Page 117 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 117
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
Grove Homecoming. At the September 1948 meeting of the Conference Board of Missions, “Rev.
Howard Fulk and delegate John I. Smith appeared before the Board in the interest of building a new
church at Cherry Grove, Singer’s Glen Charge. Motion was passed authorizing continuance with the
plans, and that further study be made of the same.” The 1949 report for Cherry Grove was: “New
church building, paid out to date, $8,250; estimated donations of lumber, hauling labor, etc., $3,000; and
total cost, $11,250. The Superintendent reported in 1950 having participated in the dedication of Cherry
Grove Church. Details provided were: “On April 30 Bishop Showers dedicated the new church at
Cherry Grove on Singers Glen Charge. The location of this church was moved a short distance from the
old to smoother and more level ground. The building is of frame construction with brick veneer, with a
seating capacity of 160. It has a kitchen and full basement, six classrooms. Total cost was $26,500.
Donated materials, hauling, and labor amounted to $3,500. On the day of dedication an offering of
$1,764 was received, and after applying this on the debt there remains a debt of $10,000.”
The Cherry Grove report in 1950 cited: “Paid on new church this year, $4,640; stove, table,
dishes, etc., 573; total, $5,656.” The 1951 report was: “10 screens for basement windows, $23; 17
over-all screens for Sunday school room windows, $38.50; screen door for basement, $10; three
Venetian blinds for rest rooms, $12.30; paint for basement floor, $13.70; five highway signs directing to
church, $20.25; new communion set; bread and wine trays, $19.65; new altar set, walnut, 2 candle
sticks, and cross, a gift, $40; and drain tile for reservoir overflow, $37.45; total, $214.85. Paid on
principal of debt, $3,402.39; and paid on interest, $387.50; for total paid of $3,789.89.” The 1952 report
was for $125 paid on improvements; on interest, $308.81, and on debt, $3,000; total paid, $3,434.81.
The report in 1954 listed 150 new hymnals, $185; new film projector, $400; social hall redecorated,
$100; and new hot water heater, $130. Charge total, $815. In 1955 Cherry Grove EUB Church had
242 members, an increase of 44 members (22 percent) from 1950.
In 1956 the Superintendent reported having preached in Cherry Grove’s Sixth Anniversary
Service. That year Cherry Grove reported a bulletin board, $286; church lawn tables, $36; church lawn
mower $110, used refrigerator, $25; total, $457. In 1957 the report was a piano for social room, $195;
and in 1958 a new brick wall around church yard, $1,290; and laying tile on floor of social room, $575.
In 1959 the Superintendent reported having preached in Cherry Grove’s 9th Anniversary Service. In
1960 Cherry Grove reported new choir chairs bought by YF (Youth Fellowship), $285; church floors
refinished, $255; new lawn mower, $115; and refrigerator for church kitchen, $100.
Note: There was also a Cherry Grove U.B. Church on Frederick, Winchester, Capon Spring, and
West Frederick Circuits as early as 1891.
Table 22, below, identifies some early pastors for Lacey Springs Circuit. In the years before
1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual churches and other
appointments. Table 23, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and membership data for
Cherry Grove U.B. and EUB church (1921-69). Note that “Year Ends 1863” means conference year
1862-63 and that the data were reported at the 1863 Annual Conference. Thus, J. W. Howe served Old
Salem (and other churches of Lacey Springs and Rockingham Circuits) 1862-68, and H. A. Bovey 1868-
70.
Table 22. Cherry Grove (Old Salem) U.B. Church: Early Pastors and Charge Membership, 1880-1920
Year Charge Name District Name Appointed Pastor Membership Statistics—Whole Charge
Ends Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe
1863 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe Members Start Yr. Members End Yr.
1864 Rockingham Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1865 Rockingham Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1866 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1868 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference H. A. Bovey ——
1869 ——
——
II.B.11 Cherry Grove U.B. Church 103
Grove Homecoming. At the September 1948 meeting of the Conference Board of Missions, “Rev.
Howard Fulk and delegate John I. Smith appeared before the Board in the interest of building a new
church at Cherry Grove, Singer’s Glen Charge. Motion was passed authorizing continuance with the
plans, and that further study be made of the same.” The 1949 report for Cherry Grove was: “New
church building, paid out to date, $8,250; estimated donations of lumber, hauling labor, etc., $3,000; and
total cost, $11,250. The Superintendent reported in 1950 having participated in the dedication of Cherry
Grove Church. Details provided were: “On April 30 Bishop Showers dedicated the new church at
Cherry Grove on Singers Glen Charge. The location of this church was moved a short distance from the
old to smoother and more level ground. The building is of frame construction with brick veneer, with a
seating capacity of 160. It has a kitchen and full basement, six classrooms. Total cost was $26,500.
Donated materials, hauling, and labor amounted to $3,500. On the day of dedication an offering of
$1,764 was received, and after applying this on the debt there remains a debt of $10,000.”
The Cherry Grove report in 1950 cited: “Paid on new church this year, $4,640; stove, table,
dishes, etc., 573; total, $5,656.” The 1951 report was: “10 screens for basement windows, $23; 17
over-all screens for Sunday school room windows, $38.50; screen door for basement, $10; three
Venetian blinds for rest rooms, $12.30; paint for basement floor, $13.70; five highway signs directing to
church, $20.25; new communion set; bread and wine trays, $19.65; new altar set, walnut, 2 candle
sticks, and cross, a gift, $40; and drain tile for reservoir overflow, $37.45; total, $214.85. Paid on
principal of debt, $3,402.39; and paid on interest, $387.50; for total paid of $3,789.89.” The 1952 report
was for $125 paid on improvements; on interest, $308.81, and on debt, $3,000; total paid, $3,434.81.
The report in 1954 listed 150 new hymnals, $185; new film projector, $400; social hall redecorated,
$100; and new hot water heater, $130. Charge total, $815. In 1955 Cherry Grove EUB Church had
242 members, an increase of 44 members (22 percent) from 1950.
In 1956 the Superintendent reported having preached in Cherry Grove’s Sixth Anniversary
Service. That year Cherry Grove reported a bulletin board, $286; church lawn tables, $36; church lawn
mower $110, used refrigerator, $25; total, $457. In 1957 the report was a piano for social room, $195;
and in 1958 a new brick wall around church yard, $1,290; and laying tile on floor of social room, $575.
In 1959 the Superintendent reported having preached in Cherry Grove’s 9th Anniversary Service. In
1960 Cherry Grove reported new choir chairs bought by YF (Youth Fellowship), $285; church floors
refinished, $255; new lawn mower, $115; and refrigerator for church kitchen, $100.
Note: There was also a Cherry Grove U.B. Church on Frederick, Winchester, Capon Spring, and
West Frederick Circuits as early as 1891.
Table 22, below, identifies some early pastors for Lacey Springs Circuit. In the years before
1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual churches and other
appointments. Table 23, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and membership data for
Cherry Grove U.B. and EUB church (1921-69). Note that “Year Ends 1863” means conference year
1862-63 and that the data were reported at the 1863 Annual Conference. Thus, J. W. Howe served Old
Salem (and other churches of Lacey Springs and Rockingham Circuits) 1862-68, and H. A. Bovey 1868-
70.
Table 22. Cherry Grove (Old Salem) U.B. Church: Early Pastors and Charge Membership, 1880-1920
Year Charge Name District Name Appointed Pastor Membership Statistics—Whole Charge
Ends Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe
1863 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe Members Start Yr. Members End Yr.
1864 Rockingham Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1865 Rockingham Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1866 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference J. W. Howe ——
1868 Lacey Springs Circuit Conference H. A. Bovey ——
1869 ——
——
II.B.11 Cherry Grove U.B. Church 103
