History of the
West Union Methodist Church
Last week, I was given a very interesting history of the West Union Methodist Church and its journey to becoming the Emmanuel United Methodist Church in West Union we know today. I found it a beautiful story worthy of sharing with the public. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
May 25, 1844, is the earliest record of preaching by a Methodist minister near West Union. Rev. W. P. Hamilton, from the Harrisville Circuit, delivered his sermon at the home of Thomas Neely at the mouth of Jockey Camp. He received $1.00 in the collection plate.
In 1845, Doddridge County, VA, was formed from Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie, and Tyler Counties. It was then that the decision had to be made whether Lewisport or West Union would win the contest for the county seat. As you already know, West Union became the county seat for what would become Doddridge County, WV.
One year later, in 1846, the Methodist Church was organized. The exact date is unknown, but we know that on January 31, 1846, the quarterly conference was held at Lewisport, located across the creek on Blockhouse Hill.
Rev. J. L. Clark, who was a charter member of the WV Conference, preached in a brick house owned by Nathan and Jane Davis, and it was located where the present courthouse now stands.
The first religious revival was held in West Union in the winter of that same year. It was led jointly by Rev. Samuel Archibald, a Methodist minister, and Rev. Jacob Yeater of the Christian Church. Late one night during the revival, they made their way through the snow-covered path to Middle Island Creek, where they had to cut away the ice to baptize a young male convert.
In 1850-51, a new West Union Circuit was formed. Rev. Hezekiah Barnes became the new pastor with 11 immediate appointments, followed by nine more appointments by 1854.
On March 26, 1855, the lot on which the current church now stands was purchased from Nathan and Jane Davis for $65.00. The trustees were Simeon Duckworth, Thomas S. Neely, Benjamin F. Jones, Chapman J. Stuart, and William Lewin.
In 1859, the first church building was constructed upon this lot with J. S. Hall as the Pastor. (No photo available for this church.) This church had two entrances, one for the women and one for the men, as was common practice during that era.
Then in 1885, a second building was raised on this lot, and C. E. Clark was the Pastor. The second church was later moved across Church Street and used while the present structure was being built. The first parsonage was built in 1889 at the cost of $1,000.00. Then, in 1902, the present parsonage was built for $3,400.00. Two rooms and two porches were added to the parsonage in 1916.
West Union Methodist Church became a station church in 1909. Rev. J. H. Daugherty was Pastor. Under his leadership, the contract for a new church to be built for $12,224.49 was given to James P. Davisson. The following men were on the building committee: Rev. J. H. Daugherty, George W. Bland, George W. Farr, George W. Twyford, N. E. Duckworth, Samuel Steele Cox, and Benjamin H. Maulsby.
The cornerstone for the new church was laid on July 4, 1910. At the time, the church had 88 members. On May 7, 1911, with Rev. John Hickman as the pastor, the church became known as “The First Methodist Episcopal Church and was dedicated by Bishop David H. Moore. On that day, the entire money owed for the church’s construction was either donated or pledged to be donated.
First Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage, West Union.
At the dedication, District Superintendent, Sterling J. Miller wrote, “The structure in West Union is a gem. It is built of pressed brick with stone trimmings. No more beautiful windows or furnishings can be found than adorn this church…The sanctuary, with its pipe organ and art windows, presents an attraction that is truly inspiring.” And, as you entered the sanctuary this morning and began preparing to worship God, how could the Biblical scenes depicted with the window artwork be anything but spiritual tone-setters? Have you noticed how the craftsmen of these windows have used God’s Word and God-given talent, and God-created color and light to help create this beautiful environment that inspires us to worship God or Creator?”
Most of these windows were donated by church members as memorials to loved ones. As you enter the church, to your left, you will see Ida J. Warner’s name on a window which is not a memorial—she gave money to defray the expense of having the windows re-leaded in the 1960s.
All the windows, except the window behind the choir, were part of this building when it was dedicated in 1911. The Judge and Mrs. G. W. Farr presented this window in memory of their daughter, Mary Farr Maxwell, in 1922. This window is titled “Jesus on Easter Sunday Morning.” This window, with the other masterful works of stained-glass art, allows us to visit our church at any time and have a worship service by absorbing what is pictorially depicted and referring to the scripture that inspired each window.
A look around reveals the all the beautiful windows, including the one depicting “Christ with Mary and Martha at the death of Lazarus,” presented by B. W. Foley, whose son, J. D. Foley, was one of the church’s trustees at that time. The “Mary Magdalene Resurrection on Easter Sunday Morning” was presented by the children of Chapman J. and Mary Stuart; “Mary and the Babe” was a gift from Gertrude Ingle in memory of her mother, Eliza W. Holmes; and in the hall going to the basement, is the depiction of “Christ Gathering his Lambs,” a memorial to the pastor, Dr. Daugherty, who furnished so much of the enthusiasm for the building of our present-day church. Dr. Daugherty preached the sermon the day the cornerstone was laid in 1910, took ill that week, and passed away before the next Sunday. The Cheuvront Window, “Christ with Raised Hands Giving Blessing,” was presented in memory of Joseph Cheuvront, Jr., a great-grandson of Rev. Joseph Cheuvront, who settled in West Union in 1845, where he established the Grant House (a hotel), and built the Columbian Hotel.
A newspaper article describing the event said, “…the contractor, as well as the pastor, are congratulated on the workmanship, the seating arrangements, the splendid acoustics, and the beautiful blending of the colors in the interior decorations.”
That same year, a pipe organ was purchased, which required the talents and time of many music ministers through the years.
In 1922, the church choir raised $2,200.00 and rearranged the chancel occupied by the choir to appear much as it does now.
In 1952, modern folding doors were added to create individual classrooms in the basement by J. L. McCormick. These folding doors lasted until April 2002, when they were replaced for $3,500.00. In the late 1950s, a built-in kitchen and powder room was added in the basement. A new heating system was installed. It was re-wired and re-decorated as well.
A rebuilt grand piano was purchased in 1956, and the organ was rebuilt in 1957. Two years later, in 1959, the church celebrated its 100th anniversary and found every good reason to celebrate and be grateful for its heritage and many improvements to the property.
Through the years, as with all structures, it became necessary to replace the aging roofs of the church and the parsonage. The heating system was replaced by a new heating/cooling system in 1989, and in 1999, a new bathroom was added upstairs.
The 21st Century saw the addition of church bells and chimes, the convenience of a church van, the comfort of new carpeting and furnishings, paved parking lots, additional property for expansion, and comfortable seating for our choir, as well as the installation of a ramp to assist the handicapped.
This additional history was added later, (I could not identify the source):
“Meanwhile, let’s go back to 1896, when the first structure representing the United Brethren in Christ of West Union was begun and then completed and ready for dedication in 1897. The beginning membership was small but grew quickly so another building program was undertaken. In 1946, the Evangelical and United Brethren Churches united, and the name was changed to the Evangelical United Brethren. 24, 1951. Then, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Churches united into one church called the United Methodist Church.
On Sunday, October 10, 1969, the West Union Churches (Church Street United Methodist and Neely Avenue United Methodist Churches) had their Uniting Service. The new church became the Emmanuel United Methodist Church.”
Today this beautiful church is still the Emmanuel United Methodist Church and enjoys a blessed and growing congregation. They invite everyone to come and worship with them.
This is the church my Uncle Harlen and Aunt Laura Spurgeon attended for many years until debilitating ill health would not allow them to attend. They truly loved the church. May God continue to bless it for all time.
Emmanuel United Methodist Church today.
God Bless
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society