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HISTORY

FRANKLIN VALLEY CHURCH DEDICATED IN 1899

(Editor's Note: The following material, taken from The Jackson Standard Journal of Jackson, Ohio, Wednesday July 5, 1899, was researched and submitted to The Jackson Times by Times Historian, Jack Rhea, 8/26/1997.)

The Dedication At Franklin Valley, 1899

Nearly sixty-five years ago a Methodist Class consisting of 12 members was organized at Franklin Valley at the home of Jephtha Cherrington. These early founders of Franklin Valley Methodism worshiped in their homes and in a rude log school house for about five years. Then they built a humble log church and with glad hearts, dedicated it to the service and worship of Almighty God. Here they worshiped for 26 years. Then a neat frame was erected.

Sunday morning, August 28, 1898, the society found itself bereft of a church home, but, following the examples of their fathers, they threw open the doors of their home and reared an altar to Him, Whom "Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain." For nearly 10 months, Sunday School, Class and Prayer Meeting, and preaching services were conducted with all their former regularity about the home firesides.

(Researcher's Note: "It's unclear in this writing what happened prior to and leading up to Sunday morning, August 28, 1898 when the society found itself bereft of a church home.")

June 25, 1899, marked an epoch in the history of old Franklin Valley. The morning brought clouds and rain, but it also brought out more clearly God and His eternal sunlight. Sunshine, both literal and spiritual, broke through the clouds and the hearts of the people were made to rejoice.

The morning service began at 10:30. Rev. Brady, pastor of Rodney Circuit, read the Scripture lesson, which was followed by a soul-stirring sermon from the presiding elder Rev. J.R. Tibbles. Rev. Patrick Henry, a former pastor, then took up the finances and asked for a subscription of $100. With earnestness and enthusiasm, he entered into the work. In less than 20 minutes, the subscription list footed up $125. All indebtedness was canceled and the Doxology went up from glad hearts.

Dinner was served in the grove at the church. At 2:30 o'clock the people again convened for services. Rev. P. Henry was on the program. Rev. Henry always preaches well, but he surpassed himself that afternoon. By the power of the Spirit, he lifted his hearers up to brighter and better visions. The Presiding Elder, assisted by Revs. P. Henry, G.E. Hughes, and W.C. Rogers, proceeded with the dedicatory service according to the Ritual of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A half-hour was then given to testimony and song. Grandmother Cherrington was asked to open the service. She is the only one left of the original 12. The bodies of the other 11 all rest in the old Franklin Valley burying ground. No happier heart than Grandmother Cherrington's was present on that sacred occasion.

Other testimonials were quickly crowded into that blessed service. The people rejoiced that the sacrifices and the offerings had been consumed and the glory of the LORD, in very truth, filled the house. With this the exercises of the day closed, and the people returned to their homes in quiet gladness.

Franklin Valley UMC copyright ©2004