1901,58 – Mr. Francis Yates (not a member)
donates a block of residences worth $3,000
1925,28 – $1500 loan to
repair the building for work among the Italian residents
1928,57 – transfer of two residential
properties and perpetual lease of church building to City
Evangelization of the Wyoming Valley
1930,318 – description of ministries
1967,69 – permission to dispose of
building; land reverts to Pennsylvania Railroad
Brief History:
This congregation
developed from the “Thompson neighborhood” class, of which Francis Yates was
the leader in 1825. Services were held
in private homes until the Thompson school house was built. The meeting place was changed to the
Yatesville school house in 1852. The
congregation began to erect its building in 1864 and met in the completed
basement from 1865 until the structure was completed in 1874. The class belonged to the Pittston charge
until the Yatesville charge was formed in 1874.
A parsonage was erected in 1880.
The building was deeded to the
Evangelization Union in 1928 and used for English and/or Italian services until
1965, when the remaining members were transferred to Pittston.
Final disposition:
The building was razed, and the property
is now an empty lot owned by the adjacent residents. All that remains from the church is a portion
of the stone retaining wall seen in the extreme lower right of the old building
picture given above and the bell from the church, which is mounted in a yard
across the street and inscribed “Presented Mrs. James Jones in memory of her
parents Francis and Mary Yates 1906.”
