United Methodist Church

 

 

In 1834, Rev Wesley Smith officially organized the first Methodist organization in Georgetown, PA.  Much credit is also due Elizabeth Hephner Poe with the founding from the lay position.  The first services were held in her home, the site that would become “The Poe House”.  In the beginning, the class book, which contained the official records of membership of the church, contained 30 names, and Georgetown was connected with the “Burgettstown Circuit”, Allegheny District, with ZH Costen the Presiding Elder and Wesley Smith the “Circuit Preacher”. [1]

 

Elizabeth Hephner Poe (F Nash Collection)

Elizabeth Hephner Poe (F Nash Collection)

During the ministry of Rev Wesley Smith, the first house of worship was planned.  Whether it was completed during his stay is uncertain.  It was described as “a primitive affair”.  Rev Garret Jones called it a “sheep pen” and said that “when it rained it was necessary to go outdoors to get in the dry”.   This house endured about one decade before it was demolished and replaced by a second church.[2]

 

The second church was considered a respectable building for the times.  It was erected during the ministries of Rev J Dallas and Garret Jones.  For some reason it was never completely finished.  After thirty years of use and needing repairs requiring large sums of money, the congregation decided to raise more money and build a new church. [3]

 

Georgetown Circuit Contribution Card 1865 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Georgetown Circuit Contribution Card 1865 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Georgetown United Methodist Church pre 1951 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Georgetown United Methodist Church pre 1951 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Construction of the present church began in 1876 near the close of Rev JN Pershing’s ministry and was completed by the Rev W Darby.  The new building was 38×55.  From the ground to top of the spire was 98 feet.  The bell was 415 pounds.  It was lighted by two six-light chandeliers and the windows, round finish, were filled with frosted glass.  The carpentry work was accredited to George Nash and A Martin; painting by C Henderson; and plastering by George Wilson.  The building was considered first class, speaking to the skill of the builders. [4]

 

The dedication services of the new church were conducted on 11 Nov 1877 by Rev CW Smith, the son of the first pastor who had formed the first class in Georgetown forty-three years earlier.   At the time of the dedication, this fact was unknown.  The morning services began with a reading followed by singing hymn 965.  Rev Smith preached an eloquent sermon.  An hour was occupied by the financial reports of the trustees.  Rev Smith closed the services with a prayer. [5]

 

Georgetown Methodist Church pre 1951 (Anna L and John F Nash )

Georgetown Methodist Church pre 1951 (Anna L and John F Nash )

Evening services included a sermon on memory and closed with the adoption of three resolutions.  The congregation was dismissed by singing the doxology and the benediction was pronounced by Rev Garret Jones.  [6]

 

During the Civil War years, The Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church was the central stop in the “Georgetown Circuit”.  Other places on the Georgetown Circuit included Hookstown, Jones, New Cumberland, and Green Valley. [7]   In her colorful history written in 1914, Mary Salome Eaton (1826-1917) wife of Rev Matthias Myers Eaton (1816-1878) painted a view of daily life in Georgetown in 1861.  Rev Eaton was a Circuit Rider, as Methodist Episcopal ministers were known in those days. [8]  Rev Eaton’s time in Georgetown is recounted in detail on the page The Circuit Rider.

On Wednesday, 9 Nov 1927, the Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary with great fanfare.

 

Georgetown ME Church 50th Anniversary Program (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Georgetown ME Church 50th Anniversary Program (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

 

In 1951, lightning struck and destroyed the steeple.  The steeple was rebuilt to its current height.

 

Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church ca 1955 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church ca 1955 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

In 1952, the Georgetown Methodist Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary.

Georgetown Methodist Church 75th Anniversary (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

On Sunday, 2 Oct 1977, the Georgetown United Methodist Church celebrated its One-hundredth Anniversary.   By that time, the last of the Jacob Poe line, Mrs Lillian Poe Wagner was gone.  The Poe name was closely related to the founding and development of the Methodist movement in Georgetown.  Not only did Elizabeth Hephner Poe establish the first Methodist community in her home, all of her children were pillars of that community.  Jacob Poe, known as Uncle Jake to all was “generous to a fault” according to Harriet Calhoon Ewing. [9]  “Adam Poe was a pillar of the Georgetown Methodist Episcopal Church, and it was said that he usually laid up his boats on Sunday. “, according to Harriet Calhoon Ewing.  Nancy Poe Ebert often wrote in her journal of “lay down my pen and reed the bible”.  Her husband Capt George W Ebert would also retire to his cabin and read the Bible.  I have found nothing written about the Methodist religion for Elizabeth Hephner’s other children, but I have no doubt they were members of the church in Georgetown.  That brings us to Jacob Poe’s granddaughter, Lillian May Poe.

Lillian Poe at the Piano ca 1910 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

Lillian Poe at the Piano ca 1910 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

After the death of her husband Dr Louis Wagner in 1935, Mrs Lillian May (Poe) Wagner followed the Poe tradition.  Mrs Lillian Poe Wagner was the Methodist Church pianist, then organist, and Sunday school superintendent for many years.   Her spirit, wit, and energy kept the church moving forward. She died on 2 Jul 1971.

 

The 100th Anniversary celebration and history of the church are captured in the scanned pages of the service brochure.

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary 1977

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary 1977

 

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p1

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p1

 

 

 

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p2

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p3

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p3

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p4

Georgetown United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary History p4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, the Georgetown United Methodist Church continues its traditions.  It has that small town feel – the closeness of relatives and long time neighbors.  The commons between the United Methodist Church and St Luke’s Episcopal Church hosts the occasional summer town reunion or picnic.  Although its connection with rivermen is gone and the steeple is no longer a navigational guide for steamboat pilots, the architectural connection with the river lives on.  Built by packet builders, the interior ceiling evokes the image of a long gone keelboat inverted.  Membership is declining and aging as the population of the borough decreases and ages. All is not well.  Still, the church continues to serve the Georgetown community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References.

 


[1]  J Dillon and Son, M. E. Church in Georgetown, (The Georgetown Chronicle, (Nov 1877)), pp 4.
[2]  Ibid.
[3]  Ibid.
[4]  J Dillon and Son, M. E. Church in Georgetown, (The Georgetown Chronicle, (Nov 1877)), pp 4.
[5]  Ibid.
[6]  Ibid.
[7]  Mary Salome Eaton, Memories of the Wife of an Itinerant Methodist Preacher, (The Commission on Archives and History Western PA Conference United Methodist Church, 1989), p 27.
[8]  Mary Salome Eaton, Memories of the Wife of an Itinerant Methodist Preacher, (The Commission on Archives and History Western PA Conference United Methodist Church, 1989), p 22.
[9]  Capt Frederick Way, Jr., The Steamboating Poe Family, (S&D Reflector (Dec 1965)).

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