AREA HISTORY:  Methodist Episcopal Church, Wellsville, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH – Page 668

Religious services were held by the Methodists in the vicinity of Wellsville as 
early as 1830.  Meetings were conducted by Methodists in the farm house of Edward 
Wells (now owned by Jacob Brenneman) and the dwellings of Abraham Harman and Mrs. 
Wolgemuth.  Permission was obtained to use the old frame schoolhouse which stood 
one-half mile northwest of the present limits of the village.  For nearly 100 years 
the Society of Friends was the only religious sect that conducted meetings in the 
vicinity.  The Quakers allowed, and even yet permit people of all religious beliefs 
to inter the remains of their dead in the graveyard adjoining the Quaker Meeting 
House.  This is the only burial place in the neighborhood.

Some of the early Methodist clergymen who preached here were George Cooper, H. 
Boggs, John Monroe and William Prettyman.  Arrangements were made to build a church.  
Abraham Wells presented the lot, and $2,200 were raised by subscription.  The 
corner-stone was laid in 1852, and the building completed in 1853.  The dedicatory 
services were conducted the same year by Rev. Dr. Wentworth, of Dickinson College.

The building committee were Daniel Coover, Abraham Wells, J. E. Wells, George Heyd, 
Joseph Mosser, Wells A. Farrah, and Jacob Byers.  Revs. John Monroe and William 
Gwynn traveled the circuit at that time.  Many changes have been made since.  Rev. 
Joseph P. Anderson, of Dillsburg, was the pastor for 1885.  The church membership is 
about ninety communicants.  E. A. Bell is president of the board of trustees; T. B. 
Hoover, secretary, and C. F. Ross, treasurer. 

The flourishing Sunday-school which is connected with this church, was organized in 
1842 in the old schoolhouse, with George Bushey as superintendent, and Catharine 
Harman, assistant superintendent.  It now numbers 165 pupils and teachers.  Charles 
N. Kuhn has been its efficient superintendent since 1876.