50th Anniversary of Spruce Street United Methodist Church
Learn from our past and anticipate our future!
Every family should be able to trace its ancestry to appreciate those that came before, to learn of the wealth or weaknesses of their inheritance-to learn about those from whom they have received their faith.
The motto of the Methodist Protestant church is “Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saint” but doubt if many of us can name those who contended for the faith. Three that come to mind are George Brown, who formed a society at Palatine, Marion County, Asa Shinn from the founding family of Shinnston, Marion County and Cornelius Springer, a veteran of the War of 1812. He helped form a society at Morgantown in the home of Joseph Shackelford.
Methodist missionaries came to America and were abandoned after the Revolution. They organized a church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, putting all power in the hands of the clergy. The Methodist Protestants championed representative Methodism and were expelled. The first convention for the M P Church was held in Baltimore in 1828. The reformers felt free to follow John Wesley’s advice “simply to follow the Holy Scriptures and the primitive church”. Talks of merger with the Methodist Episcopal Church began a early as 1908 ending with the Uniting Conference in Kansas City, Missouri when the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal South and Methodist Protestant united in 1939. Morgantown’s First Methodist Protestant Church became Spruce Street Methodist Church. The word United was added to the title in 1968 with the merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, a church which had a close relationship with Methodists among German speaking people of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
The beginnings of Spruce Street United Methodist Church took place at what is now 313 Chestnut St, the home of Joseph Shackelford. The Methodists first came to Morgantown around 1785. They attended a small all-denominational church built by Michael Kerns. Then they built the Methodist Church which stood in the old ME graveyard. In 1830 the Reverend Cornelius Springer of Wilmington, DE. and W. N. Marshall, were guests of the Shackelfords. These gentlemen were advocating separation from the ME church because of the total power given to the bishops and elders within the church. For hosting them and praying for their success, Mr. Shackelford was expelled from his church. Several indignant friends met with him and his family to support them and form a charter. The Reverend George Brown from western Pennsylvania came to this area to preach the gospel and organize societies. He was one of the early inspirations for the formation of the Methodist Protestant Society in Morgantown.
The group met at the Shackelford residence which is now the Old Stone House that is owned and operated by the Service League of Morgantown as a gift shop where the proceeds go back into the community. The congregation met in the old Court House for several years before the society members erected a brick building on Chestnut Street. This structure was destroyed by fire in 1872. The religious society was without a home and held meetings in the old public school building. The church grew in strength and numbers. The Trustees elected to purchase a lot and erect a house of worship on Walnut Street. This site is now occupied by the Barbe Davis building. After the turn of the century the congregation outgrew the church. In 1908 a new building was constructed.
The church benefited from good leadership, a progressive outlook and great evangelism. In 1953 plans were begun for a new educational building. It was erected on Fayette Street and housed Sunday School classes, a chapel and a gymnasium. Sunday School membership was 830(average attendance 463), with over 85 teachers and officers. This is quite a testament to thirst for the knowledge of God from the humble beginnings of the first organized class in 1881 with 4 members. Christian Education has always been an important ministry that has served our church well.
Throughout the years the congregation has been served by many dedicated people with inspired gifts and graces.
written by Kathy Hanko in 2018 for the 50th Anniversary Celebration
Our Stained Glass Windows – Symbols in Stained Glass
Christian Endeavor (the CE in large window) is an association in evangelical Protestant Churches for strengthening spiritual life and promoting Christian activities among its members. The first Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor was started in 1881 by Dr Francis E. Clark in Portland, Maine. Within a few years the organization had become interdenominational and international helping the cause of peace. A world union was formed in 1895, with Dr. Clark as president. It started primarily as a youth movement but now includes all age groups and numbers in the millions. It was one of the most progressive religious organizations concerned with local church service but active in many social issues. CE leaders were early foes against the tobacco industry and its selling of cigarettes. It has led the battle against liquor. In 1900 CE had a black man as a trustee, Methodist Bishop Arnett of San Francisco. It has aided the cause of universal brotherhood by its inter-racial conventions and activities. Dr. Robert Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, embraced the Christian Endeavor spiritual beliefs in his youth. It stands by the statement of James the Just: “Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” It emphasizes activity, the faith that saves. Christian Endeavor practices early-morning prayer meetings, the quiet-hour movement and daily bible reading and prayer. It has an emphasis on education and missionary training of young people, raises the standard of good citizenship and preservation of the Lord’s Day. Their strong belief they put into action, “He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.” Our church when we were the First Methodist Protestant Church was very active in this group. The smaller side windows were given by the Young Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor.
Our Tower Bell
Ever wonder about the sweet sound of a church bell pealing out the welcome to church on Sunday morning? The one at the corner of Spruce and Fayette Streets is a 400-pound bell from McShane Foundry located at that time in Baltimore MD. It was ordered for the Methodist Protestant Church of Morgantown in 1887. It cost $80.00, was shipped by railroad and paid in cash where it was installed in the church on Walnut St. It was moved to Spruce St when the new church building was constructed. The McShane Foundry is the only large Western-style bell maker still operating in the United States and is now located in Glen Burnie, MD.
An online inflation calculator says the 1887 $80.00 would be equivalent to $2,173.00 today. Still not as much as I expected. What do you think?
More Church History
History of Lay Witness Mission
Olive I. Hodges – Missionary to Japan
The History of Methodists in West Virginia
West Virginia Wesleyan and Methodism
A Traveler’s Guide to the Heritage Landmarks of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History
Scotts Run Settlement House – A United Methodist historically designated site.
Are You A History Buff?
Do you want to see history preserved – especially for organizations in or places important to you? Become a member of the United Methodist Church’s historical community at Historical Society of the UMC. Print it, complete it, mail it!