Photograph taken from a post card dated September 18, 1908
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PASTORS OF CHRISTIANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1851 - W. L. Gray, J. J. Jones
1852 - S. G. Hare, F. R. Harvey
1853 - S. G. Hare, J. G. O'Neill
1854 - T. Newman, J. L. Killgore
1855 - T. Newman, A. Howard
1856 - J. B. Dennison
1858 - J. Cummins
1859 - J. Cummins, N. B. Durell
1860 - W. H. Burrell
1862 - J. Dare
1863 - H. B. Mauger, R. Jones
1864 - H. B. Mauger, W. Cauffman
1865 - Valentine Gray, W. C. Johnson
1866 - Valentine Gray, L. B. Hoffman
1867 - S. Pancoast, J. D. Rigg
1868 - S. Pancoast
1869 - J. Aspril, J. W. Wright
1870 - J. Aspril
1872 - W. W. McMichael
1873 - I. R. Merrill
1874 - E. Potts, F. B. Harvey
1876 - I. M. Gable
1878 - W. P. Howell
1879 - D. H. Shields
1880 - E. C. Yerkes
1883 - L. D. McClintock
1884 - J. Wharton Bradley
1887 - C. Lee Gaul
1891 - George Alcorn
1892 - C. S. Mervine
1895 - George Mack
1897 - J. S. McKinlay
1899 - John Priest
1902 - Thomas Tremlet Martin
1904 - J. S. Kingsley
1906 - A. L. Shalkop
1909 - T. I. Minker
1914 - William May
1916 - G. S. Kerr
1920 - William H. Robinson
1922 - J. H. Royer
1927 - H. D. Bare
1929 - W. E. Verity
1931 - W. A. Lewis
1933 - C. E. Boraston
1939 - J. L. Carr
1942 - Oliver J. Friedel
1944 - Rollin M. Lawrence
1947 - Philip E. Worth
1949 - E. A. Lindenmuth
1952 - H. Barton Keck
1956 - Donald Watson
1965 - Warren C. Riedel
1969 - William (Bill) Brown
1974 - J. Nesbitt
1979 - H. Kaufhold
1984 - Jeff Stafford
1990 - Josiah H. Werner (Pastor Joe)
1995 - Gary M. Jacabella
2004 - Randy Smith
2006 - Alan T. Sumerfield Sr.
2011 - Elaine Miller Bortman
2015 - Linda L. Harnish
2024 - Kristopher Pursel
2025- Trevor Webster
1852 - S. G. Hare, F. R. Harvey
1853 - S. G. Hare, J. G. O'Neill
1854 - T. Newman, J. L. Killgore
1855 - T. Newman, A. Howard
1856 - J. B. Dennison
1858 - J. Cummins
1859 - J. Cummins, N. B. Durell
1860 - W. H. Burrell
1862 - J. Dare
1863 - H. B. Mauger, R. Jones
1864 - H. B. Mauger, W. Cauffman
1865 - Valentine Gray, W. C. Johnson
1866 - Valentine Gray, L. B. Hoffman
1867 - S. Pancoast, J. D. Rigg
1868 - S. Pancoast
1869 - J. Aspril, J. W. Wright
1870 - J. Aspril
1872 - W. W. McMichael
1873 - I. R. Merrill
1874 - E. Potts, F. B. Harvey
1876 - I. M. Gable
1878 - W. P. Howell
1879 - D. H. Shields
1880 - E. C. Yerkes
1883 - L. D. McClintock
1884 - J. Wharton Bradley
1887 - C. Lee Gaul
1891 - George Alcorn
1892 - C. S. Mervine
1895 - George Mack
1897 - J. S. McKinlay
1899 - John Priest
1902 - Thomas Tremlet Martin
1904 - J. S. Kingsley
1906 - A. L. Shalkop
1909 - T. I. Minker
1914 - William May
1916 - G. S. Kerr
1920 - William H. Robinson
1922 - J. H. Royer
1927 - H. D. Bare
1929 - W. E. Verity
1931 - W. A. Lewis
1933 - C. E. Boraston
1939 - J. L. Carr
1942 - Oliver J. Friedel
1944 - Rollin M. Lawrence
1947 - Philip E. Worth
1949 - E. A. Lindenmuth
1952 - H. Barton Keck
1956 - Donald Watson
1965 - Warren C. Riedel
1969 - William (Bill) Brown
1974 - J. Nesbitt
1979 - H. Kaufhold
1984 - Jeff Stafford
1990 - Josiah H. Werner (Pastor Joe)
1995 - Gary M. Jacabella
2004 - Randy Smith
2006 - Alan T. Sumerfield Sr.
2011 - Elaine Miller Bortman
2015 - Linda L. Harnish
2024 - Kristopher Pursel
2025- Trevor Webster
Taken from the written record of the church titled "Comprehensive Church Record of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Georgetown and Gap Circut 1881." Historical Record. KEY - (?) indicates unreadable text. (sp) indicates best guess spelling.
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Christiana - The Methodist organized a class in Christiana in July 1851 with A.M. Kemble (sp) for its leader.
They held public meetings in the carriage shop next to the old tavern and private houses.
They purchased the old school house for a place of worship & instituted regular preaching. The Society became more permanently organized under the administration of Rev. John Cummins in 1859 by the appointment of a board of Trustees of the following persons: John Beatty, Alex. Robinson, Thomas H. Pounall, George McNeal, Martin Thompson, John Celork, B.W. Horton. (sp)
The same year they purchased a lot of ground from Sam'l Slokum Esq 65 by 160 ft. A building committee was appointed viz, A. M. Kemble, (?) Bush, James Devine.
They proceeded to erect a Church ediface. Cost of the church was in all $ 2700.00 - Lot $ 175.00.
The cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies Sep. 8, 1859 by Bp(sp): Levi Scott -
After considerable delay the building was so far advanced they commenced to worship in the basement in 1861. The entire building was completed and dedicated Aug. 10, 1862.
It was included in Cochranville Circut until 1867 when it became an ?? on Penningtonville Circuit.
It continued in this connection until 1876 when the circuit was again changed and it became an ?? on Atglen circuit.
It remained in this relation until 1879 when it was associated with Georgetown ?? in which relation it still continues. During C. Lee Gaul's administration a parsonage was purchased by the Christiana Ch.
The old church was torn away in the spring of 1901 and a new one was build upon the same site during the pastorate of John Priest. The new church was dedicated in March 1902. In the year 1925 during the pastorate of Rev J. H. Royer improvements were made upon the church consisting of new concrete steps, painting exterior, copper gutters, a door & concrete steps in rear of church, doors in social rooms, etc. at a cost of $ 1100.00 Old Home Week was held and the entire amount raised.
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Christiana Charter
Whereas Bushrod W. Horton, A. M. Kemble, J. Devine, H. Hollis, Wm Hollis, Ritner (sp) Allen, Martin Wilson, Geo. McNeal & Frederick Bush have with other citizens associated themselves together for the purpose of worshiping Almighty God according to the faith & discipline of the General Methodist Episcopal church &c. declare the following to be the objects, articles, and conditions &c.
Sec 1 Name "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana" &c.
Sec. 2. The business of the Society shall be conducted by nine trustees who shall chose from their members a President & Sec. & may appoint a Treasurer &c.
Trustees Election As follows "The minister who has pastoral charge of same church & congregation, shall meet with the trustees (1st Monday of March) and nominate three or more persons to fill the places of those whose term of office has expired & the said trustees so assembled shall ballot for & by a majority of votes elect three persons so nominated to fill such places in order to keep up the number of nine trustees forever & in case of an equal number of votes for & against any of said nominees, the Pastor shall have the casting vote. In case of a vacancy by death or otherwise the remaining trustees shall appoint a person to supply the same till the next election. Provided no person shall be eligible as trustee unless a citizen of the Commonwealth, a communicant member of the church of at least two years full standing and over 23 years of age"
Sec. 3. The Trustees shall have power to enact & enforce bylaws &c. but shall not dispose of Real Estate &c without consent of majority of Male members meeting.
Sec. 4. The Trustees shall make an annual Exhibit of the financial affairs in the Month of December to a male members meeting.
Sec 5. In case no election is held at appointed time (1st Monday in March) the Trustees shall appoint another day, of which due notice shall be given to all parties concerned.
Sec. 6 What the object & purpose of the said society shall be the worshiping of Almighty God &c in conformity with the rules & principals of the General Methodist Episcopal Church &c as they now are, or may hereafter be established an exist. &c.
And now Feby. 25 1862 Charter presented by JB Livingston by direct publication &c.
And now Apl. 28, 1862 the court directs &c the Charter of Incorporation of "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana" &c&c.
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Christiana - The Methodist organized a class in Christiana in July 1851 with A.M. Kemble (sp) for its leader.
They held public meetings in the carriage shop next to the old tavern and private houses.
They purchased the old school house for a place of worship & instituted regular preaching. The Society became more permanently organized under the administration of Rev. John Cummins in 1859 by the appointment of a board of Trustees of the following persons: John Beatty, Alex. Robinson, Thomas H. Pounall, George McNeal, Martin Thompson, John Celork, B.W. Horton. (sp)
The same year they purchased a lot of ground from Sam'l Slokum Esq 65 by 160 ft. A building committee was appointed viz, A. M. Kemble, (?) Bush, James Devine.
They proceeded to erect a Church ediface. Cost of the church was in all $ 2700.00 - Lot $ 175.00.
The cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies Sep. 8, 1859 by Bp(sp): Levi Scott -
After considerable delay the building was so far advanced they commenced to worship in the basement in 1861. The entire building was completed and dedicated Aug. 10, 1862.
It was included in Cochranville Circut until 1867 when it became an ?? on Penningtonville Circuit.
It continued in this connection until 1876 when the circuit was again changed and it became an ?? on Atglen circuit.
It remained in this relation until 1879 when it was associated with Georgetown ?? in which relation it still continues. During C. Lee Gaul's administration a parsonage was purchased by the Christiana Ch.
The old church was torn away in the spring of 1901 and a new one was build upon the same site during the pastorate of John Priest. The new church was dedicated in March 1902. In the year 1925 during the pastorate of Rev J. H. Royer improvements were made upon the church consisting of new concrete steps, painting exterior, copper gutters, a door & concrete steps in rear of church, doors in social rooms, etc. at a cost of $ 1100.00 Old Home Week was held and the entire amount raised.
-----------
Christiana Charter
Whereas Bushrod W. Horton, A. M. Kemble, J. Devine, H. Hollis, Wm Hollis, Ritner (sp) Allen, Martin Wilson, Geo. McNeal & Frederick Bush have with other citizens associated themselves together for the purpose of worshiping Almighty God according to the faith & discipline of the General Methodist Episcopal church &c. declare the following to be the objects, articles, and conditions &c.
Sec 1 Name "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana" &c.
Sec. 2. The business of the Society shall be conducted by nine trustees who shall chose from their members a President & Sec. & may appoint a Treasurer &c.
Trustees Election As follows "The minister who has pastoral charge of same church & congregation, shall meet with the trustees (1st Monday of March) and nominate three or more persons to fill the places of those whose term of office has expired & the said trustees so assembled shall ballot for & by a majority of votes elect three persons so nominated to fill such places in order to keep up the number of nine trustees forever & in case of an equal number of votes for & against any of said nominees, the Pastor shall have the casting vote. In case of a vacancy by death or otherwise the remaining trustees shall appoint a person to supply the same till the next election. Provided no person shall be eligible as trustee unless a citizen of the Commonwealth, a communicant member of the church of at least two years full standing and over 23 years of age"
Sec. 3. The Trustees shall have power to enact & enforce bylaws &c. but shall not dispose of Real Estate &c without consent of majority of Male members meeting.
Sec. 4. The Trustees shall make an annual Exhibit of the financial affairs in the Month of December to a male members meeting.
Sec 5. In case no election is held at appointed time (1st Monday in March) the Trustees shall appoint another day, of which due notice shall be given to all parties concerned.
Sec. 6 What the object & purpose of the said society shall be the worshiping of Almighty God &c in conformity with the rules & principals of the General Methodist Episcopal Church &c as they now are, or may hereafter be established an exist. &c.
And now Feby. 25 1862 Charter presented by JB Livingston by direct publication &c.
And now Apl. 28, 1862 the court directs &c the Charter of Incorporation of "The Methodist Episcopal Church of Christiana" &c&c.