Mt. Bethel U.M. Church Celebrates 190th Year
Pastor Andrew and the congregation of Mt. Bethel UM Church, located at 14110 Stottlemeyer Road, Foxville, will celebrate its 190th anniversary on September 13, 2026.
The following information detailing the church building of the first Mt. Bethel Church was obtained from records handwritten by Henry Buhrman, a member of the first congregation. This congregation was composed of 17 people: Henry Buhrman, Ann Buhrman, Jacob Hauver, Elizabeth Hauver, Jeremiah Forrest, Vashti Forrest, Leven Hays, Julian Hays, Elizabeth Hurley, Lydia Bussard, Henry Munson, Samuel Ross, Livey Troxell, Christian Hauver, Catherine Hurley, Rebecca Pryor, and Hiriam Buhrman.
Their first worship services were conducted by a circuit rider, Moses Hurley, as early as 1810 in the homes of the first members. In 1824, the death of Henry Buhrman’s four-year-old sister initiated the need for a church and a cemetery. By necessity, the child was buried on her home property.
Ann’s parents were Henry and Catherine Poorman. When Henry Poorman came from Germany to America, he continued to keep his last name. His son, Henry, along with his 13 siblings, Minnie, Albert, Theressa, Vernon, Ada, Lula, Alfred, Harvey, Kate, Sida, Emory, Erias, and Elias, changed their last name to Buhrman.
Henry Poorman was not a poor man. His obituary mentioned his huge land acreage and farms in the Mt. Zion area that employed slave labor.
Later, in 1835, Henry Buhrman’s mother, Catherine Poorman, died at the age of 57 and was buried alongside her daughter, Ann.
The following year, Catherine’s husband, Henry Poorman, deeded 72 square perches of land to his son, Henry Buhrman, to be used to build a church. The present Mt. Bethel Church was later built on that same foundation.
Two years after the land was given, Henry Poorman died on January 11, 1838, and was buried alongside his wife and daughter.
Later, in 1913, Henry Poorman’s descendant gave one-half acre of land for a cemetery adjacent to the church. Henry, Catherine, and Ann Poorman were brought to Mt. Bethel Cemetery for their final resting place.
During the spring of 1836, a decision was made to build a church. One dollar was paid for the legal transaction of the deed, which had been written on May 7, 1836, but not recorded until September 9, 1836.
The deed stated, “The land was for a house of worship that employed a minister that was authorized by the General Conference.”
Trees were cut down, and work began.
The first Mt. Bethel Church was a simple log structure made of 38 logs and 26 rafters. It had one door in front and two windows on the side that faced Stottlemyer Road. The interior showed exposed logs. There was no chinking or doubling between the logs, or around the door and windows, until three years later. There was no whitewashing inside. It was very uncomfortable when winter breezes blew in between the logs. Later, a wood-burning stove was purchased for $13.12. Benches made from hewn logs and rough sawmill board provided seating. Two candles were used for illumination. Two candlesticks had been purchased for 37 cents.
According to Henry Burhman’s records, the laborers employed to build the meeting house were David Stottlemyer, Samuel Ross, George Smith, Samuel Johnson, William Brown, Daniel Barkman, Owen Forrest, and Markin Ridenour. Those paid for hauling, using horses and wagons, were Henry Craver, John Bower, Christian Hauver, and Jacob Ridenour.
Daniel Funk was paid for sowing.
David Wolfe was paid for sawing and joists.
William Draper, George Klin, and Joseph Shultz were paid for planks. Jacob Fox provided the rafters.
One pound of nails cost 8 cents. Two-and-one-half pounds of spikes cost 18 cents. It took 6,500 joint shingles at $4.00 a thousand to cover the roof, totaling $26.00.
Each man was paid 50 cents a day. Two boys who tended the chimney mason were each paid 25 cents a day.
While the church was being built, the people who provided the food for the workers were paid 25 cents a day for each worker. The church took care of this bill.
The total cost to build the first Mt. Bethel Church was $154.27. The debt of $25.27 was still owed to Henry Buhrman; the soliciting of donations continued until all bills were paid.
The first worship service conducted by William Butler was held on September 12, 1836.
By 1839, renovations were needed. The logs were covered with poplar boards. Shutters were added to the windows, and chinking and daubing were applied between the logs and around the doors and windows. The interior was whitewashed. A bible costing $2.00 was placed on the pulpit, giving an aura of God’s presence.
Later in 1901, during the pastorate of AB. Snedega, the old log church was torn down. A new church with poplar board was built on the same foundation.
Years later, in 1960, the church was brick cased.
On Christmas Day in 1966, Mt. Bethel U.M. Church experienced a tragedy. At 2:00 p.m., a passing motorist saw smoke and spread the alarm. The complete interior had been ruined by fire, heat, smoke, and water, caused by a faulty oil-burning furnace. Under the pastorate of Rev. Arthur Wood, worship continued at the Old Foxville School. By the grace of God and the devotion and determination of the congregation, the newly renovated church, debt-free, held the dedication service on July 23, 1967.
As an educational annex, Asbury Hall was built in 1971.
Realistically, time bring changes. At present, the congregation looks back over the past 190 years and sees that there were times when obstacles presented themselves, but perseverance carried on. God has showered a myriad of blessings.
