Page 71 - WPA Book
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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church South
Page Three
From the first Bishop Asbury held his people of Harrisonburg and in Rockingham County and spoke
affectionately of them, especially of the Harrisons and McWilliams with both of whom he often stopped and
was entertained.
On the lot of these first two churches is the first burial grounds in which many of the old worthies of early
Methodism in this town were laid to rest. Many of the bodies were in later years removed to Woodbine
Cemetery, but a goodly number are still resting there and their tomb stones still standing, though some have
fallen down. Robert Harrison’s head stone is still standing and shows that he died at the ripe old age of eighty-
six years.
Schisms and violent disagreements creep into organizations and the church is no exception. This happened to
Methodism in 1844, bringing many heartaches and painful contentions, when the Methodist Church separated
and became the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Among others, the
ownership of church property became a great bone of contention. The Methodist Episcopal Church claimed the
church property in Harrisonburg as they did in other localities and had preachers in this field, but they were
unable to maintain their claim. For a few years both branches worshipped in the “old church on the hill,” but in
1853 the Methodist Episcopal Church built its place of worship on West Market Street, finally disposing of it in
1867 to Roman Catholics, since which time the Methodist Episcopal Church has not operated in this field.
In 1851, the Methodist Episcopal Church South worships in its new (third) church. It was built of brick and
dedicated Sunday May 4th of that year. It was known as Andrew Chapel, and here the Baltimore Conference
held the first of the “War Conferences,” May 15, 1862. No Bishop being present, Rev. E.R. Veitch was elected
President and J.S. Martin and James E. Armstrong, Secretaries. Andrew Chapel continued to be the place of
worship for the Methodists until 1879. It is located on what was then German Street, now Liberty Street. It is
now owned and occupied by the Colored Methodist Church.
Andrew Chapel becoming too small, the next church built by the Methodists was on West Market Street. This
church, built of brick, was erected in 1879 and served the congregation until it too became too small and the
location undesirable for the church purposes, when it was sold and the present splendid brown stone church was
built and dedicated in 1911.
The Methodist Church in Harrisonburg has had steady and continuous growth from the beginning, and we
believe we may say with a pardonable pride that it has faithfully, loyally, and helpfully served Harrisonburg and
the County of Rockingham with great fidelity for the one hundred and fifty years of its existence. It seemed to
have taken Asbury’s remark “we have a church set on a hill” as a slogan, and through the years continued to be
a “burning and a shining light.” So may it ever be. Its pulpit has been filled by the eminent men of the dear old
Baltimore Conference.
7. ART:
Photograph.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Rockingham County Court Records.
Souvenir History of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, by Rev. H.S. Sherman.
December 9, 2024 Geo. W. Fetzer
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 70 of 482
CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church South
Page Three
From the first Bishop Asbury held his people of Harrisonburg and in Rockingham County and spoke
affectionately of them, especially of the Harrisons and McWilliams with both of whom he often stopped and
was entertained.
On the lot of these first two churches is the first burial grounds in which many of the old worthies of early
Methodism in this town were laid to rest. Many of the bodies were in later years removed to Woodbine
Cemetery, but a goodly number are still resting there and their tomb stones still standing, though some have
fallen down. Robert Harrison’s head stone is still standing and shows that he died at the ripe old age of eighty-
six years.
Schisms and violent disagreements creep into organizations and the church is no exception. This happened to
Methodism in 1844, bringing many heartaches and painful contentions, when the Methodist Church separated
and became the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Among others, the
ownership of church property became a great bone of contention. The Methodist Episcopal Church claimed the
church property in Harrisonburg as they did in other localities and had preachers in this field, but they were
unable to maintain their claim. For a few years both branches worshipped in the “old church on the hill,” but in
1853 the Methodist Episcopal Church built its place of worship on West Market Street, finally disposing of it in
1867 to Roman Catholics, since which time the Methodist Episcopal Church has not operated in this field.
In 1851, the Methodist Episcopal Church South worships in its new (third) church. It was built of brick and
dedicated Sunday May 4th of that year. It was known as Andrew Chapel, and here the Baltimore Conference
held the first of the “War Conferences,” May 15, 1862. No Bishop being present, Rev. E.R. Veitch was elected
President and J.S. Martin and James E. Armstrong, Secretaries. Andrew Chapel continued to be the place of
worship for the Methodists until 1879. It is located on what was then German Street, now Liberty Street. It is
now owned and occupied by the Colored Methodist Church.
Andrew Chapel becoming too small, the next church built by the Methodists was on West Market Street. This
church, built of brick, was erected in 1879 and served the congregation until it too became too small and the
location undesirable for the church purposes, when it was sold and the present splendid brown stone church was
built and dedicated in 1911.
The Methodist Church in Harrisonburg has had steady and continuous growth from the beginning, and we
believe we may say with a pardonable pride that it has faithfully, loyally, and helpfully served Harrisonburg and
the County of Rockingham with great fidelity for the one hundred and fifty years of its existence. It seemed to
have taken Asbury’s remark “we have a church set on a hill” as a slogan, and through the years continued to be
a “burning and a shining light.” So may it ever be. Its pulpit has been filled by the eminent men of the dear old
Baltimore Conference.
7. ART:
Photograph.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Rockingham County Court Records.
Souvenir History of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, by Rev. H.S. Sherman.
December 9, 2024 Geo. W. Fetzer
Harrisonburg, VA
Page 70 of 482
