Copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to our site.
The Quarryville Memorial Methodist Church building is located at Second and Hess Streets, one block south of the main business street in the Borough of Quarryville, Pennsylvania. While the building was dedicated here in 1921, the Christian impact of Methodism in Quarryville has been constructively felt both at home and far afield since 1874. In that year, the Reverend Samuel H. Reisner, a Fulton Circuit Rider, organized a class known as the Quarryville Society, with John Stanton as leader. The Society first met in homes, but as it grew the assembly place was the second floor of a shop, known as the G.A.R. Hall, south of the present Rhoads Spanish Restaurant. This organization resulted from memorable revival of religion at Mount Hope Methodist Church, also on the Fulton Circuit, when more than 200 persons converted.
The Reverend J. A. Cooper came to the area in 1880 when Quarry-ville was a small settlement of but a few houses, and without railroad contact. A church building had its beginning under Pastor Cooper. In 1883, during the pastorate of his successor, the Reverend F. M. Brady, the building was completed at a cost of $2,200. The Board of Home Missions and Church Extension contributed $300 of this amount. On Sunday, July 17, 1883, the church building was formally opened. The Reverend C. F. Warner preached at 10 o'clock morning service, the Reverend A. L. Urban at 2: 00 P.M. and the Reverend David Anderson of Octorara United Presbyterian Church in the evening. Other pastors present at this official service were the Reverend J. M. Souder of the Reformed Church, Evangelical Lutheran minister, the Reverend J. V. Eckert and the Reverend W. W. McMichael, Mount Hope Methodist Church Only $250.00 of indebtedness re-mained, which amount was paid in full in the fall of 1883. Trustees of the newly-built church were John H. Bair, Jacob N. Groff (class leader), Amos Rinier, Enos P. Findley, J. Martin Rinier, B. F. Shaub, John Stanton, Michael Wimer and Elam R. Herr. Quarryville Church, with nearby Mount Hope and Wesley Methodist churches, became one circuit in 1884. The Reverend W. W. Wisegarver (1896-1899) supervised the building of a parsonage. Returning to church financing, $500.00 was received from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the amount to compensate for damages to the church and parsonage buildings during the railroad's constructing the Low Grade line through Quarryville. This money was received when the Reverend Richard M. Howells was the church's pastor (1906-1909). In this three year period, $600.00 was paid on the debt, the balance being cleared under the pastorate of the succeeding minister, Reverend C. E. Radcliffe. Improvements made in the fall and winter of 1911 included excava-tion under the church building for making a heater room and social hall. A furnace was installed in the church basement. A furnace and a bathroom were installed in the parsonage. The pastor, the Reverend C. J. Benjamin, who guided these physical property changes, also guided the church in an eight-week (1912-1913) revival, with the conversion of twenty-three souls. In 1916, the church started through a highlight in its history. Be-cause of a need for a larger church building, a committee to select plans for the same was appointed. A lot of ground, at the corner of Second and Hess Streets, in the Borough, was purchased from Ezra B. Fritz. Settlement for the ground was made on June 27th of that year, when the Reverend William May was minister. At the annual Philadelphia Conference in 1917, the Quarryville Methodist Circuit underwent a change. The Reverend John S. Tomlinson became pastor of Quarryville and Wesley churches. This new arrangement lasted for one year only, because of the dissatisfied Wesley congregation.
The planning committee for a new church building presented plans that involved the spending of $30,000 for a church building and parsonage. This came about in June, 1918. Of the estimated sum, $20,000 was the amount to be raised by the congregation, with $10,000 to come from the Extension in Rural Work authority. Later, 50 feet additional ground on Hess Street was bought from Ezra B. Fritz. The Quarryville Methodist Church became the Quarryville Memorial Methodist Church in 1919-the word Memorial, a tribute to those of the area who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in World War I. A semi-detached house on the northeast corner of Second and Hess Streets, Quarryville, was purchased for a parsonage. The Reverend Alexander Maconaghy was appointed pastor of the church in 1920. During his ministry, the church building was con- structed. The corner-stone was laid on Sunday afternoon, August 20, 1920-speaker for the occasion, Pastor McKinney. The building was finished and dedicated in 1921. Improvements have been made through the years that followed, and interest in a pipe organ was spurred when the Reverend Ralph Allott was minister. A Mohler organ was purchased and installed under the pastoral guidance of the Reverend Charles Knopp. Between 1953 and 1956, the Reverend Blake Nicholson engineered changes in the basement of the church. The alterations have made possible a fine, well-appointed dining or banquet room, in addition to Sunday School teaching space. The Reverend Herbert R. Howells (son of the Reverend R. M. Howells, pastor of Quarryville Circuit from 1906 to 1909) became minister in 1956. During his four years of leadership, a new parsonage fund was launched; Mrs. A. M. Book bequeathed a substantial sum to it. The house adjoining the church building on the south became avail-able, was bought, and beautifully remodeled and furnished. Rever- end Michael F. Davis and his wife, ministering from 1960 to 1966, became the first tenants of the new personage in April, 1963.
Church membership continues to increase and is presently at the 460 mark. Both Church Service and Sunday School attendance are on the upswing, the latter averaging 207 (year 1966-1967). Following is the order of regular services:
Sunday School 9: 30 A.M.
Worship Service 10:45 A.M.
M. Y. F. 6:30 A.M.
The Reverend William J. Keeler is the present minister.