Page 128 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 128
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
MAYNARD; Rhonda Mann MAYS; Pamela MCALLISTER; Helen MEEKS; Gary A. MICHAEL; Raymond &
Nellie MILLER; Janie MITCHELL; Elizabeth Armentrout MORRIS; Phillip G. & Agnes MORRISETTE;
Rudolph & Wanda NAGY; Roy & Beulah, Timothy Lynn PATTERSON; Pamela N. PAXTON; Lewis & Mary,
Martha, Sandra PERKINS; Doris Jean, Raymond & Mabel PHILLIPS; James & Margaret PICK; Alberta,
Earlene, James L., Lee Allison QUEEN; Edith E. RALSTON; Lew & Charlotte, Russell, Sheryl R. RAMSEY;
Dorothy F. REED; Carlyle & Ruby, Jerry L. REEVES; Virginia REXRODE; Stephanie ROBSON; William
&Wilma;, Darrell, David, Deborah ROWE; Eleanor G. SANGER; Garland & Eunice, Larry SHEETS; Ruth,
Dayna SHEFFER; Grace SHELLEY; Howard & Patricia SHOWALTER; John STOUTAMYER; David & Linda
SURRATT; Luther & Louise SUTTON; Harry F. & Louise, Harry A. SWATS; Bonnie C. TWEEDALE; Nina F.
TYREE; Grover, Jr. & Shirley, Gregory, Robin VEST; James & Barbara, Denise D. WADE; Marcella E.,
Michael L. WALTERS; Ruth Helen WARINNER; Reba C., Jack WEISS; Betty WHEELER; Charles “Chuck”,
Lorraine “Lori” WHISMAN; Steve & Nancy, William & Glenna WHITE; O. A. “Bob” & Margaret WILLIAMS;
Earl & Anna, Harry, Jr. & Violet, Carol E., Harry T. Ill “Micky”, Rebecca C. WISEMAN; Frank & Brenda
WOLLNER; Richard & Margaret, Richard Kevin WOOD; Marian B. WRIGHT.
Conference Reports. Cherryvale EUB Church was first mentioned in Conference Minutes in
1955, when St. Paul’s Church, Staunton, agreed to pay $100 monthly on pastor’s salary for new
Cherryvale Mission in Staunton. The Conference Board of Missions reported on its May 1955 meeting
that: “Rev. [John R.] Sawyer presented the possibility of purchasing five additional lots adjacent to our
present five lots in the Cherryvale subdivision in Staunton, from Forrest J. Taylor, for the sum of $5,000.
A motion was passed by the Board of Missions to purchase these five additional lots.” At the September
1956 Board of Missions, “Cherryvale Mission in Staunton was discussed and it was understood by Dr.
Hovermale that the Board of Home Missions had approved a grant of $10,000 and a revolving loan of
$25,000 for this Mission. Motion passed that, if the progress at Cherryvale this year warrants it, the
Executive Committee be authorized to proceed with line study of plans for this new church during the
present conference year. Moreover, the 1956 Board of Missions budget for 1956-57 provided $3,600 for
the pastor’s salary, with no matching funds initially required from the church. Pastor Wilton B. Thomas
reported 43 members for Cherryvale in 1957.
In 1957 the Conference Superintendent reported: “On Sunday, August 18th, 1957, ground was
broken for our new Chapel in Cherryvale in Staunton to cost approximately $65,000. Plans have been
completed, the contractor employed, and work begun on the Chapel for the newest congregation in the
Virginia Conference. This congregation was organized last December (1956) by the Pastor, the Rev.
Wilton B. Thomas, and services have been held in the basement of the parsonage at 1113 Skymont Road
in Staunton. Membership, interest, and attendance have been most encouraging, and this congregation
looks ahead enthusiastically to greater things.” In the Superintendent’s discussion of the United Crusade
(for colleges, seminaries, and church extension), he further reported: “The General Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension is giving $10,000 to our new mission at Cherryvale in Staunton and in
addition is making us a loan of $15,000 for the above project. More help will be forthcoming.” At the
September 1957 Board of Missions meeting, “Rev. Wilton B. Thomas reported on the progress of
Cherryvale Mission in Staunton: there are now 44 members in the congregation; the average worship
attendance is 47; and the average Sunday school attendance is 38. The budget for the building program
is: Conference Gift, $10,000; Board of Missions, $10,000; Revolving Loan Fund from Board of
Missions, $15,000; needed, $23,838; and estimated cost, $58,838.” In 1957 and 1958, the Board of
Missions allocated $2,400 per year in missionary salary appropriations to Cherryvale Mission for 1957-
59, with the charge contributing $1,200 per year toward the preacher’s salary. On June 22nd, 1958,
Bishop Howard dedicated Cherryvale Mission, built at a cost of $68,500 and which has Sunday school
rooms and chapel to seat 200 people.
In 1959 Cherryvale EUB Church reported: “Sidewalk added, $175; Fellowship Hall plastered,
$300; Sunday school classrooms painted, $150; bulletin board erected, $300; in-laid tile in main hall and
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 114
MAYNARD; Rhonda Mann MAYS; Pamela MCALLISTER; Helen MEEKS; Gary A. MICHAEL; Raymond &
Nellie MILLER; Janie MITCHELL; Elizabeth Armentrout MORRIS; Phillip G. & Agnes MORRISETTE;
Rudolph & Wanda NAGY; Roy & Beulah, Timothy Lynn PATTERSON; Pamela N. PAXTON; Lewis & Mary,
Martha, Sandra PERKINS; Doris Jean, Raymond & Mabel PHILLIPS; James & Margaret PICK; Alberta,
Earlene, James L., Lee Allison QUEEN; Edith E. RALSTON; Lew & Charlotte, Russell, Sheryl R. RAMSEY;
Dorothy F. REED; Carlyle & Ruby, Jerry L. REEVES; Virginia REXRODE; Stephanie ROBSON; William
&Wilma;, Darrell, David, Deborah ROWE; Eleanor G. SANGER; Garland & Eunice, Larry SHEETS; Ruth,
Dayna SHEFFER; Grace SHELLEY; Howard & Patricia SHOWALTER; John STOUTAMYER; David & Linda
SURRATT; Luther & Louise SUTTON; Harry F. & Louise, Harry A. SWATS; Bonnie C. TWEEDALE; Nina F.
TYREE; Grover, Jr. & Shirley, Gregory, Robin VEST; James & Barbara, Denise D. WADE; Marcella E.,
Michael L. WALTERS; Ruth Helen WARINNER; Reba C., Jack WEISS; Betty WHEELER; Charles “Chuck”,
Lorraine “Lori” WHISMAN; Steve & Nancy, William & Glenna WHITE; O. A. “Bob” & Margaret WILLIAMS;
Earl & Anna, Harry, Jr. & Violet, Carol E., Harry T. Ill “Micky”, Rebecca C. WISEMAN; Frank & Brenda
WOLLNER; Richard & Margaret, Richard Kevin WOOD; Marian B. WRIGHT.
Conference Reports. Cherryvale EUB Church was first mentioned in Conference Minutes in
1955, when St. Paul’s Church, Staunton, agreed to pay $100 monthly on pastor’s salary for new
Cherryvale Mission in Staunton. The Conference Board of Missions reported on its May 1955 meeting
that: “Rev. [John R.] Sawyer presented the possibility of purchasing five additional lots adjacent to our
present five lots in the Cherryvale subdivision in Staunton, from Forrest J. Taylor, for the sum of $5,000.
A motion was passed by the Board of Missions to purchase these five additional lots.” At the September
1956 Board of Missions, “Cherryvale Mission in Staunton was discussed and it was understood by Dr.
Hovermale that the Board of Home Missions had approved a grant of $10,000 and a revolving loan of
$25,000 for this Mission. Motion passed that, if the progress at Cherryvale this year warrants it, the
Executive Committee be authorized to proceed with line study of plans for this new church during the
present conference year. Moreover, the 1956 Board of Missions budget for 1956-57 provided $3,600 for
the pastor’s salary, with no matching funds initially required from the church. Pastor Wilton B. Thomas
reported 43 members for Cherryvale in 1957.
In 1957 the Conference Superintendent reported: “On Sunday, August 18th, 1957, ground was
broken for our new Chapel in Cherryvale in Staunton to cost approximately $65,000. Plans have been
completed, the contractor employed, and work begun on the Chapel for the newest congregation in the
Virginia Conference. This congregation was organized last December (1956) by the Pastor, the Rev.
Wilton B. Thomas, and services have been held in the basement of the parsonage at 1113 Skymont Road
in Staunton. Membership, interest, and attendance have been most encouraging, and this congregation
looks ahead enthusiastically to greater things.” In the Superintendent’s discussion of the United Crusade
(for colleges, seminaries, and church extension), he further reported: “The General Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension is giving $10,000 to our new mission at Cherryvale in Staunton and in
addition is making us a loan of $15,000 for the above project. More help will be forthcoming.” At the
September 1957 Board of Missions meeting, “Rev. Wilton B. Thomas reported on the progress of
Cherryvale Mission in Staunton: there are now 44 members in the congregation; the average worship
attendance is 47; and the average Sunday school attendance is 38. The budget for the building program
is: Conference Gift, $10,000; Board of Missions, $10,000; Revolving Loan Fund from Board of
Missions, $15,000; needed, $23,838; and estimated cost, $58,838.” In 1957 and 1958, the Board of
Missions allocated $2,400 per year in missionary salary appropriations to Cherryvale Mission for 1957-
59, with the charge contributing $1,200 per year toward the preacher’s salary. On June 22nd, 1958,
Bishop Howard dedicated Cherryvale Mission, built at a cost of $68,500 and which has Sunday school
rooms and chapel to seat 200 people.
In 1959 Cherryvale EUB Church reported: “Sidewalk added, $175; Fellowship Hall plastered,
$300; Sunday school classrooms painted, $150; bulletin board erected, $300; in-laid tile in main hall and
II.B.12 Cherryvale U.B. Church 114
