Page 122 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
ceremony. Before the new church building was completed, membership had increased to the point that it
was necessary to hold two worship services each Sunday morning in the basement of the parsonage.
The first service in the new building was held in the basement (what is now the church social hall) on
Easter Sunday 1958. The congregation moved upstairs into the chapel for the Sunday morning service
on May 11, 1958. Bishop Howard returned to Cherryvale to deliver the message at the dedication of the
new church on June 22, 1958.
Gifts to Cherryvale. The total cost of building and furnishing the new church was $68,500. The
General Board of Missions gave $10,000 and made a loan to Cherryvale of $15,000. Another $10,000
was given to the new church by the Virginia Conference Board of Missions. The debt incurred for the
church construction was paid in full 13 years later, with a note-burning service held on Sunday,
November 28, 1971. Prior to the merger of the former Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist
Churches in 1968, the Virginia Conference of the EUB Church gave Cherryvale $1,000 toward the
purchase of a lot at 2606 Easton Drive for a new parsonage. A ground-breaking ceremony was held
after the morning worship service on the last Sunday of March 1972 and a new parsonage valued at
$60,000 was completed before the end of the year.
New Education Wing. Cherryvale’s congregation gathered on Sunday June 18, 1989, for the
groundbreaking for a new education wing, named for The Rev. Lee H. Richcreek to commemorate his
“generous bequest” to the church. The addition, was dedicated in September 1990. The church bulletin
for July 11, 2004, included the notice that the “building fund is paid in full.” A note for the $110,000
borrowed for this addition was burned in a ceremony during the regular worship service on August 29,
2004. Five of the trustees who had signed this note were present for the burning of the mortgage. They
were Leola Bartley, Raymond Cox, Galen Davis, Charlene Harris and John Perkins. Cherryvale
purchased a hybrid pipe organ from Klann Inc. of Waynesboro in October 2000, largely through the
efforts of church members Jay and Jo Ann Locklear. Stained glass windows with energy-efficient
hardware were installed in the sanctuary in 2002. The Pastors of Cherryvale have been:
Rev. Wilton B. Thomas, Sept. 1956 - Sept. 1958
Rev. Carroll E. Jay, Sept. 1958 - Dec. 1959
Rev. David F. Glovier, Jan. 1960 - Aug. 1961
Dr. J. Paul Gruver, Aug. 1961 - Aug. 1963
Rev. Arthur E. Grant, Aug. 1963 - June 1976
Rev. John E. Davis, Jr., June 1976 - June 1977
Rev. A. Spencer Turnipseed, Jr., June 1977 - May 1979
Rev. Gene C. Gee, June 1979 - Aug. 1982
Rev. James A. Hewitt, III, Aug. 1982 - June 1991
Rev. J. Jeffrey Butcher, June 1991 - July 1998
Rev. Elizabeth W. Taylor, July 1998 - Dec. 2003
Rev. Sandra A. McMillen, Jan. 2004 - July 2006
Rev. Donald M. Warrick Jr., July 2006 – Present.
Charter Members (1957): Albert H. Bragg, Geneva N. Bragg, Bonnie Jean Chandler (Tweedale), G.
Leonard Chandler, Jo Lillian Chandler (Meeks), Lillian May Chandler, Frances B. Clemmer, Rebecca Lee
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 108
ceremony. Before the new church building was completed, membership had increased to the point that it
was necessary to hold two worship services each Sunday morning in the basement of the parsonage.
The first service in the new building was held in the basement (what is now the church social hall) on
Easter Sunday 1958. The congregation moved upstairs into the chapel for the Sunday morning service
on May 11, 1958. Bishop Howard returned to Cherryvale to deliver the message at the dedication of the
new church on June 22, 1958.
Gifts to Cherryvale. The total cost of building and furnishing the new church was $68,500. The
General Board of Missions gave $10,000 and made a loan to Cherryvale of $15,000. Another $10,000
was given to the new church by the Virginia Conference Board of Missions. The debt incurred for the
church construction was paid in full 13 years later, with a note-burning service held on Sunday,
November 28, 1971. Prior to the merger of the former Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist
Churches in 1968, the Virginia Conference of the EUB Church gave Cherryvale $1,000 toward the
purchase of a lot at 2606 Easton Drive for a new parsonage. A ground-breaking ceremony was held
after the morning worship service on the last Sunday of March 1972 and a new parsonage valued at
$60,000 was completed before the end of the year.
New Education Wing. Cherryvale’s congregation gathered on Sunday June 18, 1989, for the
groundbreaking for a new education wing, named for The Rev. Lee H. Richcreek to commemorate his
“generous bequest” to the church. The addition, was dedicated in September 1990. The church bulletin
for July 11, 2004, included the notice that the “building fund is paid in full.” A note for the $110,000
borrowed for this addition was burned in a ceremony during the regular worship service on August 29,
2004. Five of the trustees who had signed this note were present for the burning of the mortgage. They
were Leola Bartley, Raymond Cox, Galen Davis, Charlene Harris and John Perkins. Cherryvale
purchased a hybrid pipe organ from Klann Inc. of Waynesboro in October 2000, largely through the
efforts of church members Jay and Jo Ann Locklear. Stained glass windows with energy-efficient
hardware were installed in the sanctuary in 2002. The Pastors of Cherryvale have been:
Rev. Wilton B. Thomas, Sept. 1956 - Sept. 1958
Rev. Carroll E. Jay, Sept. 1958 - Dec. 1959
Rev. David F. Glovier, Jan. 1960 - Aug. 1961
Dr. J. Paul Gruver, Aug. 1961 - Aug. 1963
Rev. Arthur E. Grant, Aug. 1963 - June 1976
Rev. John E. Davis, Jr., June 1976 - June 1977
Rev. A. Spencer Turnipseed, Jr., June 1977 - May 1979
Rev. Gene C. Gee, June 1979 - Aug. 1982
Rev. James A. Hewitt, III, Aug. 1982 - June 1991
Rev. J. Jeffrey Butcher, June 1991 - July 1998
Rev. Elizabeth W. Taylor, July 1998 - Dec. 2003
Rev. Sandra A. McMillen, Jan. 2004 - July 2006
Rev. Donald M. Warrick Jr., July 2006 – Present.
Charter Members (1957): Albert H. Bragg, Geneva N. Bragg, Bonnie Jean Chandler (Tweedale), G.
Leonard Chandler, Jo Lillian Chandler (Meeks), Lillian May Chandler, Frances B. Clemmer, Rebecca Lee
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 108
