WVHANCOC-L Archives

From: Janet Waite <>
Subject: Fairview Methodist Protestant Church
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:44:33 -0400

>
>Source: History of The Pan-Handle
>
>
>METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
>
>At the west end of Market street, Fairview, stands a time defaced and
>dilapidated brick church,
>which was erected in the year 1828. A half century has elapsed since its
>consecration took
>place for the worship of the true God. Among the energetic and active
>members of that day, who
>were instrumental in erecting this curch building are found the names of
>Henry Melvin and Jesse
>Cisson, who have long since departed to that realm of which they were
>delighted to sing and talk
>of. Before the church was built, services had been conducted in private
>houses, prominent among
>them appears a Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Nathan Thayer. Only about ten
>families composed the
>congregation. Little is known of the Methodist history back of the date
>mentioned. There is, at
>present, only one person surviving, and still a resident of Fairview, that
>was a member when the
>building was dedicated - Mrs. James Melvin.
>
>The original class-leaders were Henry Melvin and Jesse Cisson.
>
>The early ministers who supplied them with the preaching of God's Word,
>were the Revs. George
>Brown, John Clark, John Cowl, and others whose names cannot be obtained.
>
>The earliest record that is extant carries the author back to October 27,
>1849, and here is found the
>name of Rev. W. Reeves and the officers of the church: Stewarts, Andrew
>Halstead and Dennis S.
>Bernard; trustees, John Sutton, Samuel Reed, Dillon Hodgson, James Melvin,
>Hanson Hobbs and
>John Brown.
>
>The leaders in the year 1850 were John Milligan and D. W. Estill.
>
>Its last quarterly conference was held November 16, 1878.
>
>Owing to the removal of a large majority of its members by death, and
>otherwise, from time to time, and
>the church building giving out - not considered at all safe to meet in, the
>organization is here fast dying.
>Unless active movements are soon brought into requisition, death will be
>written above its door. To-day
>the congregation's history for numerical strength reminds them of its
>history of 1828. It is thought by
>some, however, that a new building will soon replace the old one, and
>certainly the remaining members are
>not so lethargic in the cause of Methodism as to permit it to die in
>Fairview, at the age of little over a half
>century. It is too good to die so young.
>

This thread:

• Fairview Methodist Protestant Church by Janet Waite <>