CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESE

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.

FULTON COUNTY PA

1. Akersville ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\black.jpg$

Location: PA 915, village of Akersville
Municipality: Brush Creek township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From US 30, at the western edge of Fulton County, go 3 miles south on PA 915. The church is on the right, across from the intersection with Duvall Road and before PA 915 takes a sharp turn to the right at the intersection with Pleasant Valley Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1972,99 – discontinued
     1974,210 – sold school building only
     1992,354&356 – sold to cemetery association

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1812 and worshiped in the second story of the John Akers grist mill, the home of Robert Akers and the school house until the church was erected in 1858 on land deeded by Israel Akers in 1837. The Sunday School was organized in 1841. The congregation, which numbered 46 at the time of the 1968 Methodist-EUB union, was never large but has sent at least 8 men into the ministry (viz., Joseph Benson Akers, John Milton Akers, George A. Duvall, Lewis A. Duvall, Arthur A. Duvall, Ira R. Duvall, Jacob Barkman, George S. Hixson). The congregation produced a thorough historical booklet for its 1958 centennial.

Final disposition:
The property was sold to the Akersville Cemetery Association in 1991 for $250 plus legal fees. The building is maintained in good repair and has housed a small community congregation on an irregular basis.

2. Bedford Chapel ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\bedford.jpg$

Location: PA 643
Municipality: Bethel township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the interchange of I-70 with US 522, go 4 miles north on US 522 to PA 643. Go west 3 miles west PA 643 to the base of Sideling Hill. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1892,56 – church erected
1955,56 – declared abandoned; conference trustees authorized to sell

Brief History:
The church was erected mainly due to the efforts of local preacher Lewis Chambers, who lived in Big Cove Tannery and guided the Licking Creek [Harrisonville] charge (either as the preacher in charge or behind the scenes) from 1873 to 1903.

Final disposition:
The congregation has gone from the Methodist Church to the Christian Church to being independent.

3. Bethlehem UB

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\bethlehem.jpg$

Location: Peach Orchard Road
Municipality: Todd township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
Peach Orchard Road goes north off the old US 30 and cannot be accessed from the new US 30 by-pass. Go 1 mile west of McConnellsburg on the old US 30 to Peach Orchard Road. Go 3 miles north on Peach Orchard Road. The church is on the left, at a point where the main road makes a sharp bend to the right.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
     1943,79 – reopened; moved to Shade Gap charge
     1944,44 – increases from 0 to 14 members
     1972,99 – to McConnellsburg-Cito charge
     1990,229 – merged into Knobsville UMC

Brief History:
This very old appointment was founded in 1849 and known as Scrub Ridge. It shifted back and forth between the Pennsylvania and Allegheny Conference before being taken permanently by the Allegheny Conference in in 1893 and placed on the Hustontown charge. The Hustontown charge was dissolved in 1926 and Bethlehem was referred to the conference trustees as a vacant property. The building was not sold, and it remained under the care of the Three Springs charge. The church was reopened in 1943 and placed on the Shade Gap charge (with Mt. Zion, Salem, and Pleasant Hill) through two denominational mergers until 1972. It was placed on the McConnellsburg charge in 1972, on the Knobsville charge in 1986, and closed in 1990.

Final disposition:
The building is now a private home.

4. Black Oak ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\akersville.jpg$

Location: Stoney Break Road
Municipality: Bethel township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Warfordsburg, go west 3.5 miles on PA 484 to the crossroad at Stoneybreak. Go south 2 miles on Stoney Break Road. The church is on the right, shortly after Black Oak Road goes off to the east.

Historic Conference:
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1924,457 – sale authorized; proceeds toward parsonage at Warfordsburg

Brief History:
      Beginning in 1890 Black Oak was on the Hancock circuit, with churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania. For much of that time a 4-week morning, afternoon, evening cycle similar to the following was in place.
            week #1: Hancock MD, Catalpa MD, Hancock MD
            week #2: Piney Plains MD (near Orleans), Buck Valley PA, Black Oak PA
            week #3: Hancock MD, Orchard Ridge MD (near Millstone), Hancock MD
            week #4: Little Cove PA, Rehoboth PA, Hancock MD
After Warfordsburg was added, the strain become too much and the charge was eventually split about 1921. Soon after that Black Oak was abandoned, with the idea of using the proceeds to help finance a parsonage in Warfordsburg.

Final disposition:
The building was deeded to the Cedar Grove Mennonite congregation in 1952, with a reversion clause to the Baltimore Conference if it ceased to be used as a church. In 1991 (Baltimore Conference journal 1991,313) the reversion clause was removed. The building is now a Mennonite church.

5. Buck Valley ME

Location: PA 484, village of Buck Valley
Municipality: Union township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Warfordsburg go west 6.5 miles on PA 484 to the village of Buck Valley. The church is on the left, where PA 731 goes off to the north.

Historic Conference:
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
    This building was erected in 1882. Beginning in 1890 Buck Valley was on the Hancock circuit, with churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania. For much of that time a 4-week morning, afternoon, evening cycle similar to the following was in place.
            week #1: Hancock MD, Catalpa MD, Hancock MD
            week #2: Piney Plains MD (near Orleans), Buck Valley PA, Black Oak PA
            week #3: Hancock MD, Orchard Ridge MD (near Millstone), Hancock MD
            week #4: Little Cove PA, Rehoboth PA, Hancock MD
After Warfordsburg was added, the strain become too much and the charge was eventually split about 1921, with a parsonage in Warfordsburg for Warfordsburg, Buck Valley, Piney Plains and Rehoboth, and Little Cove. That charge was dissolved in 1944 with Little Cove placed back with Hancock and the other churches added to the Morgan charge (out of Berkeley Springs WV). In 1948 the Warfordsburg charge was reconstituted with Piney Plains. Warfordsbur, Rehoboth and Little Cove and a parsonage at Orleans (near Piney Plaains). Buck Valley does not appear on the reconstituted charge and apparently was dropped as an appointment at that time or shortly before.

Final disposition:
The building is standing and in good repair, apparently maintained by the community, but not housing a congregation.

6. Burnt Cabins ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\burnt.jpg$

Location: US 522, west end of the village of Burnt Cabins
Municipality: Dublin township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the interchange of the PA Turnpike and US 522, go 4 miles east on US 522. The church is on the left, shortly before US 522 takes a turn to the north in the village of Burnt Cabins.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1884,51 – purchased two lots for church/parsonage; move from former outside town site
     1993,219/350 discontinued/merged into Knobsville
     1995,221 abandoned
     1996,315 sold to Burnt Cabins Bible Church

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1851 and erected its first building in the east end of town, on a lane heading north, on a rise just north of Aughwich Creek – and just across the county line in Huntingdon County. The present structure in the west end of town was erected in 1883.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Burnt Cabins Bible Church.

7. Dublin Mills ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\dublinmills.jpg$

Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1885,49 – new building

Brief History:
Dublin Mills was a member of the Hustontown charge (with Center, Clear Ridge, Fairview, Hustontown, and Maddensville).

Final disposition:

8. Fort Littleton ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\fort.jpg$

Location: village of Fort Littleton
Municipality: Dublin township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the Fort Littleton interchange of the PA turnpike, go 0.7 miles north on US 522 to the bend to the right at the village of Fort Littleton. Proceed straight, toward Clear Ridge, on Plum Hollow Road and go 0.5 miles. The building is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This is a very old preaching appointment that was established before 1800 and visited by Francis Asbury on his episcopal rounds. The original log chapel stood in the cemetery 0.7 miles north of US 522 on the unnamed road at the top of the bend to the right in US 522. In 1863 a two-story frame building was erected in the village. In 1961 that building was razed and the existing one-story brick building was erected on the same property, near the 1863 site. The congregation was discontinued in 1992.

Ft Littleton Methodist Church 1861-1961 2015-12-08-0002
1863-1961 prior to 1863

Final disposition:
The building was sold in 1995 to be used a place of business for selling and repairing sewing machines.

9. Hustontown ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\hustontown.jpg$

Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
2007,19 – discontinued
2009,340 – sold to Hartman Cemetery Association

Brief History:

Final disposition:

10. Hustontown UB

$Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: C:\Users\loyer\Desktop\hburg.jpg$

Location: Church Street, village of Hustontown
Municipality: Taylor township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
In the center of the village of Hustontown, at the intersection of Church Street and Pitt Street, PA 655 makes a 90° turn. PA 655 goes south on Church Street and West on Pitt Street. Go South on Church Street one full block to First Street. The building is on the southeast corner of Church and First Streets.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
     1892,40 – Fulton (from Pennsylvania Conference) added to Altoona District
                      Fulton re-named Hustontown
     1893,10 – new church dedicated 11/20/1892
     1926,82&88 – referred to conference trustees as a vacant property
     1927,134 – sold for $500 with money turned over to the conference treasurer

Brief History:
The 5-point Hustontown UB charge was discontinued in 1926 (page 82&88): Hustontown, Bethlehem (later reopened) and Cromwell (later reopened?) were declared vacant; Wells Valley and Mt. Tabor were placed on the Three Springs charge.

Final disposition:
The building, with a one-story extension in the front, is now a private home.

11. Knobsville UB

Location: Narrows Road
Municipality: Todd township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Knobsville, go north on US 522 about 1 mile to Narrows Road, the first paved road to the east. Go east6 on Narrows Road 0.5 miles to Stage Coach Road. The Church stood on the southeast corner of Narrows and Stage Coach roads, where the remaining cemetery is located.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This the first church building erected in Todd township, this structure was erected in 1844 as the Nazareth Reformed Church. The building was used by the Reformed people and others until about 1916 when it was removed. The remaining cemetery is officially known as the Reformed Cemetery – but it is sometimes referred to as the United Brethren Cemetery, probably indicating that the United Brethren were the last to occupy the site on a regular basis. The United Brethren never had any ownership in the building, but it was a regular appointment on the Hustontown circuit when H.R. Reber served there – as verified by a 1907 newspaper account.
A similar situation may have existed in Ayr township, near Big Cove Tannery, where another Reformed cemetery exists that is also sometimes referred to as a United Brethren cemetery. The Hebron Reformed Church was erected there 1843, but there is no known primary source documentation that the United Brethren denomination ever had an appointment there.

Final disposition:

12. McKendree ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\mekendree.jpg$

Location:
Municipality: Brush Creek township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1998,213 – discontinued

Brief History:
A log church building was erected at this location about 1825 and replaced by the present brick structure in 1867

Final disposition:

13. Mount Tabor UB

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\mttabor.jpg$

Location: N. Hess Road
Municipality: Taylor township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Hustontown, go north 4 miles on Waterfall Road [PA 655] to the N. Hess Road [entrance to Forbes Road Schools]. Go west ¾ miles on N. Hess Road. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
Pennsylvania Conference
    1887,12 – congregation begun
    1893,23 – Fulton circuit taken by Allegheny Conference
Allegheny Conference
    1926,88 – Hustontown circuit dissolved, Mount Tabor to Three Springs circuit
    1946,126 – investigation of deed/ownership

Brief History:
The 1887 journal of Pennsylvania Conference, page 12, states: “What is known as the Speck church in Fulton County, has been thrown open to us and is being repaired.” As the property was properly well within the bounds of the Allegheny Conference, that body assumed control in 1893.
Fulton’s 1931 History of the Allegheny Conference states: “The church is a frame building valued at $1,000. This is home of Rev. D. Speck and for many years was called the “Speck” Church. The present membership is twenty.” Although the property was always consider United Brethren, it was deeded October 21, 1886, as a Community Church for the use "of all religious orthodox denominations." By 1946 it was no longer reporting conference statistics and an investigation indicated, “It is now being used by the Church of the Nazarene.”

Final disposition:
The building now houses a Church of the Nazarene congregation.

14. Mt. Zion ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\mtzion.jpg$

Location: Timber Ridge Road
Municipality: Thompson township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Needmore, go 2.5 miles north/east on US 522 to Timber Ridge Road. Go 2.5 miles south on Timber Ridge Road. The building stood on the east side of the road, south of the Congregational Christian Church (seen in the picture above).

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1916,79 – old structure replaced by “neat cement-block building”
1954,55 – declared abandoned; permission granted to sell

Brief History:
The date the class was organized and the date the first building was erected are unknown. It appears as Timber Ridge in the 1874 missionary reports for the Cove charge. The appointment first appears as Mount Zion in the 1895 missionary reports for the Harrisonville charge. A new building was erected in 1915. While the 1953 journal listed 25 members, only an annual service had been held for about ten years.

Final disposition:
The Antioch Congregational Christian Church purchased the structure for possible youth work, but then razed the building.

15. Needmore ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\needmore.jpg$

Location: village of Needmore
Municipality: Belfast township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the “square” in Needmore (from which point US 522 and PA 655 head north, US 522 heads south, and PA 655 heads east) go west on Pleasant Grove Road 1 block. The building is on the left, immediately after the curve in the road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1916,79 – building under construction, a new church in a new field
     1918,71 – building dedicated 7/15/1917
     1975(2),107 – abandoned
     1975(2),104 – sold to Needmore Bible Church
     1976(1),140 – sold to Needmore Bible Church

Brief History:
Needmore first appears on the six-point Harrisonville charge Harrisonville (Asbury, Bedford Chapel, Ebenezer, Mt. Zion, Neeedmore, Siloam) in 1918 with a membership of 35. The last reported membership was 52 in 1969, as part of the four-point Harrisonville charge (Harrisonville Asbury, Ebenezer, Needmore, Siloam), after which most of the member chose to withdraw.

Final disposition:
The Needmore Bible Church has since relocated to a new building on US 522 south of Needmore, and the former Methodist building was sold to the Southern Fulton School District.

16. Oakley ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\oakley.jpg$

Location: PA 655
Municipality: Thompson township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From US 522 in the village of Needmore, go 2 miles south on PA 655 (aka Thompson Road). The site is on the west side of the highway.

Historic Conference:
     Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
     Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church,
            by 1962 change of conference boundaries

Journal references:
     1971,97 – discontinued
     1975(1),116 – permission to raze
     1981,A76 – permission to sell to Cemetery Association
     1981,203 – sold

Brief History:
This property was deeded [Fulton County Deed Book #8, p83-84] to the Methodists January 22, 1874, and placed on the large Hancock circuit of the Baltimore Conference with the condition that the Christian Church have occasional privileges when the property was not being used by the Methodists. The Baltimore Conference journals did not list individual statistics for each congregation on the various charges until 1948, and by then Oakley was apparently no longer in use. When southern Fulton County was transferred to the Central Pennsylvania Conference in 1962, that conference received an empty building with no membership. It officially declared the appointment discontinued in 1972

Final disposition:
The March 17, 1975, meeting of the Central Pennsylvania Conference Board of Trustees voted permission to Gerald Lake and Donald L. Pepple to raze the Oakley church building and take any materials of value, provided that the site is cleaned and made presentable. The property was sold to the Cemetery Association for $1.00.

17. Pine Grove ME

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\pinegrove.jpg$

Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
2004,173 – discontinued
2005,365 – sold to Gary Hockensmith

Brief History:

Final disposition:
The building was unsafe and has been razed.

18. Waterfall Zion ME [relocated across the highway and is now in Huntingdon County]

[no picture]

Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

The building was unsafe and has been razed.

19. Wells Valley UB

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\fulton\wellsvalley.jpg$

Location: Wells Valley Road
Municipality: Wells township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Hustontown, go west/northwest on PA 655 for 8 miles to PA 913 at Waterfall. Go west on PA 913 for 1 mile to New Grenada and Wells Valley Road. Go south on Wells Valley Road for ½ miles. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1926,88 – Hustontown circuit dissolved, Wells Valley to Three Spring circuit
1929,107 – Wells Valley and Oak Grove unite, Wells Valley members transfer to Oak Grove.

Brief History:
The congregation was organized in 1850 by the pastor of the Juniata circuit, and a church building was erected in 1853.

Final disposition: