Page 67 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 67
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
GIVENS: Thomas Givens served the Freedmen’s Mission in Linville, Va., 1900-04, along with the following
other pastors in the Virginia Mission (FM) District: T. K. Clifford, Harrisonburg; W. W. Colley, Harrisonburg;
B. N. Stevens, Zenda; Harrisonburg; and G. A. Newman, Harrisonburg. Linville Circuit (FM) had Long’s
Chapel, Linville, Wardensville, Beasley, and Cold Stream. [Glovier 1965, p. 42-43]
GLOSSBRENNER: Bishop Jacob John Glossbrenner—14th bishop of the
UBIC, who presided over Va. Conf. during 1853-70, 1878-1879, and 1881-
82—was born in Hagerstown, Md., July 24, 1812. His parents were Peter and
Christiana Glossbrenner who were members of the Lutheran Church. He was
converted at the age of 17 in a revival meeting held by the Rev. William R.
Rhinehart during the winter of 1829-1830 in Hagerstown and joined the U.B.
Church. He was almost immediately given license to exhort in the U.B.
Church. At the age of 19, he was granted license to preach—”At this time he
looked even more youthful than his years would indicate, and some people
wondered what the conference meant by sending out boys to preach. But he
felt no doubt as to his call, and his hearers at once found the boy could
preach and preach well” [Funkhouser 1921, p. 147; see also pp. 148-149]. He attended the first Annual
Conference of the Church held in the State of Virginia, which was held in the Hickle school house on Mill Creek
near Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah County, Va., Apr. 1831. He joined the Conference at this time at the age of 19
years. His first appointment was Hagerstown Circuit, 1831-32, where he served as assistant to Rev. William
R. Rhinehart. At the Conference of 1832, he was assigned to Staunton Circuit (1832-34) which included the
counties of Rockingham, Augusta and Rockbridge. This was a circuit of 200 miles. It was here in Augusta
County near Churchville that he found a hospitable home at Christian Shueys, and where he fell in love with
Shueys daughter, Maria. He was married to Maria M. Shuey on Feb. 14, 1833, he being 20 and she 17. It
proved to be a most happy marriage which endured for more than 50 years. For the major portion of the
remainder of his life, his permanent residence was Augusta County, Va. Rev. Glossbrenner was ordained in
1833, and he was elected Presiding Elder at a Conference held at Churchville in 1834, and assigned to
Staunton District. He served as Presiding Elder for 5 years. During his ministry, he also served Shiloh Mission
of Rockbridge County, Va., 1838-40, and Frederick, 1840-41; Rockbridge, 1843-44; and Staunton, 1844-46
He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1837, 1841 and 1845. He was first elected Bishop at the
General Conference of Circleville, Ohio, 1845, while not yet thirty-three years of age. During his first year as
Bishop, he received a salary of $36 above expenses. He served his denomination as Bishop for 40
consecutive years and 2 years as Bishop Emeritus. No other Bishop has ever served the U.B. Church so many
years. Lebanon and Otterbein Colleges conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1873. During the
last quadrennium that he served as Bishop, 1881-1885, the Church had an increase in membership of 10,861.
He had strong convictions, was a powerful preacher, an excellent administrator, a devoted husband, an
affectionate father, and a loyal friend. Bishop Glossbrenner though born in Maryland, by his temperament,
through his marriage, his long residence in Virginia, became a true Virginian. He dedicated many church
houses (alphabetically): Bethlehem, Clay Hill (1856), Dayton (1878), Fairview (1869), Mt. Hebron on Toms
Brook Circuit (1846), Mt. Vernon at Shendun (the second, 1878), Pleasant Valley (the second, 1868), and
Salem (sometime during the War). He died at his home in Churchville, Va., Jan. 7, 1887, at the age of 74
years. His funeral was preached by Bishop Jonathan Weaver, and his body was laid to rest beside his wife in
Green Hill Cemetery near Churchville. He had served 56 years in the ministry, 42 of which he served as
bishop. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 125, 136, 193-200, 242-288]
and [Glovier 1965, pp. 103-104; see also pp. 39, 50, 52, 53, 88, 93, 148, 158, 171, 172, 218, 225, 227, 230,
237, 245, 247, 250, 252, 305, 306, 349] The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 69, 103], the one on the
right taken in 1886. From [Funkhouser 1921, p. 72; see also Parkersburg Conf. Journal 1891, p. 72]:
Jacob J. Glossbrenner was a charter member of Va. Conf. and in many respects a great man. He was tall and slender,
with a commanding forehead. His black eyes flashed intelligence. His language was chaste and correct. In the pulpit he
called a spade a spade when dealing with the eternal destiny of immortal souls. Though not deep in his thought, he was
popular as a preacher, and the pulpits of other churches were open to him. His themes were of the most exalted character
and always dwelt on the bright encouraging side of Christianity and the happy results of Christian living. He appeared to
have no taste for dwelling on the sins of wicked men or the corruption of the times. As a bishop he was careful and
conservative, his management giving general satisfaction. By his family he was much loved.
From [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 96-97]: Bishop Glossbrenner, who presided over the southern section [during the Civil War],
was of another temperament. He was calm and conservative. There were a thousand or more of the members of his church
who were at the outset within the limits controlled by the government at Richmond. With brief intervals this continued to
be the case until the close of the war. He was convinced that it was his duty to remain with them and see that they had
such advice and protection as his influence might command. Otherwise, it was certain that their hardships would be more
severe. It speaks volumes for the well-balanced prudence of the bishop that in spite of the suspicion in which his sect was
held, he would still be able to retain the respect and confidence of those in Confederate authority. In 1863 he applied for
permission to go within the Federal lines in order to attend the northern section of his conference and also the Pennsylvania
Conference. The request was granted, although, as a matter of course, Glossbrenner was enjoined not to convey any
information that might work to the disadvantage of the Confederacy. He was thus put on his honor and the trust was not
Biographical Sketches 55
GIVENS: Thomas Givens served the Freedmen’s Mission in Linville, Va., 1900-04, along with the following
other pastors in the Virginia Mission (FM) District: T. K. Clifford, Harrisonburg; W. W. Colley, Harrisonburg;
B. N. Stevens, Zenda; Harrisonburg; and G. A. Newman, Harrisonburg. Linville Circuit (FM) had Long’s
Chapel, Linville, Wardensville, Beasley, and Cold Stream. [Glovier 1965, p. 42-43]
GLOSSBRENNER: Bishop Jacob John Glossbrenner—14th bishop of the
UBIC, who presided over Va. Conf. during 1853-70, 1878-1879, and 1881-
82—was born in Hagerstown, Md., July 24, 1812. His parents were Peter and
Christiana Glossbrenner who were members of the Lutheran Church. He was
converted at the age of 17 in a revival meeting held by the Rev. William R.
Rhinehart during the winter of 1829-1830 in Hagerstown and joined the U.B.
Church. He was almost immediately given license to exhort in the U.B.
Church. At the age of 19, he was granted license to preach—”At this time he
looked even more youthful than his years would indicate, and some people
wondered what the conference meant by sending out boys to preach. But he
felt no doubt as to his call, and his hearers at once found the boy could
preach and preach well” [Funkhouser 1921, p. 147; see also pp. 148-149]. He attended the first Annual
Conference of the Church held in the State of Virginia, which was held in the Hickle school house on Mill Creek
near Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah County, Va., Apr. 1831. He joined the Conference at this time at the age of 19
years. His first appointment was Hagerstown Circuit, 1831-32, where he served as assistant to Rev. William
R. Rhinehart. At the Conference of 1832, he was assigned to Staunton Circuit (1832-34) which included the
counties of Rockingham, Augusta and Rockbridge. This was a circuit of 200 miles. It was here in Augusta
County near Churchville that he found a hospitable home at Christian Shueys, and where he fell in love with
Shueys daughter, Maria. He was married to Maria M. Shuey on Feb. 14, 1833, he being 20 and she 17. It
proved to be a most happy marriage which endured for more than 50 years. For the major portion of the
remainder of his life, his permanent residence was Augusta County, Va. Rev. Glossbrenner was ordained in
1833, and he was elected Presiding Elder at a Conference held at Churchville in 1834, and assigned to
Staunton District. He served as Presiding Elder for 5 years. During his ministry, he also served Shiloh Mission
of Rockbridge County, Va., 1838-40, and Frederick, 1840-41; Rockbridge, 1843-44; and Staunton, 1844-46
He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1837, 1841 and 1845. He was first elected Bishop at the
General Conference of Circleville, Ohio, 1845, while not yet thirty-three years of age. During his first year as
Bishop, he received a salary of $36 above expenses. He served his denomination as Bishop for 40
consecutive years and 2 years as Bishop Emeritus. No other Bishop has ever served the U.B. Church so many
years. Lebanon and Otterbein Colleges conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1873. During the
last quadrennium that he served as Bishop, 1881-1885, the Church had an increase in membership of 10,861.
He had strong convictions, was a powerful preacher, an excellent administrator, a devoted husband, an
affectionate father, and a loyal friend. Bishop Glossbrenner though born in Maryland, by his temperament,
through his marriage, his long residence in Virginia, became a true Virginian. He dedicated many church
houses (alphabetically): Bethlehem, Clay Hill (1856), Dayton (1878), Fairview (1869), Mt. Hebron on Toms
Brook Circuit (1846), Mt. Vernon at Shendun (the second, 1878), Pleasant Valley (the second, 1868), and
Salem (sometime during the War). He died at his home in Churchville, Va., Jan. 7, 1887, at the age of 74
years. His funeral was preached by Bishop Jonathan Weaver, and his body was laid to rest beside his wife in
Green Hill Cemetery near Churchville. He had served 56 years in the ministry, 42 of which he served as
bishop. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 125, 136, 193-200, 242-288]
and [Glovier 1965, pp. 103-104; see also pp. 39, 50, 52, 53, 88, 93, 148, 158, 171, 172, 218, 225, 227, 230,
237, 245, 247, 250, 252, 305, 306, 349] The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 69, 103], the one on the
right taken in 1886. From [Funkhouser 1921, p. 72; see also Parkersburg Conf. Journal 1891, p. 72]:
Jacob J. Glossbrenner was a charter member of Va. Conf. and in many respects a great man. He was tall and slender,
with a commanding forehead. His black eyes flashed intelligence. His language was chaste and correct. In the pulpit he
called a spade a spade when dealing with the eternal destiny of immortal souls. Though not deep in his thought, he was
popular as a preacher, and the pulpits of other churches were open to him. His themes were of the most exalted character
and always dwelt on the bright encouraging side of Christianity and the happy results of Christian living. He appeared to
have no taste for dwelling on the sins of wicked men or the corruption of the times. As a bishop he was careful and
conservative, his management giving general satisfaction. By his family he was much loved.
From [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 96-97]: Bishop Glossbrenner, who presided over the southern section [during the Civil War],
was of another temperament. He was calm and conservative. There were a thousand or more of the members of his church
who were at the outset within the limits controlled by the government at Richmond. With brief intervals this continued to
be the case until the close of the war. He was convinced that it was his duty to remain with them and see that they had
such advice and protection as his influence might command. Otherwise, it was certain that their hardships would be more
severe. It speaks volumes for the well-balanced prudence of the bishop that in spite of the suspicion in which his sect was
held, he would still be able to retain the respect and confidence of those in Confederate authority. In 1863 he applied for
permission to go within the Federal lines in order to attend the northern section of his conference and also the Pennsylvania
Conference. The request was granted, although, as a matter of course, Glossbrenner was enjoined not to convey any
information that might work to the disadvantage of the Confederacy. He was thus put on his honor and the trust was not
Biographical Sketches 55
