Searles Memorial United Methodist Church records

Transcription

1 19 Finding aid prepared by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Last updated on February 03, Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

2 Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...4 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 5 Controlled Access Headings...6 Collection Inventory Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church Creator Searles Memorial United Methodist Church (Pottstown, Pa.) Title Searles Memorial United Methodist Church records Call number 19 Date [inclusive] Extent 2.5 linear feet General Physical Description note 6 boxes, 3 volumes Language English Abstract The cornerstone for Fifth Street Methodist Episcopal Church at the intersection of Fifth and York Streets in Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was laid in Its name was changed to Thomas Searles Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church when the congregation moved to a new church building designed by Joseph M. Huston in In 1991, Thomas Searles Memorial United Methodist Church was reorganized as Hope United Methodist Church in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. The Searles Memorial United Methodist Church records, , consist primarily of membership records, official and administrative board minutes, and Quarterly Conference and Charge Conference minutes, with some event programs and pamphlets, photographs, financial and property records, and other documents. - Page 3 -

4 Biography/History Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley ( ), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as its first bishops and held its first general conference in In May of 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form the Methodist Church (U.S.). In 1946 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) and the Evangelical Church united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 the Methodist Church (U.S.) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united, forming the United Methodist Church (U.S.). Local Methodists began a Sunday School in Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, that was in operation for about 15 years before a church congregation was organized. The cornerstone for Fifth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, at the intersection of Fifth and York Streets, was laid in When the first pastor, Rev. George H. Bickley, Jr., was appointed in 1890, there were about 200 members of the church. Twenty years later, a new church building was constructed on the northwest corner of Beech and Hanover Streets. This church was named Thomas Searles Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church after Thomas Searles ( ), a liberal donor and devout Methodist. The new building was designed by Joseph M. Huston, who was also the architect of the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. In 1991, Thomas Searles Memorial United Methodist Church was reorganized as Hope United Methodist Church in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. Bibliography: Searles Memorial United Methodist Church. "Centennial Celebration, " Pamphlet found in collection. Scope and Contents The collection consists primarily of membership records, official and administrative board minutes, and Quarterly Conference and Charge Conference minutes, with some event programs and pamphlets, photographs, financial and property records, and other documents dating from 1889 to A folderlevel inventory for the collection is available. - Page 4 -

5 Administrative Information Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church Finding aid prepared by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church for information about accessing this collection. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note The Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is the repository for records of member churches when they close. Processing Information Note Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in as part of a project conducted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden collections of small, primarily volunteer run repositories in the Philadelphia area. The Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) was funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was accomplished during the HCI-PSAR project. In some cases, more detailed inventories or finding aids may be available on-site at the repository where this collection is held; please contact Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church directly for more information. Existence and Location of Copies Some church records at the Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, particularly membership and vital records, are available in digital form through - Page 5 -

6 Ancestry.com or on microfilm at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and/or the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Searles Memorial United Methodist Church (Pottstown, Pa.) United Methodist Church (U.S.) Geographic Name(s) Montgomery County (Pa.) Pottstown (Pa.) Subject(s) Methodism Methodists - Page 6 -

7 Collection Inventory Box Folder Membership Roll Pages (disorganized), c c Membership Roll Pages (disorganized), c c Membership Roll Pages (disorganized), c c Family Membership Roll, A-K, c Family Membership Roll, L-R, c Family Membership Roll, S-Z, c Record of Preparatory Membership, Record of Baptized Children, Membership Transfers In, Page 7 -

8 Membership Transfers Out, Withdrawal of Membership, Quarterly Conference, Official Board, Quarterly Conference, Official Board, Official Board, Official Board, Official Board, Official Board, Administrative Board, Council on Ministries, Page 8 -

9 Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Administrative Board, Administrative Board, Administrative Board, Administrative Board, Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Council on Ministries, Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Page 9 -

10 Administrative Board, Charge Conference, Administrative Board/Council, Charge Conference, Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, , Charter, Trust Agreement, Montgomery County Bank, Estate of Florence P. Boyer, Estate of Edith G. Ebert, Long Range Planning, Annual Budgets, 1950, , , , , Page 10 -

11 Dedication Programs, 1911, Anniversary Books, 1950, 1960, Ninetieth Anniversary Celebration, One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration, Membership Directories, 1930, 1978, 1990, Newsletters, 1913, 1968, Worship Bulletins (selected), , Photographs, Photographs, Church Building, c Photographs, Exterior Views, c Page 11 -

12 Photographs, Exterior Views, detail, c. 1960, c Photographs, Interior Views, 1952, c Photographs, Glasgow Sunday School Building, Photographs, Fifth St. M.E. Church, Pottstown, Photographs, Fifth St. M.E. Church Building, Pottstown, c Photograph, Beech and York Streets, Pottstown, Photograph, Thomas Searles, n.d. 6 9 Photograph, Roster of pastors, Photograph, Rev. and Mrs. Leon Willmon Box Fold Church records, Page 12 -

13 Church records, Church records, Page 13 -