CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESE

CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THESUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each church is arranged in alphabetical order within counties. Select a county.

PIKE COUNTY PA

1. Glen Eyre ME

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Location: village of Glen Eyre
Municipality: Lackawaxen township
County: Pike
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Glen Eyre is on the Lackawaxen River, 7 miles west of Lackawaxen, where the Blooming grove Creek enters the Lackawaxen River. Ideally, one could follow PA 590 west of Lackawaxen for 5 miles to the village of Rowland, and then continue straight on Towpath Road for 2 miles when PA 590 turns north away from the river. But Glen Eyre is on the other side of the river ― and there is no longer an automobile bridge over the river.
From the intersection of I-84 and PA 739, go 5 miles north on PA 739 to US 6. Either (1) continue straight across US 6 onto Glen Eyre Road and go 5 miles to the village of Glen Eyre or (2) turn left on US 6 and go 2 miles to Club Road/Blooming grove Road, turn right and go 5 miles to the village of Glen Eyre. The area is very remote and over the years only one of the above 2 roads have been maintained for automobile travel.

Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
    1889 Framer's Picturesque Erie. Summer Homes, published by the railroad - "Glen Eyre has a population of 400, good public schools, a Methodist Church, and good general stores."
    1902 Susquehanna County Transcript - "The village of Glen Eyre, Pike County, was sold at auction a few days ago. The village consists of seven dwellings, one store house, blacksmith shop, barns and other buildings. Included in the sale was the pretty little depot erected by the Erie railroad company one year ago."
    1904 Chaffee's History of the Wyoming Conference - "Work was sustained at Glen Eyre Schoolhouse seven years, but is now abandoned."

Final disposition:
Unknown. It is unclear whether the Methodists ever owned the building used for worship in Glen Eyre.

2. Green Township MP

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Location: Running Bear Lane
Municipality: Green township
County: Pike
State: PA

Directions:
From Greentown, go south ½ mile on Hemlock Grove Road to Running Bear Lane. The property occupied the northeast corner of Hemlock Grove Road and Running Bear Lane.

Historic Conference:

Journal references:

Brief History:
The Methodist Protestant Church purchased 4 acres of unimproved land in 1859. This was just south of the Greentown [a.k.a. Kipptown] schoolhouse. It appears that the intent was to worship in the school house and erect a parsonage on this property, but the congregation never developed and the parsonage was later built at Hollisterville in Wayne County. There never was a church building on this site, and there probably was never a parsonage – but the site is listed because it was owned by the Methodist Protestant Church. The files and the archives include deeds and other information.

Final disposition:
The property was sold to S.R. Hazelton on July 29, 1915

Note: There were also Evangelical Association schoolhouse appoints in Green township at the Sugar Cabin and German Valley schoolhouses. These were on the Wayne circuit. See Newfoundland UEV in the Wayne County closed church files.

3. Hemlock Farms

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Location: 98 Willow Drive, community of Hemlock Farms in Lords Valley
Municipality: gated community in Lords Valley, Blooming Grove, Potter & Dingman twps
County: Pike
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the United Methodist Church

Journal references:
1971,71 – organized

Brief History:
In 1971, the Wyoming Conference “identified” with the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church in America, Lutheran Church in America and the United Presbyterian Church of the USA in sponsoring an ecumenical church at Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley PA. The church in this gated community in “nondenominational” and appear to have no United Methodist connection.

Final disposition:
The continuing congregation is “nondenominational.”

4. Lackawaxen ME

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Location: Scenic Drive, village of Lackawaxen
Municipality: Lackawaxen township
County: Pike
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Lackawaxen is on the Delaware River, along PA 590. Scenic Drive is a loop of PA 590 that runs between PA 590 and the Delaware River and goes into the main part of the village. The church is on the left side of Scenic Drive. 0.5 miles north of Delaware Drive and the bridge across the Delaware River into New York.

Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1900,62 – building re-roofed

Brief History:
The Lackawaxen circuit once covered a large portion of northern Pike County and included several preaching appointments, but most of them were schoolhouses. The Methodist class here held their first meetings in the Jeremiah Barnes house. The church at Lackawaxen was a union building erected by the Baptists and Methodists in 1848 on ground donated by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. The last report of the Lackawaxen charge, in 1913, indicated 2 church buildings [presumably Lackawaxen and Rowland] and a membership of 28.

Final disposition:
Union Cemetery and St. Mark's Lutheran Church now occupy the site.

5. Rowland ME
[Westfall Church]

Location: village of Rowland
Municipality: Lackawaxen township
County: Pike
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Rowland is on PA 590, 4 miles west of Lackawaxen.

Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1924,51 – permission to sell
     1925,92 – building sold to the Lutherans for $300
     1925,93 – cemetery transferred to a Cemetery Association
     1925,119 – Preachers’ Aid Society receives $300 from sale of Westfall Church

Brief History:
This building was dedicated November 24, 1869, on a lot donated by William Westfall. A part of the once-large Lackawaxen circuit, services here appear to have discontinued about 1913.

Final disposition:
The building is now Bethany Lutheran Church.