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
LYCOMING COUNTY PA
1. Astonville ME
[no picture]
Location: town of Astonville
Municipality: McIntyre township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The town of Astonville was located along PA 14, about 3 miles south of
Ralston and just north of Marsh Hill, near the mouth of Frozen Run into
Lycoming Creek.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1884,144 – listed in missionary report for
the Ralston charge
Brief History:
The furnace at Astonville was erected about 1830 and operated until the
flood of 1865. After that, the town
gradually dwindled away. It is believed
that the congregation met in the school house. From 1844-1890 Astonville School was at the mouth
of Frozen Run. The children remaining in the area then
had to walk to Marsh Hill to
school. The Marsh Hill School was used as a one-room
school until 1946 and is now used as a hunting camp.
Final disposition:
The town of Astonville
is now a ghost town, with nothing left to mark the location of any of the
structures.
2. Antes Fort UMC
Address: 19 4th Street
Municipality: Nippenose township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
2/5/2023 the congregation voted 32-2 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:
3. Barbours UMC
Location: village of Barbours
Municipality: Plunketts Creek township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the village of
Loyalsockville on PA 87, go north on PA 87 11.0 miles to Dunwoody Road (which
is 0.8 miles past Lower Barbours Road.
Turn left on Dunwoody Road and go 0.5 miles. The site is on the right, just before the
Baptist Church.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1939,81 – new church dedicated 12/11/1938
1980,576 – all members transferred out
1981,A76 – permission to sell
1981,203 – sold
Brief History:
This appointment
was one of eight separated in 1874 as the “upper” churches of the Montoursville
circuit. Five became the Wallis Run
Charge: Barbours, Beech Valley, Hoffman, Proctor, Wallis Run. Three became the Loyalsock charge: Butternut
Grove, Hoppestown, Woolever. At
Barbours, the Baptists and Methodists shared the Baptist building for decades
until a dispute arose in 1938. The
Methodists then purchased the recently abandoned Plunketts Creek school house
from the Montoursville Area School District (and the land on which it sat from
Charles Whipple) and remodeled it into a church. A Sunday School wing was added in 1966. The membership peaked at 72 in 1958 and had
dwindled to 23 by 1979. A more complete
history is given in “History of the Barbours Methodist Dream: 1938 through
1978” by Alison Gregory in the 1997 volume of The Chronicle, pages 31-41.
Final disposition:
The building was sold in 1981 and has
since been razed.
4. Beech Grove ME
Location: PA 184, community of Beech Grove
Municipality: Cogan House township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Williamsport go north on US 15 about 20 miles to Steam
Valley and the interchange with PA 184.
Go west on PA 184 3.5 miles to Post Road, where PA 184 makes a sharp
bend to the south. The Beech Grove
church site is at the northwest corner of Post Road and PA 184.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1970,93 – discontinued
1970,201 – sold
Brief History:
The Beech Grove
appointment originally met in the school house.
The cornerstone for the church building was laid 6/20/1915, and the
structure was dedicated 7/23/1916. It
appears that the congregation may have owned the building but not the
land. The church building not having
been used for services since the 1950’s, actions were taken in 1970 to dispose
of the building and the furnishings. There
were once 4 Methodist churches in the township on the Cogan Valley charge:
Beech Grove, Brookside, Centennial, White Pine.
See The Early History of Cogan
House Township pages 228-230 and Cogan
House Township: The 1900’s pages 42-48and pages 253-267.
Final disposition:
Brookside UMC purchased the
pews, altar rail and pulpit furniture; Cogan House UMC purchased most of the
stained glass windows; Mr. Bill Gramling purchased the church bell; other
individuals purchased various items. The
funds from selling these items were used toward the installation of a new
heating plant at the White Pine UMC. The
cornerstone had taken on water, and the only items left were a few coins –
whose fate was not recorded. The
building was razed, and the owner of the land sold the property – which is now
a vacant lot.
5. Bethel UMC
Address: 717 Kimble Hill Road
Municipality: Loyalsock township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
2/11/2023 the congregation voted 9-3-1 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:
6. Bodines UMC
Location: Slacks Run Road, village of Bodines
Municipality: Lewis township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of US 15 and PA 14 at Trout Run, go
north on PA 14 6.5 miles to Slack Run Road. Go east (across the creek) on
Slacks Run Road 0.25 miles to Lower Bodines Road. The church is on the northwest corner of
Slacks Run Road and Lower Bodines Road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1977,176 – discontinued
1980,A79 – sold to Mennonite Community
Center
Brief History:
This building was
erected 1890-91, and it is listed as a conference-owned building in 1915. But the 1961 History of the Northumberland Presbytery of the Presbyterian
Church, page 96, states that the Presbyterians sold the building to the
Methodists in 1931 for $1.00 – perhaps that was Presbyterian interests in the
building.
Final disposition:
From the sale of the building, $500 was
given to each of the four remaining churches of the charge (Marsh Hill,
Newelltown. Ralston, Roaring Branch), with the remaining amount going to
parsonage fund of the Ralston charge. In
1992 Mountainview Fellowship was formally given permission to hold worship
services in the structure and assured there would be no UMC opposition should
they pursue removing the deed restriction through legal channels. The most recent name for the building is the
Cornerstone Community Center,
7. Brookside UMC
Location: PA 184, community of Brookside
Municipality: Cogan House township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Salladasburg, go
north 9.0 miles on PA 287 to PA 184 and the community of Brookside. Go east on PA 184 for 100 yards. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1995,221/336 – abandoned
Brief History:
Circuit riders
from Jersey Shore began preaching in homes in Brookside in 1845. After the log school house was erected in
1858, they began preaching there. The
church building was erected in 1873. By
1994 the attendance had dwindled to 6 regular attendees, and a “service of
disbandment”: was conducted 1/1/1995.
There were once 4 Methodist churches in the township on the Cogan Valley
charge: Beech Grove, Brookside, Centennial, White Pine. See The
Early History of Cogan House Township pages 231-232 and Cogan House Township: The 1900’s pages
11-13 and pages 253-267.
Final disposition:
The building was sold in 1999 and
converted into an antiques store.
8. Buttonwood EV
Location: PA 284, community of Buttonwood
Municipality: Jackson township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Williamsport, go north on US 15 for 22 miles to
the English Center – Buttonwood exit for PA 284. Go east on PA 284 about 200 yards to the
bridge over the creek. The church stood
on the north side of the highway by the creek.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
1962,80 – merged into Liberty
Brief History:
This appointment was one of five church
buildings on the Liberty circuit – Liberty, Nauvoo and Beuters in Tioga County;
Buttonwood and Oregon Hill in Lycoming County.
The church in Buttonwood was built about 1908.
Final disposition:
9. Cammal UMC
Location: Railroad Street, village of Cammal
Municipality: McHenry township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Jersey Shore, go
north 12.3 miles on PA 44 (through Waterville) to PA 414. Go straight on PA 414 7.6 miles to Fisher
Lane and the village of Cammal. Go west
on Fisher Lane, across the RR tracks, one block to Railroad Street. Go north on Railroad Street one block. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1896,74 – church erected
1922,38 – authorization to sell church
building and erect a new one, if so desired
1994,220 – merged into Waterville
Brief History:
The original
Methodist Episcopal church building in Cammal was destroyed by fire in
1929. At that point the Odd Fellows
erected the building pictured above to use the top floor for meetings and allow
church services to be held on the ground floor.
The Odd Fellows chapter went defunct in 1947, but the building continued
to be used as a full-time church. It
appears that the actual ownership of the structure fell to the Cammal Chapel
Association.
Final disposition:
The building is now the McHenry Township
Community Center – housing offices, a meeting room, a branch library, and
headquarters for the local emergency services.
10. Carsontown UMC
Location: Little Pine Creek Road, community of Carsontown
Municipality: Pine township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection
on US 220 and PA 44 at Jersey Shore, go north on PA44 for 11.5 miles to
Waterville and Little Pine Creek Road.
Go north on Little Pine Creek Road, through Little Pine State Park, 6.0
miles to the community of Carsontown.
The structure is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1901,78 –frame church erected
1902,91 – church dedicated 6/23/1901
2005,233/365 – discontinued/sale pending
2006,338 – sold to Carsontown Community
Church
Brief History:
This building was
dedicated 6/23/1901 with a supposed seating capacity of 150. For many years it was one of 6 buildings on
the Cogan Valley charge (with Beech Grove, Brookside, Cogan House Centennial,
English Center and White Pine). The
appointment never had a membership above 10, and it seems to have been temporarily
discontinued in the 1930’s. In 1944 the
Cogan Valley charge was disbanded and Carsontown placed on the Waterville
charge. Its membership line was blank
until 1950, and after that it did not appear in the report at all. The property apparently was forgotten by
conference and cared for by persons in the community, and even used for
occasional church services, until it was formally deeded to the Carsontown
Community Church for $1.00 on 6/10/2005.
Final disposition:
The structure is used as a community hall
and for occasional worship services.
11. Cedar Run ME
Location: Beulah Land Road, village of Cedar Run [aka Ceder
Run]
Municipality: Brown township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection on US 220 and PA 44 at Jersey Shore,
go north on PA 44 for 13 miles to, through Waterville, to PA 414. Go north on PA 414 for 20 miles to Beulah
Land Road. Go East on Beulah Land Road,
across the creek, to the village of Cedar Run.
The structure is the first building on the left, after crossing the
creek.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1898,70 – church dedicated
1918,39 – permission to sell
Brief History:
This building
was dedicated 12/5/1897. In 1915 Cedar
Run was one of three church buildings (Blackwell, Cedar Run, Mt. Pleasant) and
one school house (Leetonia) on the 4-point Blackwell charge.
Final disposition:
The property has been remodeled into a
private home.
12. Centennial ME
[no picture]
Location: [exact location not known]
Municipality: Mill Creek township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
[exact location not known]
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1917,33 – permission to sell
1918,61 – proceeds of #331.86 reported
from sale of the church building
Brief History:
Erected in 1876,
Centennial was one of five church buildings (along with Bethel, Fairfield,
Fairview and Limestone) on the Fairview charge when it last reported a
membership – of 29, in 1916.
Final disposition:
13. Centennial UMC
[Cogan ME]
Address: 2800 Cogan House Road
Municipality: Cogan House township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
There were once
4 Methodist churches in the township on the Cogan Valley charge: Beech Grove,
Brookside, Centennial, White Pine. See The Early History of Cogan House Township
pages 233-236 and Cogan House Township:
The 1900’s pages 64-67 and 253-267..
On
11/8/2022 the congregation voted 15-0 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:
14. Chestnut Grove ME
Location: Funston Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Enter Lycoming County from Columbia County on PA 442. Proceed west 1 mile to Funston Road. Go north 1 mile on Funston Road to Ritter
Ridge Road. The church stood in the Y
formed by Funston Road and Ritter Ridge Road.
The church building stood inside Y, on the east side of Funston Road, by
the existing cemetery.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This is the predecessor congregation to
the Pine Summit UMC. After the Pine
Summit church was built in 1847, the Chestnut Grove church building was no
longer used for worship. It was moved
across to the west side of Funston Road and used for a school house. There are traces of the cemetery in the
triangle of ground that was the site of the Chestnut Grove Church.
Note: This is not to be confused with the Chestnut
Grove ME church in Columbia County (one mile north of Rohrsburg) or the
Chestnut Grove ME Church in Luzerne County (now Loyalville UMC).
Final disposition:
15. Crescent UMC
Location: Powys Road
Municipality: Hepburn township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Williamsport, go
north on Lycoming Creek Road 6 miles to the village of Powys, where Lycoming
Creek Road veers to the left and crosses the creek.. Go straight on Powys Road 1 miles to the Y
with Crescent Hill Road. Bear left on
Powys Road and continue 2 mile to the circle at the end of the road. The site is on the right, about 100 yards
before the circle at the end of the road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1885,40 – church building under
construction
1886,56 – church building completed
1982,256 – considered for possible sale
1983,272 - sold
Brief History:
This property was
deeded by William Weightman to the Crescent Union Church in 1883 and by the
Crescent Union Church to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Crescent in
1884. The intent was to provide for the
erection of a church building open to all orthodox denominations, but subject
to the rules of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Such a building was erected within a few years. The congregation never was large, and the
last reported membership was 3 in 1957.
Final disposition:
The June 15, 1983,
report of the conference trustees states that “Crescent Church, closed about
1956, was deeded to Rebert E. and Maria Derr and any and all heirs and assigns
of William Weightman to clarify the record of title and fulfill a clause that
the property is to revert back to the grantor if it is abandoned for use as a
church.”
When the new limited access highway was built
in 1992, the creek was relocated and the church building was torn down. A house from the relocation area was moved to
the site of the church
16. Duboistown UMC
Address: 133 Summer Street
Municipality: borough of Duboistown
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
1/19/2023 the congregation voted 18-3 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. Eagle UMC
Location: 1804 Bloomingrove Road
Municipality: Hepburn township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Williamsport, go
north on Blooming Grove Road (the extension of North Market Street) 1.5 miles
to Maybee Hill Road. The church is on
the northeast corner of Bloomingrove and Maybee Hill roads.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
2001,163 – abandoned
2002,S170 – merged into Heshbon Park
2002,280 – sale pending
2003,287 – sold to Word of Faith
Fellowship
Brief History:
This appointment
began in 1869 with Saturday night preaching in the original Eagle school house
by the pastors from First Church in Williamsport. In 1880 a new building was erected to be used
for both school and church. The
congregation finally erected their own church building in 1895 on the southeast
corner of Bloomingrove and Maybee Hill roads.
In 1960 the building was moved across Maybee Hill road to its present
location. In December 2000, the
remaining members decided to discontinue services at Eagle and begin worshiping
with Heshbon Park.
Final disposition:
The building now houses an independent
congregation.
18. Ebenezer UMC
[Fribley’s
EV]
Location: Beaver Lake Road
Municipality: Penn township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The church is on the
north side of Beaver Lake Road, about 6 miles northeast of Hughesville and 3
miles southwest of Beaver Lake – on the northwest corner of Beaver Lake and
Homles Hollow roads.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1969,196 – placed on Muncy Valley charge
1984,297 – discontinued
1984,289/290 – entered closed list
1987,286 – permission to sell
1990,353 – entered abandoned list
1994,350 – sold
Brief History:
For many years,
Ebenezer was one of the churches (along with Bethel, Franklin, Nordmont,
Sonestown and Unity Salem) on the 6-point EV/EUB Sonestown charge. In 1969 it was one of the churches that
changed charges as a result of re-alignment with the overlapping 7-point Muncy
Valley charge of former Methodist churches.
The property was deeded to the Evangelical Association in 1867, and then
(as a result of the denominational split) to the United Evangelical Church in
1895. Beginning about 1980, low
attendance and difficulties within the congregation and between the
congregation and the conference led to the demise of the appointment.
Final disposition:
The sale of the property included the
cemetery thereon (which had no burials since 1936), with the proviso that a
right of way to the cemetery exist for those wishing to visit or decorate
graves.
19. Ellenton UMC
Location: McIlwain Road, village of Ellenton
Municipality: McNett township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Canton, go south on PA 14 for 3.5 miles to Grover
Road. Go west on Grover Road 0.5 miles
to Ellenton Mountain Road. Go south on
Ellenton Mountain Road (following the turns to stay on Ellenton Mountain Road)
7 miles to the T at Ellenton. Go east
on McIlwain Road 100 feet. The church is
on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1911,38 – Ellenton circuit formed by
detaching Ellenton, Masten*, Shunk & Wheelerville from the Grover Mission
1983,322 – regular services
discontinued
1990,351 – enters discontinued list
1992,226 – enters abandoned list
1993,349 – sold
*Masten was founded as a lumber town in 1911 and is now a ghost town, the last
family having left in 1941, and only a few foundations remain. There never was a church building.
Brief History:
The class at Ellenton was organized in 1884 and
worshiped in the schoolhouse for over 30 years before erecting a church
building. The church was dedicated
10/12/1913. In May 1983 the congregation
decided to discontinue regular services, but to hold at least one service a
year in hopes that one day the church might be reopened on a regular
basis. This continued for several years
until services were permanently discontinued in 1990.
Final disposition:
The church property was sold to the
Ellenton Old Home Association. The
cemetery across the road continues under ownership of the Ellenton Cemetery
Association and was not part of the church property.
20. Emery ME
Location: Chapel Hill Road
Municipality: Woodward township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection
of the US 220 bypass with West Fourth Street at the west end of Williamsport,
go west 1.0 miles on ES 220 to Quenshukeny Road. Go north on Quenshukeny Road 2.2 miles to E.
Emery Church Road. Go west on E. Emery
Church Road 1.1 miles to Chapel Hill Road. Go north on Chapel Hill Road 0.1 miles. The present Christian church is on the right,
opposite the eastern terminus of W. Emery Church Road. The “Little Old White Church” of the
Christian church was erected in 1887 and stood in front of the lower entrance
to the present building, below the “Lycoming Christian Church” letters on the
wall. The cemetery pictured above, and
also known as Emery Cemetery, is across the road from the present church and
may or may not have been the site of the original pre-1887 church.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1882,120 – listed as one of six
appointments on the Salladasburg charge
Brief History:
The Emery Church,
named for the area’s Emery family, appears to have been in existence since
about 1830 – and predates the 1887 Christian Church at the site – but its exact
origins and ownership has not been determined.
There is evidence that the Methodists had a class there for several years,
but the appointment does not appear in the comprehensive 1915 list of all
appointments. One likely scenario is
that the original building was open to all denominations but that the Christian
Church erected their own building in 1887 and thus became the prevailing
denomination.
Final disposition:
This is the property/site of the Lycoming
Christian Church.
21. English Center UMC
Location: Little Pine Creek Road, village of English Center
Municipality: Pine township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of
English Center is on PA 287, 16.5 miles north of its southern terminus at US
220. From the intersection, between
Jersey Shore and Williamsport, of US 220 and PA 287, go north on PA 287 for
16.5 miles to Little Pine Creek Road and the village of English Center. Go west on Little Pine creek Road 0.4 miles,
to where the road turns left to cross the creek. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1979,261 – discontinued
1980,A80 – entered closed list
1981,A76 – available for Community Center
1982,256 – sold to English Center
Community Association
Brief History:
The history of the community of
English Center begins in 1831 when John English bought 150 acres on both side
of Little Pine Creek at what is now the western end of the village. In 1856, 38 acres of that property was laid
out in building lots, which included the ME Church and the school house. For many years the Baptists held services on
the alternate Sundays when the Methodist were not using the building. In the fall of 1977 the congregation voted to
temporarily cease holding services, and to re-evaluate the situation in two
years – at which time it was decided to close the church and dispose of its
religious furnishings appropriately.
Final disposition:
There is a small cemetery plot about ¾
miles from the church building that the Community Association has informally
agreed to be responsible for.
22. Fairview UMC
Address: Fairview Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Lairdsville, go 1 mile east on PA 118
to Beaver Run Road. Go 0.5 miles north
on Beaver Run Road to Hamman Road. Go
0.5 miles east on Hamman road to the Y with Fairview Road. Bear right onto Fairview Road and go 0.4
miles. The church and cemetery are on
the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2014,143 – merged into Franklin Bethel,
which was renamed Franklin Fairview
Brief History:
At the 1881 annual conference, George W.
Stevens was appointed pastor of Kedron Circuit.
The circuit history states: “By hard, persevering work he built up the
charge greatly. During his year of
service Fairview church was built.” This
property was deeded to the Methodists in January 1882, and the center part of
the existing building was erected about one year later. An extension to the rear and a front
vestibule were added later.
Final disposition:
23. Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church
Address: 1301 Clayton Avenue
Municipality: Loyalsock township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of I-180 and Thirds
Street at the east end of Williamsport, go 1 mile west on Third Street to
Clayton Avenue. Go 3 blocks north on
Clayton Avenue to Sheridan Street. The
church is on the northwest corner of Clayton and Sheridan Streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1946 the Williamsport Council of
Churches sought to establish a church in the growing Faxon-Kenmar
area. A non-denominational survey of the
area showed a predominance of Lutheran families in the area, but when that
denomination decided not to pursue the opportunity the option was presented to
the Methodists, who had the second highest number of constituents.
In 1948, plans were begun. It was decided to sell the Limestone Church
property and use the funds for the new work.
The first unit, a basement sanctuary, was opened May 1, 1949, and the
second unit, the educational facilities above the basement sanctuary were
formally opened January 31, 1954. The
third and final unit, the present sanctuary, was opened November 25, 1962.
In 2005 the congregation purchased the
former Becht Elementary School across Sheridan Street
for offices and expanded ministries.
Unfortunately, the congregation began to age and diminish. In 200 the Becht
building was sold – and has since been replaced with a cluster4 of homes. The congregation voted to merge into Pine
Street effective July 1, 2024.
Final disposition:
24. Franklin Fairview UMC
Address: 1595 Route PA 42
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of US 220 and PA 42,
south of Muncy Valley in Sullivan County, go south 4 miles on PA 42. The church is on the left, at the county
line.
From the intersection of PA 118 and PA 24,
near Unityville in Lycoming County, go north 4 miles on PA 42. The church is on the right, at the county
line.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 2014 Franklin Bethel received the
members of nearby Fairview UMC and was renamed Franklin Fairview.
On 3/7/2023 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
Final disposition:
25. Friedens EV
Location: Canoe Run Road
Municipality: Mifflin township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Salladasburg,
go west on PA 973 for 0.4 miles to Canoe Run Road. Go south on Canoe Run Road
for 1.6 miles. The site is on the left,
soon after Toms Run Road goes off to the west.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This property was
deeded to the Evangelical Association in 1853 and appears to be the oldest
Evangelical work in the area. Friedens,
Mt. Pleasant and Salladasburg were separated from the Jersey Shore circuit in
1903 to form the Salladasburg charge Services here ceased in 1947, with the
final worship service on 11/30/1947 and the final Sunday School session on
12/7/1947.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Edward Greenaway in 1969. The building
has been razed and the site cleared.
Apparently there was a small cemetery a short distance away, whose fate
is not known.
26. Green Valley ME
Location: Green Valley Road
Municipality: Moreland township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Hughesville, go 2 miles east on PA 118 to Green Valley
Road. Turn north on Green Valley Road
and go 2 miles. The site is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1947,29 – declared abandoned, conference
trustees authorized to sell, proceeds to Hughesville
1952,54 – sold for $180, proceeds to
Hughesville
1954,54 – sold for $180
1982,256 –
considered for sale
Brief History:
Green Valley was
part of the large Picture Rocks circuit and appears in the list of churches on
that circuit for the last time in the supplemental statistics in the 1933
journal.
Final
disposition:
The Green Valley file at the conference
archives contains an agreement dated January 31, 1952, to sell the church
property, but not the cemetery, to the “Evangelical Lutheran Mt. Zion Church.” But the file also contains a letter dated
March 17, 1982, agreeing to sell the church lot and the cemetery lot to
adjacent landowner Dean Schreffler.
Reference to this property appear
inconsistent and confusing. The 1954
journal identifies it as “Green Valley Church on the Sunbury charge,” but there
was no Sunbury charge – only a Sunbury District – at that time. The May 17, 1951, minutes of the conference
trustees and the 1952 journal refer to this as “Green Valley church on the
former Jonesville charge,” but there was never a Jonesville charge – only a
Jonestown charge, in Columbia County. In
other trustee minutes, Charles Berkheimer refers to it as “Green Valley on the
Hughesville charge.” At any rate, the proceeds appear to have gone to the
Hughesville charge. But the 1982 journal
reference defies explanation.
27. Heilmans UMC
Address: 2792 Kehrer Hill Rd
Municipality: Upper Fairfield township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
11/20/2022 the congregation voted 22-0 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:
28. Hepburnville ME
Location: 52 Bair Drive
Municipality: Hepburn township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Go north from Williamsport on Lycoming Creek Road (old US
15) for 4.2 miles from where High Street turns north and becomes Lycoming Creek
Road. Turn west onto Bair Drive (0.1
miles after PA 973 goes off Lycoming Creek Road to the east). Go west on Bair Drive 100 yards. The building is on the north side of the
road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1887,58 – building improved
1893,70 – building improved
1915,70 – listed on Trout Run charge
1917,33 – permission to sell
1918,34 – $331.79 proceeds from sale
Brief History:
Final disposition:
In 1929 the Hepburnville Presbyterian
Church purchased the property for a social and community center, and it became
the property and meeting place of the Lycoming Creek Lions Club.
29. Hoppestown ME
[no picture]
Location: [exact location not known]
Municipality: Plunketts Creek township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the village of Loyalsockville
on PA 87, go north on PA 87 11.0 miles to Dunwoody Road (which is 0.8 miles
past Lower Barbours Road. Turn left on
Dunwoody Road and go 0.5 miles to the village of Barbours. Continue straight, across the creek, on
Proctor Road. Continue north 2.0 miles
on Proctor Road to the village of Proctor.
Continue straight 2.0 miles on Hoppestown Road to the area known as
Hoppestown.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1899,124 – listed in
Statistics #5 as one of the 7 appointments on the Loyalsock charge
Brief History:
Hoppestown is the name given to the area where Moch
Creek joins Punketts Creek – 2.25 miles from the mouth of Plunketts Creek. It is not known how much before 1899 or under
what circumstances the appointment began.
Services were being held here as late as 1912, but they had been
discontinued by 1918. The Loyalsock
charge did not respond to the 1915 comprehensive listing of the status of all
appointments, and so it is not known whether the appointment had a church
building.
Final disposition:
30. Hughesville Bethany UMC
Address: 111 S. Second Street
Municipality: borough of Hughesville
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA 405 and PA 118
in the center of Hughesville, go one block east on PA 118 to Second
Street. Go one block south on Second
Street to Academy Street. The church is
on the southeast corner of Second and Academy streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
2018, 143 – merged into Hughesville Christ
to form The Beacon UMC
Brief History:
Following a revival held in Marten Hill’s
workshop on Main Street, the Evangelical Association organized a class in 1865
and erected a frame church building in
1866 on the west side of Second Street, between Water and Academy. The present brick structure was built in
1897. The Sunday School unit was added
in 1962. On January 1, 2018, Hughesville
Bethany and Hughesville Christ (former Methodist Episcopal) united to form a
single congregation named The Beacon UMC and meeting in the former Methodist
building.
Final disposition:
The Beacon UMC sold the former Bethany
property.
31. Jersey Mills ME
Location: community of Jersey Mills
Municipality: McHenry township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Jersey
Mills is on PA 414, 5.5 miles north of Waterville.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In the conference journals, Jersey Mills is one of the 5
(along with East Hill, Safe Harbor Tombs Run and Waterville) listed
consistently for the Waterville charge in the #5 statistics of the late 1890’s
and the missionary contribution reports of the early 1900’s. The Jersey Mills Methodist church appears to
be listed as a polling place in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Final disposition:
The building is now a
private home.
32. Jersey Shore Epworth UMC
Location: 110 Oliver Street
Municipality: borough of Jersey Shore
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the central
intersection in Jersey Shore at Allegheny and Main Streets (at which point PA
44 south heads east on Allegheny Street to cross the Susquehanna River), go
west on Allegheny Street about 1 mile to Oliver Street – one block before the
Bridge Street/Thomas Street connector to the US 220 bypass. The church is on the southeast corner.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1999,217 – merged into Jersey Shore First
Brief History:
The area where
the church is, on the hill on the west edge of town by the railroad, was called
the Junction and/or West Jersey Shore.
The Methodist work there grew through a number of specific events. In 1889 the pastor of First church took up an
appointment there every other week. In
1890 a joint Methodist-Evangelical revival resulted in 17 converts, ten of
which united with the (First) Methodist Church.
In 1893 an Epworth League was formed with 21 charter members. In 1895 a class was organized with 27 charter
members, 24 being transferred from First, and placed on a rural circuit with
Tomb’s Run, Waterville and East Hill (a school house appointment in Cummings
township). The first church building was
dedicated on the present site in 1896, the Epworth League and preaching
meetings having been held prior to that in Torbert Hall on Bridge Street. The church name “Epworth” was selected in
honor of the congregation’s Epworth League beginnings. An enlarged and remodeled building was
dedicated in 1913. That building was
destroyed by fire and replaced by the existing structure in 1921. A large Sunday School auditorium was added in
1951. Fire struck again in 1989, and the
while the sanctuary was saved the Sunday School auditorium was razed for a
parking lot. In 1999 the congregation
merged back into its mother congregation, First Church.
Final disposition:
The building is now the Jersey Shore
Public Library.
33. Limestone ME
Location: 1959 East Third Street
Municipality: Loyalsock township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
East Third Street is
the old US 220. The site is at the east
end of town, on the northwest corner of East Third Street and Westminster
Drive.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1889,68 – building approaching completion
1890 – building dedicated
1893,70 building improved
Brief History:
The work here
began in 1877 as an outreach of the Third Street Church, as reported in the
November 1877 Central Pennsylvania
Conference News as a new mission “located at the lime kilns about midway
between Williamsport and Montoursville.”
In 1931 a Mr. Mark Krause provided four lots at the corner of East Third
Street and Westminster Drive. The
building was moved on to an excavated basement, repainted, and given sidewalks
– at a cost of $5,000, all covered by Mr. Krause. After being on various appointments over the
years, Limestone was on a four-point charge with Bethel, Fairfield and Fairview
from 1918 until it was discontinued with a membership of 12 in 1948
Final disposition:
The building was sold,
with the proceeds going toward the new work at Faxon-Kenmar, and converted into
a motel. The old motel was torn down in
2008 and replaced by a modern Comfort Inn.
34. Linden UMC
Location: Front Street, town of Linden
Municipality: Woodward township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange
where US 220 and Fourth Street come together at the west end on Williamsport,
go west 1.0 miles on US 220 to Front Street.
Turn south on to Front Street, into the town of Linden, and proceed 0.1
miles. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2003,171 – merged into Pine Run UMC
(former Evangelical/EUB church)
Brief History:
This building was
constructed before 1892, as it appears in Meginness’ 1892 History of Lycoming County.
It was served on the Salladasburg Methodist charge, and then with
Duboistown/Nisbet before being realigned in 1970 with the former
Evangelical/EUB Pine Run and St. John’s Chapel congregations. Linden merged into Pine Run in 2003, and St.
John’s Chapel followed suit in 2014. A
final Celebration of Ministry service was held 6/22/2003.
Final disposition:
The property was 1/2/2004 to Victory
Baptist Church of Jersey Shore.
35. Loyalsock ME
Location: PA 87, village of Loyalsockville
Municipality: Upper Fairfield township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the
Montoursville interchange of I-180 and PA 47, go north 4.1 miles to the village
of Loyalsockville. The church is on the
right.
Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
It appears that
the noted Methodist layman William Molyneux (1761-1848) of Forksville, Sullivan
County, was instrumental in the organization of this class. There seems to have been a Methodist church
building here at least from 1848 to 1860, but it appears to have fallen out of
Methodist hands while the territory was still part of the Genesee Conference –
perhaps in 1872. In 1882 the land and
the church building were deeded to the Evangelical Association.
Final disposition:
36. Loyalsockville UMC
Location: PA 87, village of Loyalsockville
Municipality: Upper Fairfield township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the
Montoursville interchange of I-180 and PA 47, go north 4.1 miles to the village
of Loyalsockville. The church is on the
right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1996,199 – merged into Warrensville
1997,317 – abandoned
1998,347 – sold to Old Time Baptist Church
Brief History:
This land and
building were deeded to the Evangelical Association in 1882, apparently having
previously been “the Methodist Church of Loyalsock.” As an Evangelical church, it was always
served in connection with Warrensville.
For years the 5-point Warrensville charge consisted of Heilmans.
Loyalskockville, Mt. Zion, Rose Valley and Warrensville. Rose Valley was placed with Balls Mills in
1961, and the remained 4-point charge continued until 1996 – when
Loyalsockville merged into Warrensville and Mt. Zion was placed with the nearby
former Methodist churches at Fairfield and Farragut.
Final disposition:
37. Mapleton UMC
Location: Highland Lake Road
Municipality: Shrewsbury township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection
of PA 864 and US 220 in Picture Rocks, go 2.2 miles north on US 220 to the
village of Tivoli. At the north end of
Tivoli turn east onto Highland Lake Road.
Go 2.3 miles on Highland Lake Road.
The church is on the right, just after the intersection with Birch Still
Road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1995,221/336 – abandoned
1997,315 – sold
Brief History:
This appointment
was originally part of the Clarkstown charge and met in the school house. Rev. J.W. Rose began accumulating a building
fund in 1893, and construction finally began under Rev. S.B. Bidlack in the
summer of 1903. The church building was
dedicated 12/2/1903.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to Mapleton
Community for $10,000.
38. Maple Springs UMC
Address: 154 Maple Springs Road
Municipality: Lycoming township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
10/23/2022 the congregation voted 34-2 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. Marsh Hill UMC
Location: Pleasant Stream Road, village of Marsh Hill
Municipality: McIntyre township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Ralston, go south 3 miles on PA14 to Pleasant Stream
Road. Go east, across the creek, ½ mile
into the village of Marsh Hill. The
church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1916,66 – listed as a school house appointment
on the Ralston charge
1922,77 – new church building dedicated
5/21/1921
2005,233 – discontinued
2006,338 – sale pending
2007,329 – disposal of property
Brief History:
When the nearby lumbering town of Red Burn was abandoned
in 1895, the church building was given to the town of Marsh Hill. It was disassembled, hauled by horse and
wagon, and rebuilt on a donated lot. At
first an independent community church, it was deeded to the Methodists in
1919. The parking lot east of the
building was acquired in 1956
Final disposition:
The building is now a private residence.
40. Masten EV
[no picture]
Location: town of Masten
Municipality: Cascade and McNett townships
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
1931,56 – discontinued; members transferred
to Ellenton
Brief History:
Masten was a lumber
mill company town from 1905 to 1930, served as the site of a Civilian
Conservation Corps camp from 1933 to 1940, and the last family left it in 1941.
Since then it has been a ghost town and the site serves as the trailhead for
the Old Loggers Path, a loop hiking trail.
Final disposition:
41. McIntyre ME
Location: ghost town of McIntyre
Municipality: McIntyre township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The town of McIntyre was atop McIntyre Mountain, one mile
north of Ralston, east of PA14. McIntyre
Mountain Road exits Ralston to the east and circles around the mountain to
climb it from the east.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1884,144 – listed in missionary statistics
Brief History:
The town of
McIntyre once boasted 1500-2000 people, 300 homes, running water, and even fire
hydrants. The large church and cemetery
were Presbyterian. The 1876 county
history records that the Methodists worshiped weekly in the school house, and
it appears that there never was a Methodist-owned structure – but there was a
congregation for at least 10 years. The
appointment was on the Ralston charge.
Final disposition:
The entire town is gone and the land
overgrown. The only readily visible
remainders are a few tombstones among the growth in the once large cemetery.
42. Mill Creek UMC
Address: 2255 Warrensville Road
Municipality: Loyalsock township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
2/25/2023 the congregation voted 11-5 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
43. Moreland [Opp] ME
Location: Cemetery Road, village of Opp
Municipality: Moreland township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From PA 405 in Muncy,
go 7 miles east on PA 442 to the village of Opp. Immediately before crossing Muncy Creek at
the east end of the village, turn north on to Cemetery Road. Go ¼ mile on Cemetery Road. The site is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1899,121 – re-activated on Washingtonville
charge
1904,69 – church building repaired
1915,29 – permission to sell
1916,33 – $150 proceeds of the sale of the
Opp church on the Washingtonville charge
1922,37 – $151 proceeds from placed in
Annuity Fund
Brief History:
It appears that the Methodists erected
this building when they denied the use of existing buildings of other
denominations – because of their boisterous shouting and preaching, and because
of that the building was also referred to as the Brimstone Church. The 1876 county history makes note of the
building, but the 1892 county history says that the building is currently not
in use.
Final disposition:
The church building was dismantled 12/1938
by Sylvanis Wagner, who used the wood and windows in buildings on his farm –
about one mile southeast of the site.
The cemetery remains and is cared for locally.
44. Mount Pleasant EV
Location: PA 973
Municipality: Watson township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Salladasburg, go
3.5 miles west on PA 973. The building
is on the southeast corner of PA 973 and Ridge Road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Susquehanna Conference 1969,196 – merged
into Tombs Run
Central Pennsylvania Conference 1969, 143
– merged into Tombs Run 1/15/1969
Brief History:
This congregation grew out of a Sunday
School which met in the Harer schoolhouse and was sometimes known as Harer’s
Church. The building was dedicated
December 24, 1876 while the appointment was on the Jersey Shore circuit. For many years (1903-1941) the appointment
was with Freidans and Salladasburg on the three-point Salladasburg charge. Mt. Pleasant (former EUB) merged into Tombs
Run (former Methodist) on January 15, 1969.
Final disposition:
The building is now a private residence.
45. Mount Zion UMC
Address: Martins Road
Municipality: Piatt township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of US 220 and PA
287, go ½ mile east on PA 220 to Martins Road (at the eastern end of US 220
being a divided highway – there is a 100 foot section of road between the two
parts of US 220). Go north on Martins
road ¼ mile. The church is on the left,
as the road turns to the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Mount Zion merged into
Salladasburg October 1, 2018.
Final disposition:
46. Mount Zion UMC
Location: Carey Hill Road
Municipality: Upper Fairfield township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the
Montoursville interchange of I-180 and PA 47, go north 2.2 miles on PA 87 to
Farragut and PA 864. Continue north on
PA 87 0.2 miles to the T with Carey Hill Road.
Bear right onto Carey Hill Road and go 2.0 miles. The church is on the left, where Green Hollow
Road goes off to the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
2005,233 – merged into Farragut
Brief History:
Services here were held in Osburn school
house until the church building was erected in 1878. This church was on the Warrensville charge
until 1996, when it was placed with the former Methodist congregations of the
Farragut – Fairfield charge.
Final disposition:
47. Oregon Hill Calvary UMC
Location: 1410 Oregon Hill Road
Municipality: Pine township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the
intersection, between Jersey Shore and Williamsport, of US 220 and PA 287, go
north on PA 287 for 16.5 miles to the village of English Center. Continue another 6.5 miles north on PA 287
to Oregon Hill Road. Go 1.4 miles west
on Oregon Hill Road. The site is on the
right, across from the cemetery.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1917,54 – new roof
1980,A80 – enters closed list
1981,A76 – permission to sell
1982,255 - sold
Brief History:
The 1939
conference history ways the building was erected sometime after 1912, but the
1892 Meginness county history states there were two churches, Evangelical and
Methodist, in Oregon Hill. Archival
records indicate the property was deeded to the Evangelical Association in 1872
and sided with the United Evangelicals during the denominational split. It was
always part of the 5-point Liberty charge: Beuters, Liberty and Nauvoo in Tioga
County; Buttonwood and Oregon Hill in Lycoming County. EUB services appear to have been discontinued
about 1959, but the building was maintained and used for worship by persons in
the community – who eventually left the denomination to become Oregon Hill
Grace Chapel.
Final disposition:
The building became Oregon Hill Grace
Chapel, an independent church, which is currently (2019) planning to relocate to 35 acres and a new building on PA
414 between Morris and Liberty.
48. Oregon Hill ME
Location: Oregon Hill Road
Municipality: Pine township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection, between
Jersey Shore and Williamsport, of US 220 and PA 287, go north on PA 287 for
16.5 miles to the village of English Center.
Continue another 6.5 miles north on PA 287 to Oregon Hill Road. Go 1.3 miles west on Oregon Hill Road. The site is on the right, before the existing
church building.
Historic Conference:
Central
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1892,59 – “modest but comfortable” church
dedicated 11/8/1891 at cost of $600
1913,44 – permission to sell
1918,34 – $20 proceeds
from sale of lot
Brief History:
The history of this site is sketchy. A November 19, 1891, article in the Wellsboro
Gazette notes the dedication of Oregon Hill M.E. Church. It appears that the Methodists moved an old
school building to the site in 1891 and maintained an appointment here until
about 1912.
Final disposition:
The 160x100 lot is now
privately owned.
49. Oriole UMC
Address: 30 Main Road, village of Oriole
Municipality: Limestone township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
1/29/2023 the congregation voted 24-0 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:
50. Oval UMC
Address: 6796 South PA Route 44
Municipality: Limestone township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation’s history began 4/25/1876 when a piece of property was
purchased from George and Jane Clark for $50.
By 12/24 of that same year, a church building at that location was
dedicated (and paid for). In the spring
of 1963, the church had to be moved back to accommodate the widening of the
highway. A full-sized basement was dug
directly behind the structure and the church building was moved back. In the late 1960’s, the basement was finished
off and partitioned into five classrooms.
On
1/29/2023 the congregation voted 42-3 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:
51. Pine Run UMC
Address: 1719 Pine Run Road
Municipality: Woodward township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Williamsport, go 7 miles west on
US220 to Pine Run Road. Go 2 miles north
on Pine Run Road. The church is on the
west side of the road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Church.
Journal references:
2023,181 – disaffiliated
Brief History:
Evangelical preaching in the area began in
homes in 1885. The first church building
was erected in 1887 across the road from the present structure. The present building was erected in 1916, and
the basement dug out for classrooms and modern plumbing in 1954. The appointment was on the 5-point Lycoming
charge (with St. Johns’s Chapel, Sate Road, Quiggleville and Maples Springs)
until 1959, when it was placed on the Salladasburg charge. Pine Run disaffiliated from the United
Methodist Church 7/14/2022.
Final disposition:
The congregation now
operates as an independent church.
52. Proctor UMC
Location: 213 Hoppestown Road, community of Proctor
Municipality: Plunkett Creek township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the
village of Loyalsockville on PA 87, go north on PA 87 11.0 miles to Dunwoody
Road (which is 0.8 miles past Lower Barbours Road. Turn left on Dunwoody Road and go 0.5 miles
to the community of Barbours. Cross the
creek and continue another 2.0 miles to the community of Proctor. The church is on the left, at the far end of
town, on Hoppestown Road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1986,346 – discontinued
1986,212/214 – closed
1987,286 – deed secured
1990,353 – abandoned
Brief History:
The community of
Proctor began in 1868 when Thomas Proctor established a large tannery there
(because of the presence of the hemlock trees whose bark was needed for
tanning) and provided employment for many people. The Methodists worshiped in the schoolhouse
for many years before erected a building in 1895. Three years after the church was built, the
tannery stopped operating (because chemicals were developed that eliminated the
need for hemlock bark in the tanning process) and the village became a ghost
town.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to
the Proctor Community Association in 1994 for $8,000. The property was advertised for sale by the
Proctor Community Association in 2017.
53. Quaker Hill EV
Location:
Northway Road, at Quaker Hill Road
Municipality: Eldred township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Warrensville, go west on PA 973
1.7 miles to Northway Road. Go south on
Northway Road 0.5 miles to Quaker Hill Road.
The site is on the east side of Northway Road, at the terminus of Quaker
Hill Road.
Historic
Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
1919,50 – church building erected
1920,50 – church building completed at
$1600, $400 surplus to be used to erect a tower
1929,62 – discontinued
1933,52 – church building repaired by
community, sheds sold by conference board of trustees
1943,43&93 – sale recommended, funds to
parsonages on mission appointments
1944,31&75 – $150.00 received from sale
1946,95 – church building sold;
modification of 1944,88&90 sale statement
Brief
History:
The Quaker Hill church
was erected in 1918 and added to the Warrensville charge. It never had a large membership and was
closed by the time of the conference’s 1939 centennial history.
Final
disposition:
The buildings have been
razed and the cemetery sold to the Quaker Hill Cemetery Association.
54. Richart’s Grove ME
Location: Richart Grove Lane, community of Richart’s Grove
Municipality: Jordan township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of PA 118 and PA 42, go 2 miles east
to Keller Hollow Road. Turn right and go
¼ south on Keller Hollow Road to Hall Road.
Turn right on Hall Road and go ¼ mile to Richart (Richard) Grove
Lane. Turn right on Richart Grove
Lane. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Journal references:
1895,55 – new church building nearing completion
1896,66 – new church building completed
Brief History:
The cornerstone
reads “Richart’s Grove ME Church – September 17, 1893.” The congregation worshipped in a nearby
school house before receiving the land from Mr. George Yorks. In the early 1900’s Richart’s Grove was on
the Jamison City charge. In 1968, while
part of the large 7-point Muncy Valley charge, the congregation sought to
become independent. As of 1970,
Richart’s Grove was no longer listed as an appointment.
Final disposition:
The building now houses an independent
congregation.
55. Salladasburg EA
[no picture]
Location: Main Street
Municipality: borough of Salladasburg
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection, between Jersey Shore and
Williamsport, of US 220 and PA 287, go north on PA 287 for 3.7 miles to Main
Street. Bear to the right on Main Street
into Salladasburg and proceed 0.2 miles to Pine Run Road. The building stood at the north end of the
present cemetery
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building is
shown in the 1873 county atlas as an “Albright Church.” The 1892 Meginness county history states that
the borough of Salladasburg has three churches – Methodist, Evangelical and
Lutheran. Nothing else is known about
this building or congregation, and it is assumed to have been lost in the 1894
split. When the Jersey Shore circuit was
created by the Evangelical Association in 1871 it is reported to have included
appointments gathered from the Lock Haven, Clinton and Lycoming circuits at Germany (Swissdale), Frontonia, Wayne,
Pine, Nippenose, Friedens, Salladasburg, and Jersey Shore.
Final disposition:
56. Salladasburg Bethany EV
Location: Main Street
Municipality: borough of Salladasburg
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection, between Jersey Shore and
Williamsport, of US 220 and PA 287, go north on PA 287 for 3.7 miles to Main
Street. Bear to the right on Main Street
into Salladasburg and proceeds 0.3 miles.
The building is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference 1969,105/143 – merged into former Salladasburg Methodist
Susquehanna Conference 1969,196 – merged
into former Salladasburg Methodist Church
Brief History:
About 1901 Rev.
C.L. Sones of the Jersey Shore circuit began holding services and organized a
class in the unused Lutheran church building.
Interest grew, and the Lutheran building became Bethany United
Evangelical Church. In 1903 Salladasburg
and Mt. Pleasant and Freidans were taken from the Jersey Shore circuit and
organized as the Salladasburg charge.
Final disposition:
The building is now a private home.
57. Slate Run ME
Location: PA 414, village of Slate Run
Municipality: Brown township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Waterville, go
1.6 miles north on PA 44 to PA 414.
Continue straight on PA 414 14.2 miles to the village of Slate Run. The church is on the right, just past the
general store on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1885,40 – 2 church buildings [Slate Run
and Tombs Run?] erected on Waterville Charge
1893,71 – new Sunday School room added
1903,79 – improvements made
1970,119 – no longer listed in journal
1980,A80 – enters closed list
1981,A76/203 – permission so sell/sold
1982,256 – sold
Brief History:
This property was
deeded to the Methodists by George W. Tomb and wife in 1896, but the church
building appears to have been erected about 1885. Regular worship services were
discontinued in 1968, with 7 persons still on the membership rolls. Sunday School was continued for several years
before the building was permanently closed.
Final disposition:
58. South Williamsport Christ UMC
Location: 1116 W. Southern Avenue
Municipality: borough of South Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
W. Southern Avenue [PA 654] crosses US 15 in South
Williamsport at the first stoplight south of the Susquehanna River. The church is west of US 15, on the north
side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
2000,155/S-122 – merged into South
Williamsport Grace/members transferred out
Brief History:
The work began
here in 1885 when the superintendent of the Altoona District of the Allegheny
Conference met with United Brethren persons who had moved here from
Duncannon. The neighborhood was
canvassed, and a class of 12 members was organized. This is their third church building on the
site. The First chapel was erected in
1887 (but severely damaged by the flood of 1889). A second (completely rebuilt) structure was
dedicated in 1910. The existing
building, for which the cornerstone was laid in 1925 by Billy Sunday, was
dedicated in 1927.
Final disposition:
The three properties on Southern Avenue
were sold in 2001 to Rodney Bower who paid $70,000 for the church building and
the parking lot and $20,000 for the parsonage.
59. South Williamsport UMC
Location: 1406 W. Southern Avenue
Municipality: borough of South Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
W. Southern Avenue [PA 654] crosses US 15 in South
Williamsport at the first stoplight south of the Susquehanna River. The church is west of US 15, on the north
side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1884,38 – building
under construction following Church Extension Plan No. 4
1886,56 – building completed at cost of
$3500
1894,71 – foundation raised, gallery
removed, seating increased by 75
2007,219 – merged into South Williamsport
Grace [re-named South Williamsport UMC]
Brief History:
This work began
in 1881 the schoolhouse on the corner of Central Avenue and Clark Street with
Sunday School and occasional preaching services by area Methodist clergy. It then became a formal mission project of
Williamsport Grace. In 1883 the group
became its own congregation and moved to Billman Hall before erecting a wooden
chapel on land received from the Williamsport Land Company at the present
location in 1885. That building was
struck by lightning and destroyed by fire in 1917. The present stone sanctuary was dedicated in
1920, and the Christian education complex was added in 1967.
Final disposition:
60. St. John's Chapel UMC
Address: 1619 Chapel Hill Road
Municipality: Anthony township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the west end of Williamsport and the
end of the US 220 by-pass, go 7 miles west on US 220 to Pine Rune Road. Go north on Pine Rune Road 6 miles to Chapel
Hill Road. Take a very sharp turn east
on Chapel Hill road and go ½ mile. The
church building is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
2014,143 – merged into Pine Run
Brief History:
This building was erected in 1871 on
ground donated by John Kiess and moved in 1949 to ground donated by Francis
Woodling. Pine Run and St. John’s Chapel
were on the Lycoming circuit from their beginnings until 1959, when they were
transferred to the Salladasburg charge.
In 1970 they were made a three-point charge along with the former
Methodist appointment at Linden. Linden
merged into Pine Run 2001, and St. John’s Chapel followed suit in 2014.
Final disposition:
61. Steam Valley EV
Location:
Municipality: Cogan House township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building was erected by the Church of Christ, which
had a congregation in the area for about 10 years and dedicated in November
1884. Open “to all and any other
religious denominations for the worship of Almighty God when no so occupied by
the Disciples”, it appears to have been used by the Evangelicals. See The
Early History of Cogan House Township pages 228-230 and Cogan House Township: The 1900’s pages
79-82.
Final disposition:
62. Tombs Run UMC
Location: PA 973
Municipality: Watson township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the western
terminus of PA 973 on PA 44, go east ½ mile on PA 973. The church is on the right at the
intersection with T365.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1914,89 – church building destroyed by
fire and a new one erected
1969,105/143 – receives remaining members
of Mt. Pleasant (former Evangelical)
1994,220 – merged into Waterville
1996,314 – enters abandoned list
1997,317 – dropped from abandoned list
Brief History:
The work here
began when Methodist circuit riders visited the area in 1870 and held services
and revival meetings. In 1872, a Sunday
School began meeting in the room over Henry Tomb’s blacksmith shop. The January 15, 1885 Christian Advocate
reported the dedication of the church building, with the added note that “a
year ago there were only two members here.” That building was destroyed by fire
on 1/11/1913, and a new church building dedicated 12/23/1913.
Final disposition:
63. Unityville Salem UMC
Address: 8928 Moreland Baptist Road
Municipality: Jordan township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Hughesville, go east on PA118 15
miles to PA42. Go south on PA42 1.5
miles to the first crossroad. Go west on
Moreland Baptist Road 0.5 miles. The
church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal References:
1929,58 – preparing to erect a new
building “in the village” instead of “on the hill”
– apparently this did not
happen
Brief History:
The congregation began meeting in homes
and erected the nucleus of the present building on the lands of Gordon F. Mason
in 1845. The building and property were
deeded to the congregation in May 1846.
During the 1894-1922 split there were two Evangelical church buildings
in Unityville. From the 1922 formation
of the Central Pennsylvania Conference EV until the 1970 formation of the
Central Pennsylvania Conference UM, Unityville was part of the 6-point
Sonestown charge: Bethel, Ebenezer, Franklin, Nordmont, Salem, Sonestown. In 1970 Salem was placed on the 5-point
Unityville charge: Fairview, Franklin Bethel, Pine Center, Salem, Wesley
Chapel. In 2014 the Salem and Wesley
Chapel buildings were closed and the congregations merged into Pine Wesley,
meeting in the former Pine Center building.
Final Disposition:
64. Unityville UE
Location: 6021 PA 42
Municipality: Jordan township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Hughesville, go east on PA118 15
miles to PA42. Go south on PA42 1
mile. The building is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The building was
erected by those members of the Unityville Salem congregation that chose to
identify with the United Evangelical Church during the 1894-1922 denominational
split. When the denominations re-united,
the congregations re-united in the original Salem building.
Final disposition:
The building is now (2014) Taylor’s Bar
and Grill.
65. Warrensville ME
Location: 5964 Warrensville Road, village of Warrensville
Municipality: Eldred township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Montoursville,
go 5 miles north on PA 87 to PA 973. Go
east on PA 973 2 miles into Warrensville.
At the intersection with Warrensville Road (where PA 973 turns south),
go north on Warrensville Road ¼ mile.
The building is on the east side of the road.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This
building was erected in 1858 and used into the 1870’s, at which time the
congregation dispersed and the building was sold to the Good Temperance
Society.
Final disposition:
The building is now a private residence.
66. Warrensville UMC
Address: 4750 PA Route 87
Municipality: Eldred township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1962,122 – approval of building plans “in
principle”, subject to further study
Brief History:
On
10/23/2022 the congregation voted 25-0 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:
67. Waterville UMC
Location: Church Street, village of Waterville
Municipality: Cummings township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Jersey Shore,
go west on US 220 1 mile to exit 120, PA 44 north. Go north on PA 44 11 miles to
Waterville. Immediately after crossing
the bridge over Little Pine Creek, turn left onto Church Street and go 200
yards. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1884,39 – parsonage built
1885,40 – two churches erected on the
charge [Slate Run & Tombs Run?];
charge named changed from
Pine Creek to Waterville
1886,56 – new frame church erected at a
cost of $2000
1994,220 – receives remaining members of
Cammal and Tombs Run; renamed Pine Creek UMC
2001,163 – abandoned
2002,280/S154 – sale pending/members
withdrawn
2003,287 – sold to Cummings township
2004,173 – remaining members formally
transferred to Phelps Chapel
Brief History:
Methodist
circuit rider John Thomas began holding services in the house of John English
as early as 1805. The land for this
building was purchased in 1850 and the first church building was erected under
Rev. Gideon H. Day. The present
structure was erected in 1885.
Attendance dwindled over the years and the remaining members agreed to
cease hol;ding service as of March 11, 2001.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to Cummings township
in April 2002 for $20,000.
68. Williamsport Bennett Street EA
Location: Bennett Street
Municipality: City of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The building stood on the north side of Bennett Street, west
of the alley between Packer and Mulberry Streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
Brief History:
This class was
begun in 1869 by the English-speaking proponents of First EA Church on Market
Street. They worshipped in the Franklin
School until erecting a building in 1870.
The congregation lost the building when they sided with the United
Evangelicals in the 1894 split. The
congregation then erected First UE Church at the northeast corner of Packer and
Bennett Streets.
Final disposition:
This property was
eventually purchased by Lycoming College and the building razed to create a
parking lot.
69. Williamsport Calvary UMC
Location: 1400 W. Fourth Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Fourth Street runs
parallel to the river. From the
intersection of Market and Fourth Streets, go 14 blocks west on Fourth Street
toi Cemetery Street. The church is on
the northwest corner of Fourth and Cemetery Streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2006,233 – merged into St. Paul, which was
re-named St. Paul-Calvary
Brief History:
Final disposition:
The property was sold in
2008 and converted into the luxury Sanctuary Apartments
70. Williamsport First EA
Location: Market and North Streets
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The church stood on the southwest corner of Market and North
Street, where the Salvation Army building is today.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
1898,19
– request denied for Conference funds to erect new building
1899,21
– permission to solicit funds in the District
1902,22
– request for funds for new building sent to the general Church Extension
Society
1903,28
– permission to sell Newberry bldg and use funds to erect new Market Street
bldg
30 – permission to collect for new
building on Reading and Philadelphia Districts
1904,28
– permission denied to use funds from Newberry sale to remodel church
1905,30
– permission denied to solicit across the districts to relieve church debt
1908,27 – given funds from sale of
nearby “St. John’s”
Brief History:
This class was
organized in 1849 and erected its first church building in 1852. The congregation remained in the Evangelical
Association during the 1894-1922 split.
Immediately after the 1922 re-union First EA united with First UE to
erect the present First UMC in the triangle at Market and Packer Streets.
Final disposition:
The site is now home to the Salvation Army
church building.
71. Williamsport First UE
Location: Bennett and Packer Streets
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
The building stood on
the northeast corner of Packer and Bennett Streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church.
Journal references:
Brief History:
When the Bennett
Street congregation sided with the United Evangelicals and lost their building
in the 1894 split, they worshiped in the Curtin School (at the site of the
present First UMC) until erecting this building in 1895. Immediately after the 1922 re-union First UE
united with First EA to erect the present First UMC in the triangle at Market
and Packer Streets.
Final disposition:
The site is now a parking
lot for Lycoming College.
72. Williamsport First UMC
Address: 604 Market Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
On
1/18/2023 the congregation voted 218-20-1 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:
73. Williamsport Grace UMC
Location: 324 Campbell Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1884,38 – completed structure by addition
of planned annex
1885,40 – parsonage erected on adjoining
lot
Brief History:
Final disposition:
74. Williamsport High Street UMC
Location: 501 High Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1909,83 – tower added at corner,
auditorium enlarged, $5000 project
2002,S170 – merged into Williamsport
Wesley, named Hope
2006,233 – Hope merged into Williamsport
First
Brief History:
Final disposition:
75. Willamsport New Hope UMC
[Williamsport Wesley UMC]
[Williamsport Market Street ME]
Address: 1157 Market Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
76. Williamsport MP
Location: Sherman and Sheridan Streets
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
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:
This
congregation appears to have erected the “Wilson Street Methodist Church” at
Railway and Wilson Streets in 1875 and operated it until 1880 – at which time
that structure passed into the hands of the Evangelical Association. The church building at Sherman and Sheridan
was erected in 1888, and it is not known where (or if?) the congregation met in
the years from 1880 to 1888 – although the 1885 city directory identifies a
Methodist protestant congregation meeting “every Sunday in brick school house,
Lloyd’s addition” under Rev. Charles W. Crump with 30 members and 100 Sunday
School scholars.
Final disposition:
77. Williamsport MP
[no picture]
Location: Third Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette for 11/11/1938
page 10, “Sixty Years Ago Today [i.e., 11/11/1878]. The Methodist
Protestant denomination has opened the brick church on Third Street, below
Academy with the Rev. Alexander Manship as pastor.”
According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette for 2/28/1879, page 1, Rev. JH Timborman was
appointed to succeed Rev. Alexander Manship as pastor of “the Methodist Protestant
Church, Third Street.”
Final disposition:
78. Williamsport Mulberry Street ME
Location: 345 Mulberry Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection
of Market and Third Streets, go one block east on Third Street to Mulberry
Street. Go North on Mulberry Street ½
block. The site is on the left. The church building stood to the left of the
remaining house/parsonage.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1859, services
at Pine Street had become so crowded that it was recommended that another
Methodist Episcopal church be built in a different part of town. By 1860 some members of Pine Street and
students from Williamsport Dickinson Seminary (now Lycoming College) began
meeting tin the seminary chapel. In 1861
a request was made for a separate preacher to take charge of the group meeting
in the chapel and to erect a new building.
A lot on Mulberry Street was
purchased and the cornerstone laid August 6, 1862. The basement was completed and dedicated
January 8, 1863. The church was
completed and dedicated February 18, 1864.
The first building burned in 1868 and replaced by a new building in
1871. The second building was destroyed
that same year by a the great Williamsport fire of 1871. A third building was erected and dedicated in
1872.
In 1963, Mulberry Street merged into
Market Street to form Wesley Methodist Church.
High Street merged into Wesley in 2001 to form Hope United Methodist
Church. Hope merged into First United Methodist Church in 2006.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to Faith Tabernacle
, who moved around the corner to the former Elks building in 1972. The Mulberry Street building burned down in
1973, and the lot was cleared to provide parking for Faith Tabernacle. The former parsonage is still standing.
79. Williamsport Newberry EA
Location: Race Street, below Apple Street – Newberry
section of Williamsport
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
East Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Association
1903,28
– permission to sell building and use funds to erect new Market Street building
in Williamsport
Brief History:
This building
was erected in 1871 at a cost of $3000.
When the congregation sided with the United Evangelicals and lost their
building in the 1894 split, they worshiped in the local POS of A Hall before
erecting a new building at the corner of Newberry Street and Funston
Avenue.
Final disposition:
The Evangelical Association was unable to
sustain a congregation here after the 1894 split and finally sold the structure
in 1903. It is now a 4-unit apartment
building.
80. Williamsport Newberry UMC
Location:
Municipality:
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2004, 173 – merged into Williamsport St.
John’s to form Williamsport St. John’s-Newberry
Brief History:
Final disposition:
81. Williamsport Third Street UMC
Address: 931 East Third Street
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Third Street runs parallel to the
Susquehanna River and is a main thoroughfare in the city. From the main downtown intersection of Market
Street (the bridge across the Susquehanna River from South Williamsport) and
Third Street, go 9 blocks east on Third Street.
The church is on the north side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation developed from a Sunday
School started in 1866 by Miss Esther Adams of the Mulberry Street church. The first chapel was erected in 1867. A substantial church building was erected in
1885 and a parsonage next to the church in 1890. The enlarged 1885 building was destroyed by
fire in 1993 and replaced by a modern structure.
On
2/11/2023 the congregation voted 15-6-1 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:
82. Williamsport Trinity UMC
Address: 1971 Lycoming Creek Road
Municipality: Old Lycoming township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1940,167 – approve $5000 loan from Board
of Church Extension to rebuild after last year’s fire
1941,53 – new
building dedicated 11/3/1940
Brief History:
This congregation began as a Sunday School
outreach of Heshbon Park meeting in the Franklin School House. In September 1925, two lots were purchased at
the corner of Green Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. The rapid northward expansion of Williamsport,
however, prompted a change in plans and the first church building was erected
at the present location in 1927. That
building was destroyed by fire December 30, 1939, and replaced by the present
structure in 1940. Trinity merged into
Heshbon Park in August 2020.
Final disposition:
83. Williamsport Wilson Street Chapel EV
[no picture]
Location: Railway and Wilson Streets
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association
Journal references:
1883,27 – transfer of deed from Bennet
Street Church to Market Street Church
1886,9 – permission to sell
1887,16 – permission to
sell
Brief History:
This congregation
was a mission enterprise of First EA on Market Street. The building was erected in 1875 at a cost of
$1200 by the Methodist Protestant Church (and known as the Wilson Street Methodist
Church) until 1880, when it came into possession of the Evangelical
Association. The 1885 city directory
reports 50 members, 35 Sunday School scholars, and the same pastor as First EA.
Final disposition:
84. Williamsport Wilson Street Methodist Chapel MP
[no picture]
Location: Railway and Wilson Streets
Municipality: city of Williamsport
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The building was erected in 1875
at a cost of $1200 by the Methodist Protestant Church (and known as the Wilson
Street Methodist Church) until 1880, when it came into possession of the
Evangelical Association. The building
was known as “Methodist” and not “Methodist Protestant” because in the 1870’s
some northern churches in the Methodist Protestant Church broke away to form
the short-lived Methodist denomination, which later re-united back into the
Methodist Protestant Church.
Final disposition:
85. Wilson ME
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1898,69 – church building erected
Brief History:
The 1898 journal states:
“On Trout Run Charge two new churches have been erected. The first at Wilson appointment, at a cost of
$700.” Nothing more is known about this
building. It is not listed among the
1915 buildings on the charge, and none of the now closed buildings listed
(Bodines, Crescent, Hepburn) seem fit this time frame. It is possible that this is the Bodines
church, since Bodines was supposedly in existence in 1898 but is not listed in
the conference statistics and Wilson is – but an undocumented statement in the
Bodines file says the building there was erected 1890-91. Furthermore, Wilson is listed in the
missionary reports until 1903 and then Bodines is listed beginning in 1904 –
and the two are never listed in the same year.
Final disposition:
86. Woolever's ME
Location: PA 97
Municipality: Plunketts Creek township
County: Lycoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Loyalsockville, go north on PA 87 about 5 miles. Just after crossing Little Bear Creek, turn
left into Woolever Lane. The building is
on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church
Journal references:
1877,38 – church built, paid for, and
dedicated at Woodlands [sic] on the Loyalsock circuit
1918,83 – $35 raised for
repairs to the church
1933,61 – permission to
sell
Brief History:
Methodist preaching
in the area began in 1836. The church
building was erected in 1877, lumberman Edwin Woolever (1818-1897) being the
primary builder/patron of the structure.
His wife Esther Wheeland Woolever (1822-1907), a graduate of Dickinson
Seminary (now Lycoming College) was Sunday School superintendent for over 50
years. The last membership reported for the church was one member in 1927.
Final disposition:
The property/building was purchased by
Woolever heirs in 1932 for $50 and has been converted into a cabin. Apparently there was a cemetery connected
with the church, and at least five of those buried there were moved to the
Montoursville cemetery.