Page 64 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 64
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
2. Bethany U.B. Church (a.k.a., Cootes Store, Glasses; Broadway Circuit) [Rockingham County;
1910, 1936]
Bethany EUB Church is unknown after 1969.
The first United Brethren class to worship in the Cootes Store community was an appointment
on the Singers Glen charge, at which time their place of worship was just across the river from Cootes
Store in a union church. In 1910 a church was dedicated by Dr. E. U. Hoenshel at Glasses on the
Singers Glen Circuit; one-half interest being ours and the other half being the Methodists. G. B. Fadeley
was pastor. This church was located a short distance south of Cootes Store on the road to Singers Glen.
In 1919 the Cootes Store or Glasses congregation was detached from the Singers Glen Circuit and
attached to Broadway, a newly formed circuit. In 1936 the congregation at Cootes Store, on Broadway
Circuit, purchased the Baptist church and on May 17 of that year, rededicated it as Bethany U.B.
Church, at a cost of $700, all provided. P. W. Fisher was pastor. Some years later this church was sold,
and in 1964 the Bethany congregation moved back to and then worshiped at the Glasses location.
[Glovier 1965, p. 155]
Conference Reports for Cootes Store and Glasses Appointment. In 1909 Singers Glen
Circuit Pastor G. B. Fadeley reported: “Plans have been made for a new church at or near Cootes
Store.” In 1910 the Conference Superintendent reported that a “beautiful church was dedicated by Dr.
E. U. Hoenshel at Glasses on Singers Glen Circuit; one-half interest being ours and the other half being
the Methodists. Our share is valued at $750—G. B. Fadeley, pastor.” In 1919 Coote’s Store—along
with Broadway, Mt. Carmel, and Whitmores—was detached from Singers Glen Circuit and constituted
as Broadway Circuit, and in 1921 Coot’s Store was listed with 93 members on Broadway Circuit.
Membership had growth to 118 members in 1926. In 1930 Broadway Circuit Pastor Rev. E. B.
Caplinger reported that the Cootes Store congregation had purchased a communion set for $10. In 1936
the Conference Superintendent reported that the “congregation at Cootes Store on Broadway charge
purchased the Baptist church, and on May 17, 1936, rededicated it as Bethany U.B. Church, at a cost of
$700, all provided. Rev. P. W. Fisher is the Pastor.” At the same time, conference statistics showed
Bethany with 176 members.
Conference Reports for Cootes Store and Glasses Appointment. In 1940 Bethany Church
reported having redecorated the interior at a cost of $120, all paid. Bethany membership grew to
187 members by 1941 and 206 members by 1946. Bethany EUB Church was commended in 1948 for
exceeding its Conference Benevolence Quota for the Kingdom Advance Program (world-wide
missions). Bethany reported in 1950 having installed light fixtures for $55; and in 1951 having painted
on interior, new carpet, and new chairs for altar and pulpit for $394. In 1952 the Conference
Superintendent reported having preached in a week’s revival in Bethany Church. Improvements of $306
were reported in 1953 and $240 in 1956 for the treatment for termites and repairing damage. In 1963
the Conference Board of Missions recommended “that Bethany Church on Broadway Charge be turned
over to the Conference Trustees as abandoned Church property.” Bethany EUB Church reported
112 members in 1965 and 55 in 1969.
Table 5, below, identifies some early pastors for Broadway and Singers Glen Circuits. In the
years before 1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual
churches and other appointments. Table 6, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and
membership data for Cootes Store U.B. and Bethany U.B. and EUB Church (1921-69).
II.B.2 Bethany U.B. Church 50
2. Bethany U.B. Church (a.k.a., Cootes Store, Glasses; Broadway Circuit) [Rockingham County;
1910, 1936]
Bethany EUB Church is unknown after 1969.
The first United Brethren class to worship in the Cootes Store community was an appointment
on the Singers Glen charge, at which time their place of worship was just across the river from Cootes
Store in a union church. In 1910 a church was dedicated by Dr. E. U. Hoenshel at Glasses on the
Singers Glen Circuit; one-half interest being ours and the other half being the Methodists. G. B. Fadeley
was pastor. This church was located a short distance south of Cootes Store on the road to Singers Glen.
In 1919 the Cootes Store or Glasses congregation was detached from the Singers Glen Circuit and
attached to Broadway, a newly formed circuit. In 1936 the congregation at Cootes Store, on Broadway
Circuit, purchased the Baptist church and on May 17 of that year, rededicated it as Bethany U.B.
Church, at a cost of $700, all provided. P. W. Fisher was pastor. Some years later this church was sold,
and in 1964 the Bethany congregation moved back to and then worshiped at the Glasses location.
[Glovier 1965, p. 155]
Conference Reports for Cootes Store and Glasses Appointment. In 1909 Singers Glen
Circuit Pastor G. B. Fadeley reported: “Plans have been made for a new church at or near Cootes
Store.” In 1910 the Conference Superintendent reported that a “beautiful church was dedicated by Dr.
E. U. Hoenshel at Glasses on Singers Glen Circuit; one-half interest being ours and the other half being
the Methodists. Our share is valued at $750—G. B. Fadeley, pastor.” In 1919 Coote’s Store—along
with Broadway, Mt. Carmel, and Whitmores—was detached from Singers Glen Circuit and constituted
as Broadway Circuit, and in 1921 Coot’s Store was listed with 93 members on Broadway Circuit.
Membership had growth to 118 members in 1926. In 1930 Broadway Circuit Pastor Rev. E. B.
Caplinger reported that the Cootes Store congregation had purchased a communion set for $10. In 1936
the Conference Superintendent reported that the “congregation at Cootes Store on Broadway charge
purchased the Baptist church, and on May 17, 1936, rededicated it as Bethany U.B. Church, at a cost of
$700, all provided. Rev. P. W. Fisher is the Pastor.” At the same time, conference statistics showed
Bethany with 176 members.
Conference Reports for Cootes Store and Glasses Appointment. In 1940 Bethany Church
reported having redecorated the interior at a cost of $120, all paid. Bethany membership grew to
187 members by 1941 and 206 members by 1946. Bethany EUB Church was commended in 1948 for
exceeding its Conference Benevolence Quota for the Kingdom Advance Program (world-wide
missions). Bethany reported in 1950 having installed light fixtures for $55; and in 1951 having painted
on interior, new carpet, and new chairs for altar and pulpit for $394. In 1952 the Conference
Superintendent reported having preached in a week’s revival in Bethany Church. Improvements of $306
were reported in 1953 and $240 in 1956 for the treatment for termites and repairing damage. In 1963
the Conference Board of Missions recommended “that Bethany Church on Broadway Charge be turned
over to the Conference Trustees as abandoned Church property.” Bethany EUB Church reported
112 members in 1965 and 55 in 1969.
Table 5, below, identifies some early pastors for Broadway and Singers Glen Circuits. In the
years before 1921, membership data was recorded only for the charge and not for the individual
churches and other appointments. Table 6, below that, provides the names of appointed pastors and
membership data for Cootes Store U.B. and Bethany U.B. and EUB Church (1921-69).
II.B.2 Bethany U.B. Church 50
