Frances Asbury was the first elected Bishop of what was then called the Methodist Episcopal Church. Native to England and discipled by Methodism's founder, the Rev. John Wesley, Asbury was sent to the American colonies in 1771. He was a born organizer who could put action into words. It has been said of Asbury that he was "organized to beat the devil."

Following the Revolutionary War, Wesley sent two emissaries, Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Coke, to convene a conference where American Methodism could be structured. At the Christmas Conference of 1784, Asbury was consecrated as a Bishop and given Episcopal responsibilities. Asbury was an administrator, an evangelist, a teacher, a pastor to the pastors and a shepherd to the people. He typifies the kind of gutsy and courageous spirit found in the newly formed nation.

Asbury understood this nation as few others did. He was able to see the amazing potential in this land and understood what it would take to develop it. Seeking out the kinds of persons with the calling and gifts needed, Asbury drew a large group of daring, adventurous young men to become circuit riders. They were Methodism's cavalry, endlessly riding throughout the region on horseback. Two of these young men were Charles Burgoon and Jacob Gruber.

Burgoon was appointed by Asbury to organize groups of people into Methodist Societies wherever it was possible. Burgoon came to Franklin County in 1795 and began his work of preaching, offering the sacraments and forming groups of 10 or 12 people into Methodist societies.

What a different place Franklin County was back then! Old Indian paths formed a network of roads. There were few newspapers and hard currency to buy a newspaper was scarce. George Washington was president. The Whiskey Rebellion was fomenting in Pennsylvania counties to the west. But there was opportunity everywhere.

Land was plentiful, rich and inexpensive. Anyone willing to do the hard work of clearing the land, plowing the fertile soil and tending their crops would find a rewarding life. Still, life was Spartan at best. Everything was labor intensive. Machinery that would ease the backbreaking toil of agriculture was still a long way off. Medicine was nearly non-existent. Sickness and disablement were common and crippling. But there was a "can-do" spirit that the early pioneers of our area seemed to possess in abundance.

From atop his horse, Burgoon organized societies in Chambersburg, Ft. Loudon, Shippensburg, Newville and Carlisle in addition to places throughout Washington County, Maryland. He preached wherever there was a welcome, including here in Waynesboro. Burgoon preached the Methodist message of love for God and for neighbor. Jacob Gruber joined him in ministry in 1802. They traveled extensively throughout the region, having no fixed residence, but living out of doors for weeks at a time and in homes of those who offered shelter from the elements.

In 1805, Nathaniel Wilson and his wife Phoebe, along with their twin daughters, Margaret and Hannah, requested that a Methodist Society be formed in Waynesboro. Jacob Gruber was personally appointed by Bishop Francis Asbury to organize the group and so became the founding pastor. They met in the Wilson's home and also used the log meeting house, which still stands on the hill in downtown Waynesboro.

The early Methodists were known for three things: their spirited worship, their disciplined study and application of the Bible and a sincere commitment to aid those in need. John was taught that that, if Christians would love God, they must first love their neighbor. He instilled in Methodism the desire to meet the practical needs of the sick, the poor, the imprisoned, the widowed and orphaned. He encouraged the organization of schools and places of higher education. Above all, Wesley was a staunch advocate for the abolition of slavery and counseled the Methodists in America to oppose it at every opportunity.

This message was preached by Methodists at camp meetings each summer and at the mid-winter revival meetings that were held for the community. Methodists have a long history of cooperation with other church bodies and often pooled their resources together with neighboring churches to host camp meetings and revivals. Such meetings generally resulted in an increase in interest in the churches and members were added to the rolls.