Page 152 - Pictorial History of EUB Church by Glovier
P. 152
152 HISTORY OF THE VA CONFERENCE, E.U.B. CHURCH—D.F. GLOVIER
HARRISONBURG DISTRICT
When Martin Boehm and William Otterbein had their historic joining
of minds and spirits in Isaac Long’s barn, there was a “Virginia Preacher”
present at the meeting. It is known that Boehm worked in close conjunction
with the “Virginia Preachers” and himself did much evangelistic work
among the Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley.
Since this “Pennsylvania Dutch” group is so strong in Rockingham
County, it is reasonable to assume that United Brethren preaching in
Rockingham County is likely the earliest in the state.
The history by A. P. Funkhouser and O. F. Morton mentions a quarterly
meeting held at the Huffman farm near Pleasant Valley on October 6, 1802.
Funkhouser also records a note that in 1803, George Benedum and
Christian Crum called a meeting of the Virginia Preachers and arranged
their fields of labor. In 1814 Henry Spayth was appointed to the
Rockingham Circuit. Old minutes record that a camp meeting was ordered
to be held in Rockingham County in 1819, but no record is existent as to
the exact location.
In 1824 Whitesel’s Church was built in Rockingham County—the first
United Brethren house of worship to be built in Virginia. Not only did
Rockingham County have the first United Brethren house of worship in
Virginia, but now the Harrisonburg District has the greatest number of
churches and the largest church membership in the conference. The 1964
Minutes indicate that there are 31 churches in the district with a
membership of 6,335.
At the time of the merger of the United Brethren and the Evangelical
Churches in 1946, there were no Evangelical Churches in the district.
HARRISONBURG DISTRICT
When Martin Boehm and William Otterbein had their historic joining
of minds and spirits in Isaac Long’s barn, there was a “Virginia Preacher”
present at the meeting. It is known that Boehm worked in close conjunction
with the “Virginia Preachers” and himself did much evangelistic work
among the Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley.
Since this “Pennsylvania Dutch” group is so strong in Rockingham
County, it is reasonable to assume that United Brethren preaching in
Rockingham County is likely the earliest in the state.
The history by A. P. Funkhouser and O. F. Morton mentions a quarterly
meeting held at the Huffman farm near Pleasant Valley on October 6, 1802.
Funkhouser also records a note that in 1803, George Benedum and
Christian Crum called a meeting of the Virginia Preachers and arranged
their fields of labor. In 1814 Henry Spayth was appointed to the
Rockingham Circuit. Old minutes record that a camp meeting was ordered
to be held in Rockingham County in 1819, but no record is existent as to
the exact location.
In 1824 Whitesel’s Church was built in Rockingham County—the first
United Brethren house of worship to be built in Virginia. Not only did
Rockingham County have the first United Brethren house of worship in
Virginia, but now the Harrisonburg District has the greatest number of
churches and the largest church membership in the conference. The 1964
Minutes indicate that there are 31 churches in the district with a
membership of 6,335.
At the time of the merger of the United Brethren and the Evangelical
Churches in 1946, there were no Evangelical Churches in the district.
