Page 121 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 121
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
1956, the Rev. Wilton B. Thomas, a recently-ordained minister from Rockingham County, was assigned
as pastor of the new mission.
Growing Responsibility. His salary was paid in full by the Mission Board for the first year, with
the understanding that the new Cherryvale congregation would assume 10 percent the following year
and an additional 10 percent each year for ten years. Cherryvale would continue to get some financial
assistance from the Mission Board for the next 16 years. Rev. and Mrs. Thomas, the former Helen Fulk
of Broadway, moved into the parsonage immediately following his appointment and began calling on
nearby residents as they worked to organize a new church congregation. Rev. Thomas handed out
printed cards to those he contacted, inviting them to attend the opening services of Cherryvale-Skymont
Community Church, Evangelical United Brethren on Sunday, December Second at 10:45 a.m. in the
House Chapel at 1113 Skymont Road.
First Worship Service. Cherryvale’s first worship service was held on December 2, 1956, in the
basement of the parsonage, with 25 in attendance. 1 Rev. Thomas continued to hold services in the
parsonage basement every Sunday, with Donna (Ashby) Harris serving as pianist over the next several
years. Cherryvale’s Sunday school was established in the following month, on January 6, 1957, with
Rev. and Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Forrest Peters, Jr. and Mrs. George L (Reba) Weiss as teachers for the four
Sunday school classes. This same Sunday, 21 people were received into church membership at the
10:30 a.m. worship service. It was decided then that new members would be received on the first
Sunday of each month and that all those who joined the congregation by Easter Sunday on April 21,
1957, would become Charter Members. The fledgling congregation decided on the name Cherryvale
Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Organizational Meeting. The initial organizational meeting of the Cherryvale congregation was
held on Sunday, February 3, 1957, with another three weeks later on Sunday, February 24, 1957.
Raymond Cox was elected to the position of Sunday school superintendent, with G. Leonard Chandler
assistant superintendent, George Harris, church treasurer, and Mrs. George (Reba) Weiss, financial
secretary. Cherryvale’s first ushers were Carroll Fauber, James Harris, Sam Mitchell, and Jack Weis.
The young congregation held its first church social on March 20, 1957, in the basement of the
parsonage. The first church picnic was held on July 31, 1957. A ground-breaking ceremony for a new
chapel and education building on Cherry Hill Drive was held on Sunday, August 18, 1957, led by Pastor
Thomas, assisted by then-retired EUB Minister David F. Glovier. George B. Harris, chairman of the
building committee lifted the first shovel of earth. (The original plan was for a Sanctuary to be built
eventually on the east side of the lot parallel with what was then referred to as a chapel).
Construction Begins. Construction began the following Wednesday, on August 21, 1957. The
Cornerstone Laying Service was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 1958, led by Bishop J. Gordon
Howard of Pittsburgh. By the time construction began in the summer of 1957, Cherryvale had
43 members, with 50 in attendance at the worship service on the Sunday preceding the groundbreaking
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 107
1956, the Rev. Wilton B. Thomas, a recently-ordained minister from Rockingham County, was assigned
as pastor of the new mission.
Growing Responsibility. His salary was paid in full by the Mission Board for the first year, with
the understanding that the new Cherryvale congregation would assume 10 percent the following year
and an additional 10 percent each year for ten years. Cherryvale would continue to get some financial
assistance from the Mission Board for the next 16 years. Rev. and Mrs. Thomas, the former Helen Fulk
of Broadway, moved into the parsonage immediately following his appointment and began calling on
nearby residents as they worked to organize a new church congregation. Rev. Thomas handed out
printed cards to those he contacted, inviting them to attend the opening services of Cherryvale-Skymont
Community Church, Evangelical United Brethren on Sunday, December Second at 10:45 a.m. in the
House Chapel at 1113 Skymont Road.
First Worship Service. Cherryvale’s first worship service was held on December 2, 1956, in the
basement of the parsonage, with 25 in attendance. 1 Rev. Thomas continued to hold services in the
parsonage basement every Sunday, with Donna (Ashby) Harris serving as pianist over the next several
years. Cherryvale’s Sunday school was established in the following month, on January 6, 1957, with
Rev. and Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Forrest Peters, Jr. and Mrs. George L (Reba) Weiss as teachers for the four
Sunday school classes. This same Sunday, 21 people were received into church membership at the
10:30 a.m. worship service. It was decided then that new members would be received on the first
Sunday of each month and that all those who joined the congregation by Easter Sunday on April 21,
1957, would become Charter Members. The fledgling congregation decided on the name Cherryvale
Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Organizational Meeting. The initial organizational meeting of the Cherryvale congregation was
held on Sunday, February 3, 1957, with another three weeks later on Sunday, February 24, 1957.
Raymond Cox was elected to the position of Sunday school superintendent, with G. Leonard Chandler
assistant superintendent, George Harris, church treasurer, and Mrs. George (Reba) Weiss, financial
secretary. Cherryvale’s first ushers were Carroll Fauber, James Harris, Sam Mitchell, and Jack Weis.
The young congregation held its first church social on March 20, 1957, in the basement of the
parsonage. The first church picnic was held on July 31, 1957. A ground-breaking ceremony for a new
chapel and education building on Cherry Hill Drive was held on Sunday, August 18, 1957, led by Pastor
Thomas, assisted by then-retired EUB Minister David F. Glovier. George B. Harris, chairman of the
building committee lifted the first shovel of earth. (The original plan was for a Sanctuary to be built
eventually on the east side of the lot parallel with what was then referred to as a chapel).
Construction Begins. Construction began the following Wednesday, on August 21, 1957. The
Cornerstone Laying Service was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 1958, led by Bishop J. Gordon
Howard of Pittsburgh. By the time construction began in the summer of 1957, Cherryvale had
43 members, with 50 in attendance at the worship service on the Sunday preceding the groundbreaking
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 107
