CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUN

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.

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MIFFLIN COUNTY PA

1. Atkinson Mills United Methodist Church

atkinson_mills

Address: 3405 Ferguson Valley Road
Municipality: Wayne township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From McVeytown, go 6 miles west on US 22 to the staggered crossing of Ferguson Valley Road. Go south om Ferguson Valley Road 0.5 miles. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

2. Belleville Watts Memorial United Methodist Church

belleville_watts_mem

Address: 120 Walnut Street, town of Belleville
Municipality: Union township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Lewistown, go 6 miles north on US 322 to the interchange with PA 655. Exit onto PA 655 and go west on PA 655 8 miles. PA 655 becomes Main Street in Belleville. Walnut Street intersects Main Street to the left near the center of town, after the sidewalks start. Turn left onto Walnut Street and go 1 block. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1834 at Mechanicsville, now known as Mechanics Street and erected a church building adjacent to the old cemetery. The Mechanicsville church was destroyed by a tornado and replaced by a new frame building on Gospel Hill on North Kishacoquillas Street in 1844. The Gospel Hill church, now a private residence, served until 1901, when Samuel Watts built the present edifice. The building was improved and enlarged in 1983

3. Burnham Freedom Avenue United Methodist Church

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Address: 511 E. Freedom Avenue
Municipality: borough of Burnham
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
Burnham is the next town north of Lewistown on US 322. Most of the town is off the old US 322 and across the Kishacoquillas Creek to the east. Freedom Avenue is the main east-west cross street in the south end of town.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

4. Burnham Walnut Street United Methodist Church

burhman_walnut

Address: 203 N. Walnut Street
Municipality: borough of Burnham
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
Burnham is the next town north of Lewistown on US 322. Most of the town is off the old US 322 and across the Kishacoquillas Creek to the east. Walnut Street is the main north-south, and parallels the old US 322 [Electric Avenue/Logan Boulevard] that stays on the west side of the creek.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

5. Church Hill United Methodist Church

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Address: 199 Woodland Circle, village of Church Hill
Municipality: Brown township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
The town of Church Hill is off US 322, 7 miles north of Lewistown. It must be accessed from the old US 322. Turn west off old US 322 onto Pleasant View Drive and go one block to Woodland Circle. The church is on the right, on the corner of Pleasant View Drive and Woodland Circle.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:
1962,120 – permission to organize the “322 Community Church” as EUB and purchase lots

Brief History:

6. Granville United Methodist Church

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Address: 1346 River Road, village of Granville
Municipality: Granville township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
In Lewistown, at the intersection of business US 22 and PA 103, go south on PA 103 (across the bridge) 5 miles to Granville Road. Turn right onto Granville Road and go 1 mile to the village of Granville. As you cross the tracks and leave Granville, go straight onto River Road. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

7. Havice Valley St. Mark's United Methodist Church

havice_valley

Address: 293 Havice Valley Road
Municipality: Armagh township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Reedsville, go 6 miles east on Walnut Street/ Honey Creek Road to Locke Mills. At Locke Mills proceed 2 miles on Locke Mills Road to Siglerville. At Siglerville, turn right onto Back Mountain Road and go 0.75 miles to Havice Valley Road. Turn right onto Havice Valley Road and go 0.5 miles. The church is on the left. Note: Signs from Siglerville direct travelers on an alternate route, turning off Back Mountain Road onto Teister Vallet Road and then cutting over to Havice Valley Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association.

Journal references:
1923,89 – conference denies ME request to take over former EA property and work

Brief History:

8. Lawvers United Methodist Church

lawvers

Address: Whiskey Road Extended
Municipality: Decatur township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From McClure, go 1 mile west on US 522 to Mail Pouch Road. Turn north onto Mail Pouch Road (which become Whiskey Road when that road comes in from the left and Whiskey Road Extended after its crosses Samuels Church Road) and go 2 miles. The church is on the left, after Decatur road goes off to the right and before the crossroad with Ertley Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

9. Lewistown First United Methodist Church

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Address: 200 East Third Street
Municipality: borough of Lewistown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
The church is on the southeast corner of Dorcas and Third Streets. Head west through Lewistown on business US 22 to the intersection of business US 22 and PA 103. PA 103 goes to the left, across the river, and Market Street goes to the right. Turn right onto Market Street and go 5 blocks (i.e., 2 blocks past Main Street) to Dorcas Street. Turn left onto Dorcas Street and go one block to Third Street. The church is on the southeast corner of Dorcas and Third Streets.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

10. Lewistown Grace United Methodist Church

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Address: 101 Logan Street
Municipality: borough of Lewistown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
Enter Lewistown from the east on business US 22, which is south Main Street. Stay straight on South Main Street when business US 22 veers off to the left to skirt the city to the south. Continue on S. Main Street 1 mile to Market Street. Turn right on Market street and go 2 blocks to Dorcas Street. Veer off to the left onto Valley Street and go 3 blocks to Spruce Street. Turn right onto Spruce Street and go one block to Logan Street. The church is on the corner of Logan and Spruce Streets.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

11. Lewistown Grove Memorial United Methodist Church

Address: 611 S. Main Street
Municipality: borough of Lewistown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
Enter Lewistown from the east on business US 22, which is south Main Street. Stay straight on South Main Street when business US 22 veers off to the left to skirt the city to the south.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:
1926,256 – cornerstone laid 9/20/1925

Brief History:
In 1909, Market Street merchant David Grove donated a building on the corner of Brown and Charles Streets as a place of worship for residents of Lewistown’s “South End.” A group of Methodists then began meeting in this building as a mission church. Having outgrown this structure, they sought permission at the 1925 Annual Conference to erect a church building. Bisho[ W.F. McDowell then created a new charge (which also included the Lake Park) and appointed Rev. Ralph R. Miller to organize a church membership and official board and to build a church. On 7/3/1925 a charter was secured and the body incorporated as “The Grove Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church of Lewistown, Pa.” On 7/6/1925, ground was broken; on 9/25/1926, the cornerstone was laid; and on 7/11/1926, the finished building was dedicated – the occasion being marked by a large parade from the mission church to the new building. On the church’s 50^th anniversary in 1976, the congregation staged a similar march from the site of the mission church to the present structure.

12. Lewistown Lake Park United Methodist Church

lewistown_lake

Address: 400 Crystal Springs Avenue
Municipality: borough of Lewistown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
The church is on the northeast corner of W. Fourth Street and Crystal Springs Avenue. West Fourth Street is business US 22. Crystal Springs Avenue crosses business US 22 in the west end of Lewistown, 1 mile west of the intersection of business US 22 with PA 103.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
     In 1924, George Keim of the Lewistown First congregation organized a Sunday School in the Lake Park School. At the 1925 Annual Conference, Bishop W.F. McDowell created a new charge and assigned Rev. Ralph R. Miller, the assistant pastor at Lewistown First, to take charge of the work at Lake Park and the Soth End mission (which later became Grove Memorial) and to organize congregations and erected church buildings as appropriate. Progress was slow, but a congregation and an official board were organized in the spring of 1928, and a charter was granted to the congregation that fall. On 9/22/1929, ground was broken; on 11/24/1929, the cornerstone was laid; and on 5/11/1930, the building was dedicated.
   The congregation grew over the next ten years to the point where the building was inadequate. At the 1940 Annual Conference, the funds from the sale of the Greencastle M.E. were given to Lake Park for construction of a new building (at the same site). On 10/6/1940, ground was broken; on 11/24/40, the cornerstone was laid (exactly 11 years to the day after the first cornerstone); and on 4/6/1941 the present building was formally “reopened.”

13. Lewistown Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church
[aka Highland Park]

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Address: 500 Highland Avenue
Municipality: borough of Lewistown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
Exit US 322 at the Electric Avenue interchange. Proceed 5 blocks on Electric Avenue to 5^th Street. Turn left on 5^th Street and go 2 blocks to Highland Avenue. The church is on the corner of 5^th Street and Highland Avenue.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:
1909,80 – cornerstone for Elizabeth Livingston Rhodes Memorial Church laid 9/20/1908

Brief History:
This congregation began in 1905 when the Methodist pastor from Burnham began preaching services in the Highland Park schoolhouse. The Elizabeth Livingston Rhodes Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated March 7, 1909. Rhodes Memorial and Yeagertown became a two-point charge in 1914 and have been so ever since, with the parsonage at Yeagertown purchased in 1917. The church school unit was added in 1959, and the sanctuary was replaced in 19??.

14. Lockport Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church

lockport

Address: 1715 Lockport Road
Municipality: Oliver township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Lewistown, go 6 miles south on US 522 to Middle Road. This is a cross road, with the road to the left named Middle Road. Turn left onto Middle Road and go 1 mile to Lockport Road. Turn right onto Lockport Road and go 0.5 miles. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
This society was organized in 1830 by Rev. James Stevens and met in the home of Mr. Owens. A lot was purchased from Mr. Owens in 1832 and a stone chapel erected.

15. McVeytown United Methodist Church

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Address: 3 S. Queen Street
Municipality: borough of McVeytown
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
McVeytown is on US 522, 12 miles south of Lewistown. Queen Street runs parallel to and 2 blocks west of US 522. At the main traffic light in McVeytown, turn right onto John Street and go 2 blocks to Queen Street. The church is on the corner of John and Queen Streets..

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
This society was organized in 1832. A lot on Queen Street was purchased from Caspar Bull in 1833, and a brick church was erected by Ralph Boyle. The original structure was enlarged and remodeled in 1874. Additional ground was purchased behind the church in 1972.

16. Newton Hamilton United Methodist Church

Address: 169 Church Street
Municipality: borough of Newton Hamilton
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Mt. Union, go west on US 22, 1.5 miles past the intersection with US 522 to Newton Road. Turn south onto Newton Road (which becomes Wayne Street in Newton Hamilton) and go 2 miles to Church Street. The church is on the northeast corner of Wayne Street and Church Street.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:
2025,163 – closed 5/5/2025

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1825, and a frame building was erected on the farm of Joshua Morrison. In 1829, the original building was moved a short distance on account of the canal. In 1840 a lot was purchased from John VanZandt and a frame structure was erected in town. The present brick church building was built in 1884.

17. Reedsville United Methodist Church

Address: 60 E. Logan Street, town of Reedsville
Municipality: Brown township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
The town of Reedsville is off US 322, 6 miles north of Lewistown. It must be accessed from the old US 322. Exit US 322 at PA 655 and go one block east on PA 655 to Main Street. Turn right onto Main Street and go 0.5 mile to Logan Street. Turn left onto Logan Street and go one block. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

18. Ryde United Methodist Church

Address: 80 Ryde Road
Municipality: Bratton township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Newton Hamilton, cross the Juniata River to PA 103. Turn east onto P{A 103 and go 6 miles to the village of Ryde. Turn south onto Ryde Road, a gravel road, and go 0.5 miles. The church is on the right, at the top of the hill.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:

19. Shrader United Methodist Church

Address: 1590 Honey Creek Road, village of Shrader
Municipality: Armagh township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Shrader is 3.5 miles east of Reedsville. Exit Reedsville on Walnut Street, which become Honey Creek Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:
1911,76 – building raised, vestibule added; new roof and siding

Brief History:

20. Vira United Methodist Church
a.k.a. Dry Valley

Address: 111 Long Lane, community of Vira.
Municipality: Derry township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Burnham, go 3 miles north on E. Freedom Avenue [which becomes Vira Road] to Long Lane, other main road in Vira. Turn right and go one block. The church is on the left, at the corner of Long Lane and Freyer’s Hill Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
In 1826, William Mitchell of Dry Valley invited the preacher of the Leiwstown circuit (which embraced all of Mifflin County) to preach in the area. The Dry Valley Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1832, and in the winter of 1833-34 one acre of land was purchased of Moses Kelly by the trustees of the church – Samuel Martin, Samuel Price and John Williams. It was surveyed February 25, 1834, and deed given December 26, 1835. The church was erected and enclosed; slab and plank seats were put up. Meetings were held there for several years before it was finished. In 1862, Freedom [Burnham] and Decatur [Wagner] and Dry Valley [Vira] became a charge and continued many years. The appointment was known as Dry Valley until 1885, as Kelley from 1885 to 1894, and as Vira since 1894. In 1901, Burnham was separated from the others and the four-point Vira charge was formed with Alfarata (closed in 1954), Ellen Chapel (became independent in 2001), Wagner and Vira.
Note: Tradition says that a school-house had been built on the church lot about 1820, which stood until 1843, when the building was sold to the Freedom [Burnham] Iron Company and moved to that place.

21. Wagner United Methodist Church

Address: 6280 US 522 North
Municipality: Decatur township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From Lewistown, go 12 miles north on US 522. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
In 1861 John Kemberling, who lived near Wagner, was interested in organizing a Christian society and gave a lot of ground on which was erected a chapel – the first in the community. The chapel stood at the present site, but with the end of the building toward the road, and was known as Kemberling Chapel. The appointment was on a charge with Lilleyville [Alfarata].
In 1892, the old Kemberling Chapel was torn down and the present building erected. In 1901 the four-point Vira charge was formed [Alfrata (closed in 1954), Ellen Chapel (became independent in 2001), Wager, Vira] and Wagner and Vira have remained together ever since.

22. Wayne United Methodist Church

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Address: 1450 Irvin Hill Road
Municipality: Wayne township
County: Mifflin
State: PA

Directions:
From McVeytown, go 4 miles south on US 522 to Fairview Road. Turn left onto Fairview Road and go 0.5 miles to Irvin Hill Road. Turn left on Irvin Hill Road and go 100 yards. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church.

Journal references:

Brief History: