Page 27 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
conduct.” In 1831: “Conference agreed that Conrad Weist should quit selling liquor and preach more
than he has done; if not, his license to be demanded and he be a member of the church no longer.”
4. Division of the Denomination
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ originated in the late 1700s among German
immigrants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, including members of the Reformed Church and
former Mennonites. The official founding of the church came in 1800, and the first general conference
of clergy was held in 1815. Like the Methodists, the United Brethren emphasized the doctrine of
justification by faith alone, but combined this with a strong emphasis on holy living. The major goal of
the early pastors was saving souls. There was little emphasis on social gospel.
The United Brethren were a pioneering denomination in allowing women to preach. As early as
the 1850s, a few women were preaching, and at the 1889 General Conference a formal statement
allowing women’s ordination was made.
That year, however, also saw a division within the denomination. Conflicts split the church into
two blocs, the smaller of which was led by Bishop Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur
Wright. Both groups continued to use the name “Church of the United Brethren in Christ” until 1946.
In 1946, the larger bloc merged with The Evangelical Association, forming The Evangelical United
Brethren (EUB) Church. At the time of the merger U.B. churches existed primarily in two areas of West
Virginia: the Ohio River counties of Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, and Tyler, and the
interior counties of Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, and Braxton. There were few, if any, south of a
line from Huntington to Charleston and few in the eastern part of the state. At the time of the 1946
merger there were 261 United Brethren churches in West Virginia and only four congregations of the
Evangelical Association.
In 1968 The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with The Methodist Church to create
The United Methodist Church, the largest Protestant denomination in West Virginia. At the time of the
1968 merger, there were 240 EUB churches in West Virginia with a total membership of 23,911.
The faction of the church that was once led by Bishop Wright continues today as the Church of
the United Brethren in Christ, USA, headquartered in Huntington, Indiana. The denomination has about
200 congregations in the United States, including two in West Virginia.
I.A.2 Brethren Confession of Faith 13
conduct.” In 1831: “Conference agreed that Conrad Weist should quit selling liquor and preach more
than he has done; if not, his license to be demanded and he be a member of the church no longer.”
4. Division of the Denomination
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ originated in the late 1700s among German
immigrants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, including members of the Reformed Church and
former Mennonites. The official founding of the church came in 1800, and the first general conference
of clergy was held in 1815. Like the Methodists, the United Brethren emphasized the doctrine of
justification by faith alone, but combined this with a strong emphasis on holy living. The major goal of
the early pastors was saving souls. There was little emphasis on social gospel.
The United Brethren were a pioneering denomination in allowing women to preach. As early as
the 1850s, a few women were preaching, and at the 1889 General Conference a formal statement
allowing women’s ordination was made.
That year, however, also saw a division within the denomination. Conflicts split the church into
two blocs, the smaller of which was led by Bishop Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur
Wright. Both groups continued to use the name “Church of the United Brethren in Christ” until 1946.
In 1946, the larger bloc merged with The Evangelical Association, forming The Evangelical United
Brethren (EUB) Church. At the time of the merger U.B. churches existed primarily in two areas of West
Virginia: the Ohio River counties of Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, and Tyler, and the
interior counties of Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, and Braxton. There were few, if any, south of a
line from Huntington to Charleston and few in the eastern part of the state. At the time of the 1946
merger there were 261 United Brethren churches in West Virginia and only four congregations of the
Evangelical Association.
In 1968 The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with The Methodist Church to create
The United Methodist Church, the largest Protestant denomination in West Virginia. At the time of the
1968 merger, there were 240 EUB churches in West Virginia with a total membership of 23,911.
The faction of the church that was once led by Bishop Wright continues today as the Church of
the United Brethren in Christ, USA, headquartered in Huntington, Indiana. The denomination has about
200 congregations in the United States, including two in West Virginia.
I.A.2 Brethren Confession of Faith 13
