Page 146 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 146
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
2 years. After that they moved into the building at 14 Graham Street, on Court House Square (where the
Busy Bee shop is now located).
This is where they were meeting when they became interested in renting the Dayton Church.
The Mormons soon became attached to this beautiful old church in which they were meeting, and lived
in dread of receiving news that the building would be sold and they would have to look for another place
to worship. They grew to love not only the church but the people in the community around it, and many
of them felt that this was where the Lord wanted them to stay. Finally, on July 24, 1973, a letter was
sent to the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Utah,
requesting permission to buy the church. Since it is not the custom of the LDS Church to purchase old
buildings, especially one as old as the Dayton Church, men from the Church Headquarters came to
examine carefully the condition of the building, both inside and out. They could hardly believe what
they found—a really good, substantial church, needing some repairs, to be sure, but basically, a building
which should serve the members in this area for many years. Approval was given for the purchase in
August of 1973. However, there was some delay due to legal matters that had to be settled, such as a
clear title to be given, and it was not until November of 1974 that the purchase was finally completed
and the church which had belonged to the former EUB Church in Dayton became a permanent meeting
place for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Dayton area.
One of the former Evangelical United Brethren members asked if there was any chance the
Mormons would eventually leave the Dayton Church and move to the Harrisonburg area, as they had
learned that the LDS Church owns a beautiful church site of some five acres within the city limits, on a
hill top, with a magnificent view in every direction. The answer was given—it is anticipated that by the
time the new Mormon chapel is built in Harrisonburg, there will be a sufficient number of members of
the LDS congregation who live in the Dayton area to form a separate branch, to become known as the
Dayton Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This optimistic prediction is based
on the belief that many of the people who live in that area will eventually realize that the Mormon
congregation in their midst truly has something special to offer to all who will join in worshipping the
Lord in the Dayton Church.
Strong Link Between College and Church.31 According to A, P, Funkhouser, who was the
Virginia Conference^ first historian, preaching began in the Dayton area in about 1835, There is no
record of that other than the listing of Dayton in Virginia Conference minutes as associated with the
Staunton Circuit-. Local churches were indifferent to recordkeeping of any kind. In fact, it was this
indifference and an accompanying disregard for organization that distressed Bishop Asbury about his
Germen brethren as a whole.
31 From Bruce C. Souders, “Because of Shenandoah, A Church Was Built,” ca. 1990.
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 132
2 years. After that they moved into the building at 14 Graham Street, on Court House Square (where the
Busy Bee shop is now located).
This is where they were meeting when they became interested in renting the Dayton Church.
The Mormons soon became attached to this beautiful old church in which they were meeting, and lived
in dread of receiving news that the building would be sold and they would have to look for another place
to worship. They grew to love not only the church but the people in the community around it, and many
of them felt that this was where the Lord wanted them to stay. Finally, on July 24, 1973, a letter was
sent to the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Salt Lake City, Utah,
requesting permission to buy the church. Since it is not the custom of the LDS Church to purchase old
buildings, especially one as old as the Dayton Church, men from the Church Headquarters came to
examine carefully the condition of the building, both inside and out. They could hardly believe what
they found—a really good, substantial church, needing some repairs, to be sure, but basically, a building
which should serve the members in this area for many years. Approval was given for the purchase in
August of 1973. However, there was some delay due to legal matters that had to be settled, such as a
clear title to be given, and it was not until November of 1974 that the purchase was finally completed
and the church which had belonged to the former EUB Church in Dayton became a permanent meeting
place for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Dayton area.
One of the former Evangelical United Brethren members asked if there was any chance the
Mormons would eventually leave the Dayton Church and move to the Harrisonburg area, as they had
learned that the LDS Church owns a beautiful church site of some five acres within the city limits, on a
hill top, with a magnificent view in every direction. The answer was given—it is anticipated that by the
time the new Mormon chapel is built in Harrisonburg, there will be a sufficient number of members of
the LDS congregation who live in the Dayton area to form a separate branch, to become known as the
Dayton Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This optimistic prediction is based
on the belief that many of the people who live in that area will eventually realize that the Mormon
congregation in their midst truly has something special to offer to all who will join in worshipping the
Lord in the Dayton Church.
Strong Link Between College and Church.31 According to A, P, Funkhouser, who was the
Virginia Conference^ first historian, preaching began in the Dayton area in about 1835, There is no
record of that other than the listing of Dayton in Virginia Conference minutes as associated with the
Staunton Circuit-. Local churches were indifferent to recordkeeping of any kind. In fact, it was this
indifference and an accompanying disregard for organization that distressed Bishop Asbury about his
Germen brethren as a whole.
31 From Bruce C. Souders, “Because of Shenandoah, A Church Was Built,” ca. 1990.
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 132
