This article was written by Frank Myers in December 2010 for the Lucas County Historical Society Blog. If you would like to read the entire article click on the following link: History of Early Methodism in Lucas County
The recent closing of Bethel United Methodist Church in Cedar Township (to the right) has reduced the number of that denomination's congregations in Lucas County to three, a far cry from the days when there was at least one and in some cases more in every township. Today, only the Chariton, Norwood and Russell churches remain. And of the three, only the Chariton and Russell congregations began as Methodist; Norwood (and Bethel) became United Methodist in 1968 following merger of the Methodist Episcopal and Evangelical United Brethren denominations.
The recent closing of Bethel United Methodist Church in Cedar Township (to the right) has reduced the number of that denomination's congregations in Lucas County to three, a far cry from the days when there was at least one and in some cases more in every township. Today, only the Chariton, Norwood and Russell churches remain. And of the three, only the Chariton and Russell congregations began as Methodist; Norwood (and Bethel) became United Methodist in 1968 following merger of the Methodist Episcopal and Evangelical United Brethren denominations.
Lucas County owes its rich Methodist heritage to the work of a hardy band of circuit-riding preachers who arrived with the first settlers, preaching first at the cabin of the Xury West family at Greenville in Washington Township in 1849 --- the first formal religious services held in the county. As population expanded, dozens of Methodist preaching stations were established in homes, then schools and finally church buildings.
1 comment:
Thank you for posting this story about United Methodism in the area.
I am glad to hear that Russell UMC is still going. Best wishes to you
Virginia Smith Watkins
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