Page 81 - History of the United Methodist Church in Rockingham County
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History of Congregations of Winchester District June 12, 2024
contributions to the church through the years. The last window was placed in honor of Mrs. Catherine
Williams by an anonymous donor.
The matching altar chairs were given in memory of Mr. William Curry, Sr., by his wife and
children. The electric cross was installed by the young women's group of the church. A large plant,
flowers, and silver collection trays were placed in memory of Mrs. Cuetta H. Whittaker and her brother
Mr. Leo Howard, Sr., by the family. A candle lighter in memory of Mrs. Carrie Ray Curry was given by
her daughter, Mrs. Esther Banks. An altar set was given in memory of Mrs. Geraldine Harris by her
daughter.
Reorganizations of the Methodist Church. During 1964 we changed from Virginia-Washington
District of the Washington Conference, Central Jurisdiction, to Virginia-North Carolina District of the
North Carolina Conference. Bishop Edgar A. Love, who was presiding Bishop at this time retired.
Bishop Love is a native of this city and his father, Rev. Julius C. Love, served as our pastor for 2 years.
Bishop Love was succeeded by Bishop Charles F. Golden of North Carolina Conference. He was
succeeded by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson, our first white Bishop. Presently (1986), Bishop Robert M.
Blackburn is Resident Bishop.
In 1965, due to perhaps many reasons, one being the shortage of Negro ministers, especially
those willing to accept small churches, John Wesley was made a charge of four churches that included
Ames MC of Bridgewater, Saint Paul of Elkton, and Mount Sidney to be served by our pastor. This
proved to be too much of a responsibility for one minister and resulted in the closing of Ames MC in
1965. Most of the members transferred their membership to John Wesley and others went to Mount
Sidney. However, Mount Sidney UMC was closed in 1981, due to lack of members.
In 1968, the Central Jurisdiction was abolished, and we became a member of Winchester District
of Virginia UMC Conference with Rev. Paul Martin our District Superintendent and Rev. W. Kenneth
Goodson our Bishop. In 1970, when the merger of the EUB Church and The Methodist Church in
Virginia was completed, our name was changed to John Wesley UMC.
In 1971, Virginia Conference formed two new districts, Ashland District with Rev. Godfrey
Tate, a native of Staunton and the first Negro District Superintendent of the Conference, and
Harrisonburg District with Rev. Eugene R. Woolridge, Jr., our District Superintendent who served until
June 1978. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel E. NeSmith, our first Negro District Superintendent, who
served until June 1984. Rev. L. Carl Whitten is the present (1986) District Superintendent.
Need for a New Building. In 1975—due to the condition of the building that was 124 years old,
whose lower level had survived numerous flood waters, the latest being 1946—the Board of Trustees
began a study to determine what to do about the condition of the building. They secured the services of
an architect and several building contractors to help them with their decision. After receiving their
reports and conferences with district and conference officials, the Trustees recommended securing a new
site and erecting a new church building. The Pastor called several congregational meetings to present
the proposal of the Trustees, after which a vote was taken. The result was a split vote in favor of a new
church.
A building committee was appointed with the following members: Elon W. Rhodes, Chairman,
Taft O. Wardy, Griffin L. Ray, Carmelita H. Bundy, Edgar N. Johnson, Burnice Miller, and Carlyle
Whitelow. After completing financial arrangements, the Trustees purchased the former Exchange Park
from the City of Harrisonburg for $10,000. We broke ground Mar. 5, 1978, a cold day with snow on the
ground, but a small crowd was present for the ceremony conducted by District Superintendent
Eugene R. Woolridge, Jr., and Pastor Ralph E. Monroe. Trustees Taft O. Wardy and Edgar N. Johnson
manned the ceremonial shovels, and the $185,000 project was underway and with very favorable
weather for the remainder of the year.
II.B.3 John Wesley UMC 69 Volume 5
contributions to the church through the years. The last window was placed in honor of Mrs. Catherine
Williams by an anonymous donor.
The matching altar chairs were given in memory of Mr. William Curry, Sr., by his wife and
children. The electric cross was installed by the young women's group of the church. A large plant,
flowers, and silver collection trays were placed in memory of Mrs. Cuetta H. Whittaker and her brother
Mr. Leo Howard, Sr., by the family. A candle lighter in memory of Mrs. Carrie Ray Curry was given by
her daughter, Mrs. Esther Banks. An altar set was given in memory of Mrs. Geraldine Harris by her
daughter.
Reorganizations of the Methodist Church. During 1964 we changed from Virginia-Washington
District of the Washington Conference, Central Jurisdiction, to Virginia-North Carolina District of the
North Carolina Conference. Bishop Edgar A. Love, who was presiding Bishop at this time retired.
Bishop Love is a native of this city and his father, Rev. Julius C. Love, served as our pastor for 2 years.
Bishop Love was succeeded by Bishop Charles F. Golden of North Carolina Conference. He was
succeeded by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson, our first white Bishop. Presently (1986), Bishop Robert M.
Blackburn is Resident Bishop.
In 1965, due to perhaps many reasons, one being the shortage of Negro ministers, especially
those willing to accept small churches, John Wesley was made a charge of four churches that included
Ames MC of Bridgewater, Saint Paul of Elkton, and Mount Sidney to be served by our pastor. This
proved to be too much of a responsibility for one minister and resulted in the closing of Ames MC in
1965. Most of the members transferred their membership to John Wesley and others went to Mount
Sidney. However, Mount Sidney UMC was closed in 1981, due to lack of members.
In 1968, the Central Jurisdiction was abolished, and we became a member of Winchester District
of Virginia UMC Conference with Rev. Paul Martin our District Superintendent and Rev. W. Kenneth
Goodson our Bishop. In 1970, when the merger of the EUB Church and The Methodist Church in
Virginia was completed, our name was changed to John Wesley UMC.
In 1971, Virginia Conference formed two new districts, Ashland District with Rev. Godfrey
Tate, a native of Staunton and the first Negro District Superintendent of the Conference, and
Harrisonburg District with Rev. Eugene R. Woolridge, Jr., our District Superintendent who served until
June 1978. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel E. NeSmith, our first Negro District Superintendent, who
served until June 1984. Rev. L. Carl Whitten is the present (1986) District Superintendent.
Need for a New Building. In 1975—due to the condition of the building that was 124 years old,
whose lower level had survived numerous flood waters, the latest being 1946—the Board of Trustees
began a study to determine what to do about the condition of the building. They secured the services of
an architect and several building contractors to help them with their decision. After receiving their
reports and conferences with district and conference officials, the Trustees recommended securing a new
site and erecting a new church building. The Pastor called several congregational meetings to present
the proposal of the Trustees, after which a vote was taken. The result was a split vote in favor of a new
church.
A building committee was appointed with the following members: Elon W. Rhodes, Chairman,
Taft O. Wardy, Griffin L. Ray, Carmelita H. Bundy, Edgar N. Johnson, Burnice Miller, and Carlyle
Whitelow. After completing financial arrangements, the Trustees purchased the former Exchange Park
from the City of Harrisonburg for $10,000. We broke ground Mar. 5, 1978, a cold day with snow on the
ground, but a small crowd was present for the ceremony conducted by District Superintendent
Eugene R. Woolridge, Jr., and Pastor Ralph E. Monroe. Trustees Taft O. Wardy and Edgar N. Johnson
manned the ceremonial shovels, and the $185,000 project was underway and with very favorable
weather for the remainder of the year.
II.B.3 John Wesley UMC 69 Volume 5
