CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESE

CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE

SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each church is arranged in alphabetical order within counties. Select a county.

FULTON COUNTY PA

1. Akersville ME

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Location: PA 915, village of Akersville
Municipality: Brush Creek township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From US 30, at the western edge of Fulton County, go 3 miles south on PA 915. The church is on the right, across from the intersection with Duvall Road and before PA 915 takes a sharp turn to the right at the intersection with Pleasant Valley Road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1972,99 – discontinued
     1974,210 – sold school building only
     1992,354&356 – sold to cemetery association

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1812 and worshiped in the second story of the John Akers grist mill, the home of Robert Akers and the school house until the church was erected in 1858 on land deeded by Israel Akers in 1837. The Sunday School was organized in 1841. The congregation, which numbered 46 at the time of the 1968 Methodist-EUB union, was never large but has sent at least 8 men into the ministry (viz., Joseph Benson Akers, John Milton Akers, George A. Duvall, Lewis A. Duvall, Arthur A. Duvall, Ira R. Duvall, Jacob Barkman, George S. Hixson). The congregation produced a thorough historical booklet for its 1958 centennial.

Final disposition:
The building is maintained in good repair and has housed a small community congregation on an irregular basis.

2. Bedford Chapel ME

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Location: PA 643
Municipality: Bethel township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the interchange of I-70 with US 522, go 4 miles north on US 522 to PA 643. Go west 3 miles west PA 643 to the base of Sideling Hill. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1892,56 – church erected
1955,56 – declared abandoned; conference trustees authorized to sell

Brief History:
The church was erected mainly due to the efforts of local preacher Lewis Chambers, who lived in Big Cove Tannery and guided the Licking Creek [Harrisonville] charge (either as the preacher in charge or behind the scenes) from 1873 to 1903.

Final disposition:
The congregation has gone from the Methodist Church to the Christian Church to being independent.

3. Bethlehem UB

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Location: Peach Orchard Road
Municipality: Todd township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
Peach Orchard Road goes north off the old US 30 and cannot be accessed from the new US 30 by-pass. Go 1 mile west of McConnellsburg on the old US 30 to Peach Orchard Road. Go 3 miles north on Peach Orchard Road. The church is on the left, ay a pont where the main road makes a sharp bend to the right.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
     1943,79 – reopened; moved to Shade Gap charge
     1944,44 – increases from 0 to 14 members
     1972,99 – to McConnellsburg-Cito charge
     1990,229 – merged into Knobsville UMC

Brief History:
This very old appointment was founded in 1849 and known as Scrub Ridge. It shifted back and forth between the Pennsylvania and Allegheny Conference before being taken permanently by the Allegheny Conference in in 1893 and placed on the Hustontown charge. The Hustontown charge was dissolved in 1926 and Bethlehem was referred to the conference trustees as a vacant property. The building was not sold, and it remained under the care of the Three Springs charge. The church was reopened in 1943 and placed on the Shade Gap charge (with Mt. Zion, Salem, and Pleasant Hill) through two denominational mergers until 1972. It was placed on the McConnellsburg charge in 1972, on the Knobsville charge in 1986, and closed in 1990.

Final disposition:
The building is now a private home.

4. Black Oak ME

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Location: Stoney Break Road
Municipality: Bethel township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Warfordsburg, go west 3.5 miles on PA 484 to the crossroad at Stoneybreak. Go south 2 miles on Stoney Break Road. The church is on the right, shortly after Black Oak Road goes off to the east.

Historic Conference:
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1924,457 – sale authorized; proceeds toward parsonage at Warfordsburg

Brief History:
      Beginning in 1890 Black Oak was on the Hancock circuit, with churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania. For much of that time a 4-week morning, afternoon, evening cycle similar to the following was in place.
            week #1: Hancock MD, Catalpa MD, Hancock MD
            week #2: Piney Plains MD (near Orleans), Buck Valley PA, Black Oak PA
            week #3: Hancock MD, Orchard Ridge MD (near Millstone), Hancock MD
            week #4: Little Cove PA, Rehoboth PA, Hancock MD
After Warfordsburg was added, the strain become too much and the charge was eventually split about 1921. Soon after that Black Oak was abandoned, with the idea of using the proceeds to help finance a parsonage in Warfordsburg.

Final disposition:
The building was deeded to the Cedar Grove Mennonite congregation in 1952, with a reversion clause to the Baltimore Conference if it ceased to be used as a church. In 1991 (Baltimore Conference journal 1991,313) the reversion clause was removed. The building is now a Mennonite church.

5. Buck Valley ME

Location: PA 484, village of Buck Valley
Municipality: Union township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From Warfordsburg go west 6.5 miles on PA 484 to the village of Buck Valley. The church is on the left, where PA 731 goes off to the north.

Historic Conference:
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
    This building was erected in 1882. Beginning in 1890 Buck Valley was on the Hancock circuit, with churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania. For much of that time a 4-week morning, afternoon, evening cycle similar to the following was in place.
            week #1: Hancock MD, Catalpa MD, Hancock MD
            week #2: Piney Plains MD (near Orleans), Buck Valley PA, Black Oak PA
            week #3: Hancock MD, Orchard Ridge MD (near Millstone), Hancock MD
            week #4: Little Cove PA, Rehoboth PA, Hancock MD
After Warfordsburg was added, the strain become too much and the charge was eventually split about 1921, with a parsonage in Warfordsburg for Warfordsburg, Buck Valley, Piney Plains and Rehoboth, and Little Cove. That charge was dissolved in 1944 with Little Cove placed back with Hancock and the other churches added to the Morgan charge (out of Berkeley Springs WV). In 1948 the Warfordsburg charge was reconstituted with Piney Plains. Warfordsbur, Rehoboth and Little Cove and a parsonage at Orleans (near Piney Plaains). Buck Valley does not appear on the reconstituted charge and apparently was dropped as an appointment at that time or shortly before.

Final disposition:
The building is standing and in good repair, apparently maintained by the community, but not housing a congregation.

6. Burnt Cabins ME

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Location: US 522, west end of the village of Burnt Cabins
Municipality: Dublin township
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:
From the interchange of the PA Turnpike and US 522, go 4 miles east on US 522. The church is on the left, shortly before US 522 takes a turn to the north in the village of Burnt Cabins.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1851 and erected its first building in the east end of town, on a lane heading north, on a rise just north of Aughwich Creek – and just across the county line in Huntingdon County. The present structure in the west end of town was erected in 1883

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Burnt Cabins Bible Church.

7. Dublin Mills ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
Dublin Mills was a member of the Hustontown charge (with Center, Clear Ridge, Fairview, Hustontown, and Maddensville).

Final disposition:

8. Fort Littleton ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

9. Hustontown ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

10. Hustontown UB

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1926,82&88 – referred to conference trustees as a vacant property

Brief History:
The 5-point Hustontown UB charge was discontinued in 1926 (page 82&88): Hustontown, Bethlehem (later reopened) and Cromwell (later reopened?) were declared vacant; Wells Valley and Mt. Tabor were placed on the Three Springs charge.

Final disposition:

11. McKendree ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

12. Mount Tabor UB

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1946,126 - investigation of deed/ownership

Brief History:
Although the property was always consider United Brethren, it was deeded October 21, 18886, as a Community Church for the use "of all religious orthodox denominations."

Final disposition:
The building now houses a Church of the Nazarene congregation.

13. Mt. Zion ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1954,55 – declared abandoned; permission granted to sell

Brief History:

Final disposition:

14. Needmore ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

15. Oakley ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:
The March 17, 1975, meeting of the Central Pennsylvania Conference Board of Trustees voted permission to Gerald Lake and Donald L. Pepple to raze the Oakley church building and take any materials of value, provided that the site is cleaned and made presentable.

16. Pine Grove ME

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:
The building was unsafe and has been razed.

17. Waterfall Zion ME [relocated across the highway and is now in Huntingdon County]

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition:

The building was unsafe and has been razed.

18. Wells Valley UB

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Location:
Municipality:
County: Fulton
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:

Final disposition: