Page 137 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 137
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
some good young people’s societies in the district. These are helpful and the young people are growing
and becoming helpful in the church work ... I urge each pastor to organize . . . societies where it is
possible.” (It seems that the first young people’s society of the Dayton Church was organized January,
1907, under the leadership of Rev. Harper.) At this conference a minimum ministerial salary was set at
$400.
The years from 1908 to 1913 were very irregular. It seems that Rev. G. P. Hott served the year,
1908-09; that Rev. A. B. Wilson served from May to October, 1909; Rev. G. P. Hott until January,
1910; and Rev. S. S. Hanliter completing the year. Rev. A. P. Funkhouser returned for the year, 1910-
11. During the year 1911-12 it appears that Rev.’s S. S. Hanliter, A. St Hammack, A. P. Funkhouser,
and G. P. Hott took turns at preaching. Rev. A. S. Hammack assumed the major responsibility of
supplying the pulpit during the next year. Rev. A. J. Secrist came in 1913, and served until 1915. Mr.
Hammack and Miss Ida Judy served jointly during the year, 1915-16.
Rev. D. D. Brandt began the longest consecutive pastorate of the church in 1936. Under his
leadership the brick Sunday school addition was added at a cost of $5,000. Bishop W. M. Bell dedicated
it, April 14, 1918. The last Virginia Conference to be held in Dayton was held September, 1821, with
Bishop Bell presiding. Mr. Brandt served until 1922.
Rev. A. L. Maiden served four years following Rev. Brandt, 1922-26. Rev. U. P. Hovermale
came in September, 1926. Another building program was launched in 1927 under his leadership. The
platform was enlarged; the three story brick addition was added on the north-west corner; the present
four manual Möhler pipe organ was installed; the walls were repainted; the kitchen enlarged, new
hymnals, lighting fixtures, and additional pews were added, at a total cost of $20,000. The dedicatory
service was held November 20, 1927, with Dr. John S. Fulton, Superintendent of Alleghany Conference,
speaking. Following Rev. Hovermale; Rev. J. H. Brunk served one year, 1930-31, and Rev. Wade S.
Miller two years, 1931-33. The present minister, Rev. M. J. Miller, came September, 1933.
Perhaps a word should be said to explain the reason for the many short pastorates. The
congregation has never been large enough to maintain itself as an independent station. Yet, as a College
Church, this has been almost essential in order that its program might be flexible enough to fit the
College program. It has been necessary, therefore, that the church appointments be combined with
teaching positions in the College whenever possible, with the Conference Superintendency as a second
possibility, or with the Dayton Circuit as a last resort. When a combination must be effected to
accommodate four positions, i.e. the Dayton Station, the Dayton Circuit, the College Professorship, and
the Conference Superintendency, one can easily see the reason for so many changes in ministers. The
fact that the church has survived with such a diversified leadership, and at the same time has been one of
the leading churches in the Virginia Conference, is a good indication of the quality of the lay leadership.
With laymen who will serve as president of an organization for 27 consecutive years, teach a class for
25 years, or act as Secretary of the Official Board for 52 years, as has been the case, specifically, with
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 123
some good young people’s societies in the district. These are helpful and the young people are growing
and becoming helpful in the church work ... I urge each pastor to organize . . . societies where it is
possible.” (It seems that the first young people’s society of the Dayton Church was organized January,
1907, under the leadership of Rev. Harper.) At this conference a minimum ministerial salary was set at
$400.
The years from 1908 to 1913 were very irregular. It seems that Rev. G. P. Hott served the year,
1908-09; that Rev. A. B. Wilson served from May to October, 1909; Rev. G. P. Hott until January,
1910; and Rev. S. S. Hanliter completing the year. Rev. A. P. Funkhouser returned for the year, 1910-
11. During the year 1911-12 it appears that Rev.’s S. S. Hanliter, A. St Hammack, A. P. Funkhouser,
and G. P. Hott took turns at preaching. Rev. A. S. Hammack assumed the major responsibility of
supplying the pulpit during the next year. Rev. A. J. Secrist came in 1913, and served until 1915. Mr.
Hammack and Miss Ida Judy served jointly during the year, 1915-16.
Rev. D. D. Brandt began the longest consecutive pastorate of the church in 1936. Under his
leadership the brick Sunday school addition was added at a cost of $5,000. Bishop W. M. Bell dedicated
it, April 14, 1918. The last Virginia Conference to be held in Dayton was held September, 1821, with
Bishop Bell presiding. Mr. Brandt served until 1922.
Rev. A. L. Maiden served four years following Rev. Brandt, 1922-26. Rev. U. P. Hovermale
came in September, 1926. Another building program was launched in 1927 under his leadership. The
platform was enlarged; the three story brick addition was added on the north-west corner; the present
four manual Möhler pipe organ was installed; the walls were repainted; the kitchen enlarged, new
hymnals, lighting fixtures, and additional pews were added, at a total cost of $20,000. The dedicatory
service was held November 20, 1927, with Dr. John S. Fulton, Superintendent of Alleghany Conference,
speaking. Following Rev. Hovermale; Rev. J. H. Brunk served one year, 1930-31, and Rev. Wade S.
Miller two years, 1931-33. The present minister, Rev. M. J. Miller, came September, 1933.
Perhaps a word should be said to explain the reason for the many short pastorates. The
congregation has never been large enough to maintain itself as an independent station. Yet, as a College
Church, this has been almost essential in order that its program might be flexible enough to fit the
College program. It has been necessary, therefore, that the church appointments be combined with
teaching positions in the College whenever possible, with the Conference Superintendency as a second
possibility, or with the Dayton Circuit as a last resort. When a combination must be effected to
accommodate four positions, i.e. the Dayton Station, the Dayton Circuit, the College Professorship, and
the Conference Superintendency, one can easily see the reason for so many changes in ministers. The
fact that the church has survived with such a diversified leadership, and at the same time has been one of
the leading churches in the Virginia Conference, is a good indication of the quality of the lay leadership.
With laymen who will serve as president of an organization for 27 consecutive years, teach a class for
25 years, or act as Secretary of the Official Board for 52 years, as has been the case, specifically, with
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 123
