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
WYOMING COUNTY PA
1. Bardwell EV
Location: village of Bardwell
Municipality: Tunkhannock township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Bardwell is six miles
east of Tunkhannock on U.S. Rt. 6. The
old church, however, is on the other side of the creek from Saddle Lake Road,
but the old bridge was removed more than 20 years ago. To reach it, travel on
Rt. 6 about a mile east of the Saddle Lake Road intersection. After crossing
the creek, make a sharp left onto Bunker Hill Road. At the stop sign, continue
straight across the intersection onto Bardwell Road and the old church is a
mile ahead on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
1891,35 –
Mumbacher appointment [Bardwell] moved from Ransom circuit to Tunkhannock
Mission
1892,34 – Bardwell, Marcy and Dixon
[schoolhouse] from Tunkhannock Mission to West Brooklyn circuit
Brief History:
This building was erected
by the Evangelical Association in 1891 and dedicated 2/14/1892 by Bishop
Haman. It was claimed by both factions
following the 1894 denominational split and on October 30, 1895, while the Evangelical
Association was holding services, the United Evangelical sympathizes set off a
dynamite blast under the building. The
Evangelical Association maintained possession of the building, but the
congregation did not survive until the 1922 reunion.
The property was listed as unused until
about 1960, although a Union Sunday School was held during some of those
years. In 1965 the Methodists briefly
considered re-establishing preaching services but decided they had neither the
interest nor the proper jurisdiction to do so.
Final disposition:
The building is privately owned and operated as a
garage/repair shop.
2. Beaumont ME
[aka Monroe ME]
Location: Graveyard Hill Road, village of Beaumont
Municipality: Monroe township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Beaumont in on PA 309, about 5.5
miles north of Dallas. At the north end
of community of Beaumont, turn east on Graveyard Hill Road and go about 300
yards. The cemetery is on the right, and
the church building is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1894,31 – church building dedicated
last May
1955,1873 – declared
abandoned
1958,673 – sold to Monroe township for
$450; $400 to Beaumont Cemetery Association
Brief History:
The class purchased this lot in 1866, but
the church building was not erected for many years. It was dedicated May 28, 1893, as a union
church building.
Final disposition:
The building is now a storage
facility for Monroe township.
3. Bunnell Hill ME
Location:
Municipality: township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation worshipped in the school
house for many years until its church building was dedicated June 20,
1902. Worship serves here were
discontinued about 1938, and the congregation merged into the Meshoppen
church. Chaffee’s 1904 History of the Wyoming Conference, page
77, states that Wyalusing District Methodist camp meetings were held at Bunnell
Hill from 1871 to 1874, before the Dimock campmeeting site was selected.
Final disposition:
4. Crooked Lake [Lake Winola]
ME
Location: Church Road
Municipality: Overfield township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Tunkhannock, go south on PA 92
for 3.5 miles to PA 307. Go east on PA
307 for 2 miles to a “cross road” where the main road PA 307 bends south and
Dalton Road continue straight. Continue
straight on Dalton Road for 100 yards to Church Road. The church stood in the sunken field on the
southwest corner of Dalton and Church Roads, across from the cemetery. If you miss Dalton Road, go another 200 yards
and make a hard reverse left on to Church Road and go north 100 yards to Dalton
Road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Crooked Lake [later called Lake Winola]
merged with Mill City to erect the present Lake Winola UM Church on the other
side of the lake.
Final disposition:
The church was torn down. Only the
cemetery, across Church Road from the church site, remains. The last burial in the cemetery was in 1979
5. East Lemon United Methodist Church
Address: 1174 Avery Station Road, village of East Lemon
Municipality: Lemon township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The church is on Avery
Station Road, 2 blocks west of PA 92.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1996,224&302
– regular services discontinued, placed on limited service
Brief History:
When this building was
erected in 1871, it was said to be the largest church building in Wyoming
County. The congregation developed from
the Stark appointment, just east of East Lemon, which existed since about 1806
and which once had a building by the Starkville cemetery. Regular services here were discontinued from
1996 to 2000, but the congregation experienced a renewal of ministry and was
placed on a charge with Lemon and West Nicholson. The congregation closed permanently as of
6/30/2024.
Final disposition:
6. Keiserville ME
Location: community of Kaiserville
Municipality: Washington township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Tunkhannock go west 3 miles [or
from Russel Hill go east 1 mile] on US 6, to Keiserville Road. Go north 2 miles on Keiserville Road. The cemetery is on the right. The church building stood across the road
from the cemetery and slightly to the north.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1880,44 – church at “Keyserville”
remodeled for $340
1969,77 –
declared abandoned, sale authorized, proceeds to Meshoppen charge
Brief History:
This
appointment/building has also been known as Kaiserville and Vose. The community was originally called Witch
Hazel because of the witch hazel shrubs growing in the area. It was named Keiserville for Michael Keiser
who came from Philadelphia and bought the property along the creek. After 1866 it became known as Vose because
the post office was located in the Vose mill building that Keiser owned. With the closing of the mill and the post
office, the name reverted back to Keiserville, but now the spelling Kaiserville
prevails.
The Methodist building here was dedicated
July 17, 1853. For many years the
services were held Sunday evenings at 8.
In 1960 a student pastor was assigned, and the services were moved to
Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. so that he could return to his school each
week. This change was not well received,
and the attendance dropped to the point where the congregation was no longer
viable. Most of the members were
transferred to Russell Hill.
Final disposition:
The property was sold in 1969, with the
condition that the building be razed.
The altar and bell were taken to Russell Hill.
7. Marcy EV
Address:
Municipality: Tunkhannock township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The building is “located near the outlet of Lake Carey,
not far from the George Stark Mills.”
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania
Conference of the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1891,x – a new church building
being built on Tunkhannock mission
note: This may refer
to Bardwell and not Marcy.
1892,34 – Bardwell, Marcy and Dixon
[schoolhouse] from Tunkhannock Mission to West Brooklyn circuit
Brief History:
Newspaper reports indicate this building
was “dedicated
on Feb. 25, 1892, by Rev. John Messenger of the Scranton Evangelical Church and
Rev. Armstrong H. Irvine, Central Pennsylvania Evangelical Conference
Presiding Elder of the Lewisburg District.
This 24x36 edifice had a capacity for 175-200 people. Philip Crawford
Sunday School Supt. Among those in attendance: Pastors Calvin Dick and Stokes,
Mr. and Mrs. William Keeney, Mr. Oliver, T.K.Kishpaugh, James Squires, Isaac
Dewitt.”
Final disposition:
8. Meshoppen United Methodist Church
Address: 128 Church Street
Municipality: borough of Meshoppen
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the traffic light at
US 6 and PA 267, go 1 full block west on US 6 to Church Street. Go south on Church Street ½ block. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation started in the 1835
two-story Brick Chapel two miles west of town.
The first building in Meshoppen was erected in
1855 and replaced by the present structure in 1905. The education building was erected in 2000.
It is presently on a charge with Russell Hill.
On 11/22/21 the congregation voted 21-1 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.
9. Mill City ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Mill City merged with Crooked Lake [later
called Lake Winola] to erect the present Lake Winola UM Church on the other
side of the lake.
Final disposition:
10. Noxen MP
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: Noxen township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
1900,28 – property purchased in Noxen on
Monroe circui9tfor church purposes
1910,16 – concrete block church building
under construction
Brief History:
Final disposition:
11. Orcutts Grove MP
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: Monroe township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
1888,7 – deed for a church lot [on Bowman’s
Creek] secured and placed in hands of the treasurer
Brief History:
Final disposition:
12. Stull ME
[no picture]
Location: community of Stull
Municipality: Noxen township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
In Noxen,
go north on Main Street to Stull Road at the edge of town. Go west on Stull Road about two miles to the
community of Stull.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Local preacher James
Phoenix began holding services in the schoolhouse in the 1870’s. When he became too feeble to continue, the
Methodist Protestants took up the work.
In 1892 the Methodist Protestants discontinued the work and the pastor
from Center Moreland, upon appeal from the Stone family, took the appointment
under his wing and saw that it was supplied from Center Moreland and/or by
Wyoming Seminary students. The church
building was dedicated October 29, 1899 – the lot being a gift from the Albert
Lewis Lumber Company, which “built the church and contributed largely to the
success of the enterprise.”
Stull once had a post office, school, store and church and
once had as many as 500 residents. The mill burned down in 1902,
was rebuilt, but then was again closed for a last time in 1906. The local school closed in 1912. After the
closing of the sawmill, Stull shifted from lumber to
agricultural production and during WWI the remains of the sawmill
were scrapped for the war effort. The church closed about 1925.
Final disposition:
13. Thurston Hollow ME
Location: Thurston Hollow Road
Municipality: Eaton township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Centermoreland, go north 3
miles on Creamery Road to Margaret Hollow Road.
Turn left onto Margaret Hollow Road and go 1 mile to Thurston Hollow
Road. Turn left onto Thurston Hollow
Road and go 2.5 miles (when you pass Greenley BBQ on the left, you are about
half-way there. The site is on the
right, unidentifiable. The site
“Thurston Church” noted, with coordinates, on various maps and websites and
assumed to mark the location of the Methodist building.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1965,64 – abandoned; permission to sell the property
Brief History:
There was Methodist
preaching at Thurston Hollow at least as early as 1860, when the appointment on
the Centermoreland charge. In 1882 the
appointment was moved to the Eatonville circuit. This land was deeded to the
Methodists January 7, 1907, and the building was dedicated in 1908. The church has generally been associated with
the Centermoreland charge. Regular
services at the site ceased about 1940, but services were held there from time
to time by various religious groups until the building was destroyed by fire on
November 22, 1964.
Final disposition:
14. Tunkhannock Calvary EV
Location: southeast corner of Slocum Avenue and Clay Street
Municipality: borough of Tunkhannock
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From the center of town at Tioga and
Bridge Street, go 3 blocks west to Slocum Avenue. Go one long block north to Clay Street, the
first street going off to the east,
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Association
Journal references:
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association|
1900,21
– permission to solicit on Allentown District rather than sell part of the lot
1896,27
– permission to solicit in the Reading District to liquidate debt
1897,20
– permission to take out a mortgage rather than sell off the rear of the lot
1903,29
– permission to sell, if necessary
Brief History:
The Calvary Church of the
Evangelical Association of Tunkhannock was dedicated Nov. 6, 1887, with a
service officiated by Bishop Rudolph Dubs and every seat occupied. The congregation grew out of a revival held
in Piatt's Opera House in 1883. Rev. J.A. Hertz began Sunday services in
Billings Hall in 1884, with Sunday evening specifically in the German
language. He was followed by Rev. George
Burson in 1886, who held services in the Gravel Hill
School as did Rev. Harry A. Stoke, who was pastor when the church was built.
In the fall of 1894, when the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court ruled that the keys to Evangelical churches across the
Commonwealth belonged to those loyal to the Esher-Bowman
faction, Rev. G.W. Hiney and the Dubs faction meet in the Gravel Hill school, however. He
was succeeded by Rev. C.W. Hipple. Rev. Owen Butler was assigned by the
Evangelical Association to the church building, but it was difficult for him to
sustain a ministry. In 1895 when a
dynamite blast frightened those worshipping in the Bardwell Evangelical Church
four miles away, the 'outsiders' who had the keys to the Tunkhannock Church
decided to disband a week after the blast.
The Evangelical Association resumed
filling the Tunkhannock Church pulpit with J.W. Mussina
in 1896, followed by J.W. Romberger in 1898, J.E. Heberling
in 1899, and John Wesley Hammett in 1900. The Tunkhannock congregation was
stressed by the circumstances and sold the church building in 1903 for
$3,000.
Final disposition:
The building served as the
Tunkhannock Grange Hall until 1979, and is now a private residence.
15. Union Hill ME
Location: Grist Flat Road
Municipality: Mehoopany township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Going south on PA 87 through the
town of Mehoopany, turn left onto Sugar Hollow Road and cross Mehoopany
creek. Follow Sugar Hollow Road 1 mile
(sharp right turn and up a hill) to the cross roads (by the orchard) at the top
of the hill. Turn left onto Grist Flat
Road and go 0.5 miles to the Tarus Service business. The cemetery is on the left, immediately past
Tarus Service.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1886, Union Hill and Sugar Hollow were
taken from Mehoopany circuit and, along with Thurston Hollow and South Eaton
from Centermoreland circuit, placed with Eatonville to form the Eatonville
circuit.
Final disposition:
The church building is gone,
and only the associated cemetery remains.
16. Vernon ME
[aka Greens Wood ME]
Location: village of Vernon
Municipality: Northmoreland township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Vernon is on PA 292,
2 miles north of Centermoreland. The
building stood at the end of the Beaumont to Vernon Road, 40 yards west of PA
292, across from the cemetery.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1938,230 – unused for 12 years; permission
to sell
1939 (special session),15 – authorization
to sell
1940,668 – authorized to sell
1945,17 – discontinued and abandoned. Conference board of trustees directed to
sell.
Brief History:
This church was on the Centermoreland
charge. The class was formed before 1860
and called Green Woods, local preacher Samuel Harrison doing most of the early
preaching. They worshiped in a school
house until a church building was erected in 1874 and dedicated January 13,
1875. The 1939 entry states that it “has
been abandoned for several years.” The
building was torn down in the 1950’s, and a sawmill (now also gone) was built
in its place.
Final disposition:
The site is now an empty field.
17. Vose ME [see Keiserville]