History

Brief History

Our church, like many other churches, was born in a revival. This meeting was held at what was then known as Union School House by Rev. John Ruebush about 1872 or 1873. As a result of this meeting a local congregation was formed.

The first church, known as Mount Clinton United Brethren Chapel, was built under the leadership of Rev. J.W. Howe at a cost of $1300 and was dedicated by Bishop Charles Hott in December 1880. At different times Mt Clinton Church was on Singers Glen, West Rockingham, Dayton and Mt Clinton-Otterbein Circuits.

The present Mt Clinton Church was built in 1927 on a new site at a cost of $18000 and was dedicated on August 14, 1927 by Conference Superintendent J.H. Brunk, assisted by Rev. W.F. Gruver and the church pastor, Rev. William B. Obaugh. The cornerstone laying service had been held on May 8, 1927. The total membership at that time was 127.

Several attempts were made for the uniting of The Evangelical Church and The United Brethren in Christ. The union took place in November 1946 and the two denominations became known as the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

In 1968 another union took place when The Evangelical United Brethren and The Methodist churches became The United Methodist Church.

In January 1994 the church purchased the Earl Showalter property adjacent to the church. This property, known as Harmony House, has provided us with land and more parking and is currently being used as an extension of the church's various activities.



Prior Pastors


1880-1882: J.W. Howe
1883-1885: J.E. Hott
1885-1886: G.J. Roudabush
1886-1888: Henry Jones
1890-1892: I.M. Underwood
1892-1893: C.P Dyche
1893-1894: W.L. Childress
1894-1898: W.F. Gruver
1899-1902: W.L. Childress
1902-1904: W.R. Berry
1905-1907: A.S. Hammock
1907-1910: J.H. Brunk
1911-1912: A.P. Funkhouser
1912-1914: S.D. Skelton
1914-1916: G.K. Little
1916-1918: W.R. McKenny
1918-1923: J.W. Stearn
1923-1924: C.A. Baldwin
1924-1926: D.G. Brimlow
1926-1933: W.B. Obaugh
1933-1940: James A. Swain
1940-1941: O.R. Kesner
1941-1950: Lloyd S. Bowman
1950-1951: Warren Trumbo
1951-1954: George S. Widmyer
1954-1955: Robert Nair
1955-1956: E.E. Miller
1956-1957: William D. Ritchey
1957-1961: Thomas L. Coffman
1961-1972: Roy Hedrick
1972-1977: Harvey C. Nicholson
1977-1979: Robert C. Hoover
1979-1983: Robert Callis
1983-1985: Edgar Hedden
1985-1990: Michael Snider
1990-1992: Michael Finn-McKenzie
1992-2000: Alda Gunn
2000-2002: Rick Barclay
2002-2004: Kay Marsh
2004-2007: Ken DeWitt
2007-2010: Jack L. Schooler
2010-2014: Jim Joyner
2014-2017  Andrew Peck-McClain
2017- 2022 Kevin Poeckert
2022-          Patricia Meadows