Lincoln County, West Virginia   HISTORY: Methodist Episcopal Church (South) of Hamlin, 
Lincoln Co.,WV

**************************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, 
as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is 
obtained from the contributor of the file.

These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation 
by other organizations.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this 
material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of 
the contributor.

Submitted by Patty Tyler, <PTyler107@aol.com>, March 2000
**************************************************************************


West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, Supplement Vol. 7, Hardesty's,
Lincoln County, published by Jim Comstock, Richwood, WV 1974

    Methodist Episcopal Church (South) of Hamlin, was organized soon after 
the division of the Methodist Episcopal Church, probably about 1846, by the 
Rev. William McComas. The first class was formed at the residence of Joseph Ho
lton, the same now occupied by J. M. Dingess. Among the first members were: 
Rebecca Spurlock, Nancy A. Spurlock, Fanny Holton, (a daughter of the 
former), Elizabeth Holton, Joseph Holton, Lucinda Holton, George A. Holton 
and wife, Harvey Barrett, Lucy Barrett, James A. Holley, Charles Lawrence 
(the first class leader) and Sarah J. Lawrence.
    In the year 1850 Rev. R. Lancaster became the presiding elder of the 
Guyandotte River district, and through his untiring labors this congregation 
succeeded in erecting a hewed log church, which in honor of him and in 
commemoration of his services, was called Lancaster Chapel. In 1858 it was 
determined to erect a frame church. George A. Holton gave a lot, and together 
with Harvey Barrett and James A. Holley, succeeded in collecting sufficient 
means to defray the expense of building. In 1861 it was completed and 
dedicated by Rev. P. H. Hoffman, now a prominent member of the Kentucky 
conference. It was called Bias Chapel, in honor of Rev. Roland Bias, who was 
then traveling Mud River circuit, and who is now a member of the Western 
Virginia conference.
    The Civil War came on, and in 1862 the church was occupied by Company D 
of the 34th Ohio Zouave Regiment, and by various other bodies of soldiers, 
until the close of the war, when it was almost a total wreck. In 1867 the 
authorities took possession of it, and fitted it up for a court house, and as 
such it was used until 1875, when they purchased it from the trustees; but it 
was afterward sold by the county and repurchased by the trustees, after which 
it was used for church purposes until 1881, when a lot was purchased in the 
town and a building erected, which is a credit to the religious zeal which 
built it, and an ornament to the town in which its lofty spire towers.