1909 – 1984

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary

Fenelton United Methodist Church

Sunday, October 7, 1984

Rev. Sharon L. Schwab, Minister

Excerpts from the Anniversary Service Program and booklet as transcribed by Joyce Bauldoff Rauschenberger

History of the Church

The town of Fenelton dates back to 1856, when Peter Fennell, his son Peter, and nephews Daniel and Abram, moved from Armstrong County to settle in Fenelton. In the early 1900’s Fenelton was a large mining town. At one time Fenelton had 3 stores, 3 churches, a post office, a restaurant, railroad station, resthome for the elderly, a telephone office, 2 blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, and a barber shop.

The Fenelton United Methodist Church dates back to 1909, when Rev. Paul Sappie, who traveled the countryside on horseback, began agitation for a new church at Fenelton. Until then the house across the road from where the church is now located, formally H. A. Swartzlander farm, was used for occasional service and usually Sunday School every Sunday. Some of the Methodists went to the United Presbyterian Church near Carbon Center, and some went to the McKee Chapel Church.

Sometime before 1909, Peter Fennell, a member of one of the pioneer families to settle in Fenelton, donated a plot of ground at the crossroads in Fenelton for a church. Nothing was done until 1909, when Rev. Sappie, a young minister from Craigsville, got people interested in building a church. By late fall the wall was completed. Much of the work was done by willing members of the congregation, under the supervision of Mr. Thomas G. Dipner, a contractor and builder.

The church was officially dedicated on July 17, 1910, with three services. Enough money was contributed at these three services to nearly cover the entire cost of construction. The 10:30 sermon was by Rev. Thomas Boyle. The dedications service was by Rev. E.J. Knox, at 3:00 and the 8:00 service was delivered by the Rev. Iams.

Fenelton’s first pastor was Rev. Paul Sappie. The first female pastor, which is the current minister, is Rev. Sharon Schwab. The Fenelton Church had a Fortieth Anniversary in 1949, with Rev. Alvin Bowser as the minister, and Rev. W.L. Ewing delivering the sermon at 2:30, and Bishop L.C. Wicks giving the 7:30 sermon. The Fiftieth in 1959 was the Re-dedication and Homecoming Anniversary. The Rev. Arnold Slagle was the minister, and J.L. Carraway delivered the sermon.

Since the Fiftieth Anniversary, we have remodeled the basement, added the basement entrance, dedicated new offering plates, built new front porch, dedicated candle holders and flower vases, purchased new tables and chairs for the basement, dedicated new bulletin board in front of church, a piano was donated to the church, new alter scarves were made and donated to the church, dedicated new Baptismal Fount, purchased an organ, a Nativity Scene was donated, dedicated new carpet, dedicated lights that sit on piano and organ, and started a Memorial Fund.

The official directory of the Fenelton United Methodist Church as of this date:

Bishop – James Ault

District Superintendent – Jack Buckley

Minister – Rev. Sharon Schwab

Lay Leader and Church School Superintendent – Paul Barnhart

Assistant Church School Superintendent – Floyd Barnhart

Church Treasurer – Donna Anthony

Church Recording Secretary – Lois Barnhart

Church Pianist – Robert Patton, Jr.

Members of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary Committee are: Rev. Sharon Schwab, Marlene Hoover, Peggy Morrow, Sherry Parker, Ralph Barnhart, Lois Barnhart, Robert Patton, Jr., Maxine Patton, and Donna Anthony.

Former Pastors

Paul Sappie Oct. 1908 to Oct. 1911

Samuel M. Cousins Oct. 1911 to Oct. 1913

D. J. Davis Oct. 1913 to Oct. 1916

R. H. Calderwood Oct. 1916 to Oct. 1921

R. C. Ehrheart Oct. 1921 to Jan. 1922

Grant D. Swartout Jan. 1922 to Oct. 1922

O. E. Rodkey Oct. 1922 to Oct. 1924

L. C. Matthews Oct. 1924 to Oct. 1926

C. L. Cusick Oct. 1926 to Oct. 1928

Parker W. Large Oct. 1928 to Oct. 1933

Roy A. Beggs Oct. 1933 to Oct. 1935

Arthur Sellers Oct. 1935 to Oct. 1937

C. L. Murdock Oct. 1937 to Oct. 1940

W. E. Baker Oct. 1940 to Oct. 1941

W. Smith Oct. 1941 to Oct. 1944

W. E. Baker Oct. 1944 to Oct. 1946

E. D. Crispens Oct. 1946 to Oct. 1948

Alvin Bowser Oct. 1948 to June 1957

Samuel C. Dunning June 1957 to June 1958

Arnold A Slagle June 1958 to June 1960

Edward G. Miller June 1960 to June 1962

Elson Rose June 1962 to June 1963

James Reeher June 1963 to June 1964

Donald E. Rainery June 1964 to June 1965

Roy E. Daugherty June 1965 to June 1967

Daniel Enterline June 1976 to June 1969

Duane Stewart June 1969 to Sept. 1969

John Osborne Sept. 1969 to Jan. 1976

Harry E. Sayre Feb. 1976 to June 1976

James Hamilton June 1976 to April 1977

C. M. Schwab April 1977 to June 1977

Sharon Schwab June 1977 to Oct, 1984+

Edward Sipe 70

James E. Swartzlander 70

Lela Swartzlander 70

Clara R. Bauldoff 62

Williard Holmes 57

Gladys Swartzlander 52

Winora Morrow 50

Robert I. Mnorrow 48

Marie Englehart 48

Margaret Huselton 46

William Swartzlander 45

Maxine Patton 45

Marlene R. Hoover 38

Margaret A. Olszak 38

Ruth Holmes 32

Florence Barnhart 31

George Barnhart 31

Gerald Barnhart 31

Lois Barnhart 31

Paul Barnhart 31

Clara Jean Boal 31

Theron G. Boal 31

Emmabele Hepler 31

Benjamin A. Morrow 31

Georgia M. Morrow 31

Jerry morrow 31

Lewis morrow 31

Bessie Truitt 31

Helen Fennell 30

Janet Rome 30

Margaret O. Boal 29

Orville F. Boal 29

Patricia Hutchison 29

Marilyn McPherson 27

Donna L. Anthony 26

Darlene Hewitt 26

Dorothy McWilliams 26

Elizabeth Swartzlander 26

Diane Carson 24

Robert Carson 24

Virginia Carson 24

William Carson 24

Virginia Glodowski 24

Thomas McPherson 24

Charles Stewart 24

Alice Faye Stewart 24

Noreen McIntyre 23

Alice morrow 23

Floyd Barnhart 19

Don McElhaney, Jr. 18

Barbara Barnhart 17

Anna Curtis 17

Edward Mahood 17

Louella McElhaney 17

Robert Patton, Jr. 17

Linda D. Bester 15

Kevin Morrow 15

Sherry L. Parker 15

Beverly K. Christie 13

Linda Quinn 12

Norma Voorhees 12

Richard Voorhees 12

Bertha Angert 11

Ralph Barnhart 11

Henry Ogin 11

Leola Ogin 11

Terry Ogin 11

Ruth Barnhart 9

Dawn Hepler 9

Karen Morrow 8

Susan Morrow 8

Kimberly Perkins 8

Monica Moore 7

Randall G. Morrow 3

Brenda Quinn 3

Lisa Quinn 3

Christine M. Sutton 3

Donald E. Sutton 3

Donald E. Sutton, Jr. 3

Mary Belle Sutton 3

Ronald Barnhart 1

Kevin Anthony ½

Tricia Anthony ½

Jeffery T. Keene ½

Christopher Morrow ½

Norma Wolfe ¼

Sunday, October 7, 1984

History of the Church

Former Pastors

Members and Years of Membership

50 Year members