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August 25, 1896 - A group of sixteen dedicated people met in a grove on Virginia
State Route 637 to form a new church. The church was called Bethel Christian
Church and the charter members were:
*Charlotte Jane Rinehart Alger
*Philip Alger
*Carrie Dofflemyer Coffman
*John Wesley Coffman
*Cressie Shifflett Dofflemyer
*D. Frank Dofflemyer
*J. Russell Dofflemyer
*John W. Dofflemyer
*Pamley Rinehart Dofflemyer
*Laura Belle Dofflemyer Herring
*Annie Lee Alger Himler
*Will H. Himler
*John Adam May
*Miriam May
*Albert Turner
*Susan Rinehart Turner
Reverend J. W. Dofflemyer was elected as the first pastor and served until 1907.
State Route 637 to form a new church. The church was called Bethel Christian
Church and the charter members were:
*Charlotte Jane Rinehart Alger
*Philip Alger
*Carrie Dofflemyer Coffman
*John Wesley Coffman
*Cressie Shifflett Dofflemyer
*D. Frank Dofflemyer
*J. Russell Dofflemyer
*John W. Dofflemyer
*Pamley Rinehart Dofflemyer
*Laura Belle Dofflemyer Herring
*Annie Lee Alger Himler
*Will H. Himler
*John Adam May
*Miriam May
*Albert Turner
*Susan Rinehart Turner
Reverend J. W. Dofflemyer was elected as the first pastor and served until 1907.
1898 - The first church was built and dedicated in 1899. The church was
located across the road from the grove.
1908-1917 - Rev. A. W. Andes served as pastor.
1918-1920 - Rev. B. J. Earp served as pastor.
1921-1923 - Rev. R. P. Crumpler served as pastor.
1924-1926 - Rev. D. B. Seal served as pastor.
1927-1928 - Rev. W. T. Walters served as pastor. The present sanctuary was
built
and Mrs. W. T. Walters organized the Women's Missionary Society (today's
Women's Fellowship). Charter members of this group were:
*Naomi Dofflemyer
*Beulah McDonald
*Elsie Alger
*Lillie Frazier
*Mrs. A. J. Stepp
*Mrs. W. T. Walters
*Mabel Dofflemyer
*Bessie Monger
*Virginia Alger
*Leona Dofflemyer
*Minnie Dofflemyer
*Letha Alger
*Margaret McDonald
They meet the third Wednesday of each month. New members are invited to
attend.
1929-1936 - Rev. A. W. Andes served a second time as pastor.
1932 - Bethel became a Congregational Christian Church when the Virginia
Valley Conference passed a motion as favoring the name for the local churches.
1937-1938 - Rev. W. J. Andes served as pastor.
1939 - Rev. M. W. Mann served as pastor.
1940-1942 - Rev. A. Greig Ritchie served as pastor.
1942-1945 - Rev. Dwight M. Spence served as pastor.
1943 - The Elkton group of churches - Bethel, Mt. Olivet Rockingham and Mt.
Olivet Greene - purchased a parsonage.
located across the road from the grove.
1908-1917 - Rev. A. W. Andes served as pastor.
1918-1920 - Rev. B. J. Earp served as pastor.
1921-1923 - Rev. R. P. Crumpler served as pastor.
1924-1926 - Rev. D. B. Seal served as pastor.
1927-1928 - Rev. W. T. Walters served as pastor. The present sanctuary was
built
and Mrs. W. T. Walters organized the Women's Missionary Society (today's
Women's Fellowship). Charter members of this group were:
*Naomi Dofflemyer
*Beulah McDonald
*Elsie Alger
*Lillie Frazier
*Mrs. A. J. Stepp
*Mrs. W. T. Walters
*Mabel Dofflemyer
*Bessie Monger
*Virginia Alger
*Leona Dofflemyer
*Minnie Dofflemyer
*Letha Alger
*Margaret McDonald
They meet the third Wednesday of each month. New members are invited to
attend.
1929-1936 - Rev. A. W. Andes served a second time as pastor.
1932 - Bethel became a Congregational Christian Church when the Virginia
Valley Conference passed a motion as favoring the name for the local churches.
1937-1938 - Rev. W. J. Andes served as pastor.
1939 - Rev. M. W. Mann served as pastor.
1940-1942 - Rev. A. Greig Ritchie served as pastor.
1942-1945 - Rev. Dwight M. Spence served as pastor.
1943 - The Elkton group of churches - Bethel, Mt. Olivet Rockingham and Mt.
Olivet Greene - purchased a parsonage.
1944 - The present stained glass windows were installed in the church. They
were purchased by individuals, families, and church groups.
1945-1953 - Rev. S. E. Madren served as pastor.
1953-1955 - Rev. Henry V. "Hank" Harmon served as pastor.
1956 - The present educational building containing the class rooms and social
hall was dedicated on August 26.
1957-1974 - Rev. S. E. Madren served a second time as pastor.
1957 - On June 25 the Congregational Christian and Evangelical and Reformed
Churches merged to form the United Church of Christ. The S. E. Madren family
moved in to the parsonage in December.
1958 - On December 7 the first church council was elected.
The members were:
*Rev. S. E. Madren
*William Dofflemyer
*Minnie Hensley
*Goldie Meadows
*K. B. Dofflemyer
*Carroll Monger
*Jonas Secrist
*W. J. Good
*Rita Snyder
*Curtis Hensley
*George Harding
*Robert Duff
*Eugene "Rolly" Bear
*William Herring
*Kenneth "Bucky" Monger
*James Frazier
*Granville Life
*Billy Alger
1975-1976 - Rev. Hassel D. Helsabeck served as pastor.
1976-1977 - Rev. David Holl served as interim pastor.
1977-1980 - Rev. Robert Palin served as pastor.
1980-1981 - Rev. Marshall Graham served as interim pastor.
1980 - Voted to become a single parish church.
1982-1986 - Rev. Gervas Meinzer served as first full-time pastor.
The parsonage was purchased from Mt. Olivet Greene and Mt. Olivet
Rockingham. During this time the church constitution was written and the
present board system was installed. The Boards of Deacons, Directors and
Trustees still meet quarterly as the council. Meetings are held the first
Wednesday night of each quarter.
1986-1988 - Ms. Tresa "Tish" Quarles served as interim pastor.
Ms. Quarles has since completed studies at Eastern Mennonite University
Seminary and is pastor at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
1988-1990 - Rev. John Nickelsen served as pastor.
1990-1997 - Rev. Craig W. Stout served as pastor.
1997-2005 - Rev. Thomas R. Madren served as pastor.
2006-Present - Mr. Daniel R. Bassett is currently serving as pastor.
were purchased by individuals, families, and church groups.
1945-1953 - Rev. S. E. Madren served as pastor.
1953-1955 - Rev. Henry V. "Hank" Harmon served as pastor.
1956 - The present educational building containing the class rooms and social
hall was dedicated on August 26.
1957-1974 - Rev. S. E. Madren served a second time as pastor.
1957 - On June 25 the Congregational Christian and Evangelical and Reformed
Churches merged to form the United Church of Christ. The S. E. Madren family
moved in to the parsonage in December.
1958 - On December 7 the first church council was elected.
The members were:
*Rev. S. E. Madren
*William Dofflemyer
*Minnie Hensley
*Goldie Meadows
*K. B. Dofflemyer
*Carroll Monger
*Jonas Secrist
*W. J. Good
*Rita Snyder
*Curtis Hensley
*George Harding
*Robert Duff
*Eugene "Rolly" Bear
*William Herring
*Kenneth "Bucky" Monger
*James Frazier
*Granville Life
*Billy Alger
1975-1976 - Rev. Hassel D. Helsabeck served as pastor.
1976-1977 - Rev. David Holl served as interim pastor.
1977-1980 - Rev. Robert Palin served as pastor.
1980-1981 - Rev. Marshall Graham served as interim pastor.
1980 - Voted to become a single parish church.
1982-1986 - Rev. Gervas Meinzer served as first full-time pastor.
The parsonage was purchased from Mt. Olivet Greene and Mt. Olivet
Rockingham. During this time the church constitution was written and the
present board system was installed. The Boards of Deacons, Directors and
Trustees still meet quarterly as the council. Meetings are held the first
Wednesday night of each quarter.
1986-1988 - Ms. Tresa "Tish" Quarles served as interim pastor.
Ms. Quarles has since completed studies at Eastern Mennonite University
Seminary and is pastor at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
1988-1990 - Rev. John Nickelsen served as pastor.
1990-1997 - Rev. Craig W. Stout served as pastor.
1997-2005 - Rev. Thomas R. Madren served as pastor.
2006-Present - Mr. Daniel R. Bassett is currently serving as pastor.
| Bethel United Church of Christ 2451 Bethel Church Road Elkton, Virginia 22827 Phone: (540) 298-1197 |
Historical Sketch of Bethel U.C.C.
