CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT
BOUNDARIES OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Adams | Bedford | Blair | Bradford | Centre | Clearfield | Clinton | Columbia | Cumberland | Dauphin | Franklin | Fulton | Huntingdon| Juniata | Lackawanna | Luzerne | Lycoming | Mifflin | Montour | Northumberland | Perry | Pike | Potter | Schuylkill | Snyder | Sullivan | Susquehanna | Tioga | Union | Wayne | Wyoming | York
LUZERNE COUNTY PA
1. Alderson United Methodist Church
Address: Lakeside Drive [PA 415]
Municipality: Lake township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
The community of Alderson
is on the northeast corner of Harveys Lake. From
Dallas, take PA 415 north 4 miles to Harveys Lake. Continue around the east side of the lake on
Lakeside Drive [PA 415] for 2.5 miles to Kunkle Road. The church is on the right, just after the
intersection of Lakeside Drive and Kunkle Road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The first Methodist worship service originated in
1888 at Stull’s Picnic Ground at the north end of the lake. Meetings were held
in Lehigh Valley passenger coaches until Dec. 9, 1888, when permission was
granted to use the schoolhouse at the north end of the lake. A church was built
in 1896 and dedicated on Aug. 23 of that year.
The lot, large enough for a church building and a parsonage was donated
by Albert Lewis, Esq.
2. Askam United Methodist Church
Address: 2811 South Main Street, village of
Askam
Municipality: Hanover township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of
I-81 with PA 29, go two exits north on PA 29 to South Main Street. Go 1 mile west on South Main Street. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Askam used to be known as Hanover Center which had a Methodist society
dating back to 1788. Hanover had a first
church in the area in 1818, which fell into disrepair and was never rebuilt. In
1861, a wooden church was built. Cornerstone for a new church was laid in 1888,
and it was dedicated in 1889.
3. Avoca Bethel United Methodist Church
Address: 530 Main Street, Avoca
Municipality: borough of Avoca
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Main Street is US 11. The church is in the south end of town, on
the east side of the street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief
History:
A chapel was built in what
was formerly known as Pleasant Valley in 1878, and it was dedicated on Dec. 8
of that year. The name was changed to Avoca in 1889. In 1890, the church was
enlarged utilizing the old chapel in the new building.
4. Courtdale United Methodist Church
Address: 225 Courtdale Avenue, Courtdale
Municipality: borough of Courtdale
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the traffic light at
the intersection of Main Street and Courtdale Avenue, at the north end of the
city of Luzerne, go 1 mile west on Courtdale Avenue. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This class was organized in 1884 and
called Pringleville until 1898. For most
of its early years the class was served by students from Wyoming Seminary. When the parsonage was erected in 1899,
Courtdale and Larksville were organized as a two point charge that endures to
the present [2016].
The 1888 journal, page33-34, reports as
follows: “At Pringleville, Mr. George Courtright gave our society a beautiful
site on which an inviting church has been built... Since the dedication, Mr.
Courtright and thirty-one others have been converted, and that little student
appointment will in short time be in condition to receive a minister from the
Conference.”
5. Dallas United Methodist Church
Address: 4 Parsonage Street
Municipality: borough of Dallas
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the traffic light in Dallas
at the intersection of PA 415 (Memorial Highway) with Church Street (heading
north) and Main Street (heading south), go one block north on Church Street to
Parsonage Street. The church is on the
left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
6. Dorranceton United Methodist Church
Address: 549 Wyoming Avenue
Municipality: borough of Kingston
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Wyoming Avenue is US 11,
the main street through Kingston. The
church is on the south side of the street, 3 blocks east of Pearce Street, the
street with the bridge crossing over the Susquehanna Rover.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1898,57 – new chapel built and
opened for services 6/6/1897
Brief History:
The borough of Dorranceton
was created in 1887, and Dorranceton High School
opened in 1911, but the town was never able find financial stability. In 1921 Dorranceton
merged into the borough of Kingston, and in 1922 Dorranceton High School graduated its last class of 27
seniors.
The Methodist work in Dorranceton is the outgrowth of a Sunday School that was
organized in 1890. In 1893 the Kingston
church began thinking about buying a lot in Dorranceton
and fathering a church. A church
building was finally dedicated June 6, 1897, on West Dorrance Street and
Schuyler Avenue – now the site of a playground.. Growth was rapid, and an enlarged building
was dedicated in 1904. As early as 1924,
plans were made to build a larger building at a more favorable location on
Wyoming Avenue. Properties were bought
and sold, and building plans were drawn and redrawn, but it wasn’t until April
1963 that ground was broken at the present site.
7.
Duryea Brick
United Methodist Church
Address: 935 Foote Avenue
Municipality: borough of Duryea
County: Lackawanna
State: PA
Directions:
After crossing the US 11 bridge from West
Pittston to Pittston, turn left onto Main Street and go 3 blocks to Parsonage
Street, a main intersection. Bear right
onto Parsonage Street (which becomes Foote Avenue) and go 2 miles. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
8. Forty Fort United Methodist Church
Address: Wyoming and Yeager Avenues
Municipality: borough of Forty Fort
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Wyoming Avenue is US
11. Yeager Avenue is 6 blocks west of
the River Road intersection where the old Forty Fort Meeting House and Cemetery
are located.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
9. Hunlock Creek United Methodist Church
Address: 851 Main Road, village of Hunlock
Creek
Municipality: Hunlock township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the town of
Shickshinny, go 6 miles east on US 11 to the village of Hunlock Creek and Main
Road. Turn left on to Main Road and go 1
mile. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The first church building, a one-room
frame structure, was dedicated December 18, 1892. The present structure was erected in 1932.
10. Huntsville United Methodist Church
Address: 2355 Huntsville Road, village of
Huntsville
Municipality: Jackson township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the traffic light in
Dallas at the intersection of PA 415 (Memorial Highway) with Church Street
(heading north) and Main Street (heading south), go south one block to
Huntsville Road. Go 4 miles west on
Hunstville Road through the village of Huntsville. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
11. Kingston Church of Christ Uniting
Address: 190 S. Sprague Avenue
Municipality: borough of Kingston
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the center of town at
US 11 and Market Street, go 1 block west on Market Street. The church is on the southwest corner of
Market Street and Sprague Avenue.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The first Methodist church
at this site was erected in 1841. That
building was destroyed by fire and replaced by a new structure in 1872. That structure was destroyed by fire in 1957
and replaced by the current building.
Known as First United Methodist Church until 1973, the congregation then
joined with the Kingston Presbyterian Church to become the Church of Christ
Uniting – with membership in both denominations.
12. Larksville United Methodist Church
Address: 147 Wilson Street, Larksville
Municipality: borough of Larksville
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the traffic light at
the intersection of Main Street and Courtdale Avenue, at the north end of the
city of Luzerne, go 2 mile west on Courtdale Avenue (through Courtdale and into
Larksville) to the traffic light at Wilson Street. Turn right on Wilson Street and go one
block. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation’s first building was erected
in 1872, while it was part of the Kingtson charge, but the burning of the
Kingston building forced the charge to concentrate its resources there and the
Larksville building was sold at sheriff’s sale to the Christian denomination. The congregation met in various places,
served mainly by students from Wyoming Seminary, until erecting its present
building in 1886. When Courtdale erected
its parsonage in 1899, the two-point Courtdale-Larksville charge was formed, an
arrangement which continues to the present [2016].
13. Lehman-Idetown United
Methodist Church
Address: 1011 Mountainview Drive, village of
Lehman
Municipality: Lehman township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Lehman is
on PA 118, 3 miles west of PA 415.
Mountain view Drive intersects PA 118 at a sharp angle heading
southwest. Take Mountain view Drive 200
yards. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal
Journal references:
Brief History:
14. Loyalville United Methodist Church
[a.k.a. Chestnut Grove]
[a.k.a
Allen]
Address: 602 Loyalville Road
Municipality: Lake township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
PA 118 and PA 29, go 2 miles north on PA 29 to Loyalville Road. Turn east on Loyalville Road and go ½
mile. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal
Journal references:
Brief History:
Organized church meetings in this
community began at the homes of local residents. In 1845, eleven people met at
the Allen home to form the first Methodist Class Meeting. In 1885, under the leadership and ministry of
Reverend G. F. Ace, a site was selected for the construction of a church
building – approximately halfway between Booth's Corner and Allen's Corner, in
a grove of chestnut trees stood atop a low ridge. The land was donated by Henry
and Sybil Randall for the construction of the Chestnut Grove Methodist
Episcopal Church, now known as the Loyalville United Methodist Church. Articles
of Incorporation were issued on April 22, 1885, and the building was
constructed that summer for the cost of $1,420.
15. Luzerne United Methodist Church
Address: 446 Bennett Street. Luzerne
Municipality: borough of Luzerne
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Exit PA 309 at the north
end of Luzerne and travel south at Main Street, which make a jog to the left at
the second traffic light. The third
traffic light is at the intersection with Bennett Street. Turn right and go 100 yards. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
During its existence, Luzerne Borough has
held three (3) names. First it was called Hartseph Hollow after Zachariah
Hartseph who first settled here in 1790. May of 1866 the town was changed
to Mill Hollow after the various mills that operated on the banks of Tobys
Creek. The present name of Luzerne was adopted September 23, 1882 when it
became incorporated as a borough.
The class here was formed in 1825 and reportedly met in the old
schoolhouse on the island. The church
building erected in 1865
16. Maple Grove United Methodist Church
Address: Sweet Valley Road
Municipality: Ross township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
PA 118 and PA 20, go ¼ mile west on PA 118 to the Y with Sweet Valley
Road. Bear left onto Sweet Valley Road
and go ½ mile. The church is on the
right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
17. Mount Zion United Methodist Church
Address: 1422 Mount Zion Road
Municipality: Exeter township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
US 11 and 8th Street in Wyoming, go 5 miles north on 8th
Street (there is a jog to the left at about 2 miles, in West Wyoming) to Mount
Zion Road. Bear right onto Mount Zion
Road and go 3 miles. The church is on
the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
18. Mountaintop Christ United Methodist Church
Address: 175 South Main Road
Municipality: Wright township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of I-81 with PA 309,
go south on PA 309 to the village of Mountaintop. Turn west onto Main Road and go ½ mile. The church is on the right, at the corner of
Main Road and Division Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1960,112 – new church building
($149,000) 40% complete
Brief History:
19. Muhlenburg United Methodist Church
Address: 83 Hunlock-Harveyville Road
Municipality: Union township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From US 11 at Hunlock Creek,
turn north onto Main Road and go 6 miles, following the main flow of
traffic. The church is on the right,
before the corssroads at the village of Muhlenburg.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This church building was
dedicated December 13, 1884.
20. Nescopeck Wesley United Methodist Church
Address: 401 Broad Street
Municipality: borough of Nescopeck
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From Berwick, cross the Susquehanna River on
PA 93, which becomes 3rd Street in Nescopeck. Go ½ mile to PA 339 (Broad Street). Turn right and go one block. The church is on the corner of Broad and 4th
Streets.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1957,99 – 40x40 basement extension
added, upon which a new unit will be added later
Brief History:
21. Orange United Methodist Church
Address: Orange Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection of
US 11 and 8th Street in Wyoming, go 8 miles north on 8th
Street (there is a jog to the left at about 2 miles, in West Wyoming), which
becomes Orange Road, to the community of Orange. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The community of Orange was originally
known as Draketown. The 1887 journal,
page 12, reports: “C.H. Sackett, pastor at Carverton, has led the people at Orange
appointment in building church sheds, an example that ought to be followed on
every circuit in the Conference. How
Methodists can sit comfortably in church while their horses are standing out in
the storm or cold hitched to some cheerless fence is more than we can
understand., There ought at least to be
a shed for the preacher’s horse at every appointment.”
22. Pittston First United Methodist Church
[Pittston Broad Street]
Address: Broad Street
Municipality: city of Pittston
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
After crossing the US 11 bridge
from West Pittston to Pittston, turn right onto Main Street and go 3 blocks to
Broad Street (one block after US 11 turns left on William Street). Turn left onto Broad Street and go one block. The church is on the left, at the corner of
Broad and Church Streets.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
23. Shavertown United Methodist Church
Address: North Pioneer Avenue
Municipality: Kingston township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of PA
309 with US 11 in Kingston, go 4.5 miles north on PA 309 to Center Street, a
major intersection with a Burger King at the corner. Turn west onto Center Street and go 2 blocks
to Pioneer Avenue. The church is on the
corner of Center Street and Pioneer Avenue.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1960,112 – new educational building
($183,136) consecrated
Brief History:
24. Shickshinny First United Methodist Church
Address: 6 E. Butler Street
Municipality: borough of Shickshinny
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
The borough of Shickshinny
is on US 11. From Berwick, go 12 niles
north on US 11. As you enter
Shickshinny, Butler Street is the first street to the right, about ½ mile after
the PA 239 bridge across the Susquehanna River.
The church is on the corner of US 11 and Butler Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
25. Slocum United Methodist Church
Address: 1185 Blue Ridge Trail
Municipality: Slocum township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From exit #159 of I-81, go
4 miles west on Stairville Road to the T at Blue Ridge Trail. Turn north onto Blue Ridge Trail and go 2
miles to the cross roads at Slocum Corners.
Continue ½ mile past the cross roads.
The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1960,112 – new educational
building ($3500) consecrated
Brief History:
This church building was dedicated as a Methodist
Episcopal building December 1, 1860, at Schmids (a.k.a. Aces) and Slocum Roads,
at the site of the Slocum township park [just west of the Slocum Faith UMC
building]. Land was obtained in the
early 1900’s and the building dismantled and moved section by section to its
present site – where it was rededicated in 1909.
26. Slocum Faith United Methodist Church
Address: 1448 Slocum Road
Municipality: Slocum township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From exit #159 of I-81, go
4 miles west on Stairville Road to the T at Blue Ridge Trail. Turn north onto Blue Ridge Trail and go 2
miles to the cross roads at Slocum Corners.
Turn west onto Slocum Road and go 2 miles. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation began in 1869 as an
appointment on the Wapwallopen mission of the Evangelical Association. In 1921 is was made a two-point charge with
West Nanticoke.
In 1970, following the reorganization
necessitated by the 1968 denominational merger, the West Nanticoke Calvary
charge (consisting of Calvary, Faith, Ransom and Bethel) was transferred from
the Susquehanna Conference (EUB-UMC) to the Wyoming Conference UMC, where it
remained until the Pennsylvania churches of the Wyoming Conference were placed
in the re-named Susquehanna Conference UMC in 2010. See the 1970 Wyoming Conference Journal, page
67.
In 1989 (page 213) Faith and Stairville
merged to form New Hope UMC; in 1992 (page 221) New Hope UMC divided to
re-establish Faith and Stairville as separate congregations.
27. Stairville United Methodist Church
Address: 1790 Stairville Road
Municipality: Dorrance township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From exit #159 of I-81, go
3.5 miles west on Stairville Road. The
church is on the left, just before the T at Blue Ridge Trail.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Central Pennsylvania
1896,66 – new church building
erected
Wyoming
1994,312 – in the process of
building an addition to the church
Brief History:
The appointment was part of the old
Hanover circuit and met in a school house until the present church building was
erected in 1873. In 1989 (page 213)
Stairville and Faith merged to form New Hope UMC; in 1992 (page 221) New Hope
UMC divided to re-establish Stairville and Faith as separate congregations.
28. Stone Church United Methodist Church
Address: 300 Stone Church Road
Municipality: Salem township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From Berwick, head north
on US 11 and go about 1 mile. Stone
Church Road is the first rural road to the left after leaving Berwick. Turn left on Stone church Road and go 2 miles. The church is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Evangelical Church
Journal references:
1967,165 – authorization to
erect new sanctuary “near the present property”
Brief History:
The appointment was
established on the Columbia circuit of the Evangelical Association.
29. Town Hill United Methodist Church
Address: 417 Town Hill Road
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From Berwick, go 12 miles
east on US 11 to PA 239 in Shickshinny. Turn
north on PA 239 and go 6 miles to Huntington Mills. Turn west on Town Hill Road and go 2
miles. The church is on the right, after
passing through the village of Town Hill.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
30. Trucksville United Methodist Church
Address: Church Road
Municipality: Kingston township
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of PA
309 with US 11 in Kingston, go 3.5 miles north on PA 309 to Church Road, the
first intersection after the expressway ends.
Turn west on Church Road and go 0.1 miles. The Trucksville campus has two
buildings. The sanctuary in the right
picture above is on the right side of the road.
The structure in the left picture above is another 0.1 miles west on the
left side of the road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1910,67 – sanctuary destroyed by
fire and rebuilt with funding from the Conyngham family
Brief History:
31. West Pittston First United Methodist Church
Address: 408 Wyoming Avenue
Municipality: borough of West Pittston
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Wyoming Avenue is US 11,
the main thoroughfare. The church is on
the north side of the highway at the northwest corner of Wyoming and Montgomery
Avenues.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal
Journal references:
Brief History:
32. Wilkes-Barre Central United Methodist Church
Address: 65 Academy Street
Municipality: borough of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in
Wilkes-Barre, go 3 blocks south on Main Street to Academy Street. Turn right onto Academy Street (to the left, the
street is Hazel Avenue) and go 1 block west to Franklin Street. The church is on the northwest corner of
Academy Street and Franklin Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation was formed in 1857 and
erected their first building on Ross Street.
They were known as Woodville until 1867, and as Ross Street until 1881,
when the name Central was adopted. In
1901 the congregation relocated to the present location and erected a large
stone structure – which was destroyed by fire in 1975 and replaced by the
present modern building.
33. Wilkes-Barre Firwood United Methodist Church
Address: Old River Road
Municipality: borough of Wilkes-Barre
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
From the square in
Wilkes-Barre, go 3 blocks south on Main Street to Academy Street. Turn right onto Academy Street (to the left,
the street is Hazel Avenue) and go 3 blocks west to Carey Avenue. Bear left onto Carey Avenue and go 1 mile to
the stop light at Old River Road, where Carey Avenue turns left. The church is on the right, at the
intersection of Carey Avenue, Old Rover Road and Dagobert Street.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1915,70 – purchased store
building at corner of Carey and Dagobert Streets
Brief History:
The lower area of Wilkes-Barre, known as
Firwood, was mostly farmland and estates when around 1900 religious worship was
organized on Simpson Street, near the connecting railroad. A decision was made
in 1912 to start a Sunday school in one of the vacant store rooms in a building
at the corner of Dagobert Street and Old River Road. Regular worship followed.
The present church was constructed in 1928.
34. Wyoming United Methodist Church
Address: 376 Wyoming Avenue
Municipality: borough of Wyoming
County: Luzerne County
State: PA
Directions:
Wyoming Avenue is US 11,
the main thoroughfare. The church is on
the south side of the highway in the middle of the block west of 8th
Street, the street with the bridge over the Susquehanna River.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal
Journal references:
1882,59 – old church/parsonage sold, new lot secured
Brief History:
In 1840, the Christian
Church started to erect a chapel which was unfinished when it was deeded to the
Methodists in 1842. By 1850, the chapel was finished and along with a parsonage
and sexton’s house, they occupied two lots on Wyoming Avenue. In 1853, a
charter was granted under the name New Troy Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The church was sold in 1882, and the present church constructed with
its dedication on July 18, 1883. The Swetland-Pettebone-Dickson Memorial Sunday
School Room was dedicated 12/20/1925.
The sanctuary was renovated in 1967.