The Round Hill United Methodist Church is not one of the oldest
churches in the County, but its history does cover the span of a
lifetime. The land on which the present church building is situated was
acquired from Klein Wright by deed dated September 30, 1887. The land
was deeded to Joseph R. Hill, James M. Wynkoop, Thomas W. Wynkoop, C.W.
Hammerly, and R.P.W. Jones, Trustees for M.E. Church, South, as a place
of Divine Worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South at Round Hill, Loudoun County,
Virginia, subject to the discipline, usage and ministerial appointments
of said Church as from time to time authorized and declared by the
General Conference of said Church, and the Annual Conference, within
whose bounds the said premises are situated.
Though yellowed with age this original deed is still in the possession
of the church and is in good condition. It is written in longhand,
signed by Klein Wright with no witnesses to his signature, but is
certified by the Clerk of the Loudoun County Court.
A word about the Trustees: Joseph R. Hill was a farmer from the
Bluemont vicinity. He owned and resided on the large farm at the
foothills of the Blue Ridge now owned and occupied by the James
Brownell family (Whitehall). Charles W. Hammerly, who eventually built
a Queen Anne Victorian adjacent to the church property, ran a store at
Woodgrove. James and Thomas Wynkoop, brothers, were uncles of Misses
Ruth, Ada, and Fannie Wynkoop.
The congregation of the Round Hill Methodist Church was not a new
congregation, but was in reality a transfer to a newer location. This
congregation had for many years worshiped in a church building in
Woodgrove, located on the corner lot just west of the main residence on
Woodgrove Farm.
The need for larger quarters at a more central location led to the
acquisition of the Round Hill site.
Construction of the new church at Round Hill started very soon after
acquiring deed to the land in 1887. T.N. Simpson & Son of Round Hill
were the contractors; they also built the Old Bush Meeting Tabernacle
(now a Skating Rink) in Purcellville and the home now owned and
occupied by the Gene Cote family. The Wynkoop family, one of Loudoun's
oldest, played a prominent part in the construction of the church, from
riding about the countryside soliciting contributions, to actually
working on the building itself.
John Wynkoop and his brother James, a farmer, contributed the hauling
and the work of his hired man. John Wynkoop furnished the logs for a
great part of the lumber which, incidentally, was sawed at the old
Poulsen Mill in Round Hill.
Many an ice cream festival and oyster supper went into the building of
the Round Hill Methodist Church. Older residents of the community
recall, among others, a strawberry festival held on the site of the
present Round Hill National Bank (F&M). Long picnic tables were spread
under shady apple trees - surely a very pleasant as well as lucrative
method of raising funds for the new church. One particular oyster
supper was staged upstairs at Ed Ballenger's Blacksmith Shop across the
street from the present fire house.
The construction of the new building at Round Hill was completed in the
late summer of 1889 and dedicated in October of the same year.
Mrs. William Rogers, an aunt of J. Holmes Thomas, joined the Woodgrove
Church as a child and had a part in raising the money for the new
church. We quote from her memories of the dedication:
"When it was dedicated, Jim Boyd, who grew up near there preached the
sermon, he was high up in the Church, his wife was a Wynkoop, there was
plenty of that name there then."
This Dr. James Boyd came from Baltimore and was an uncle of Misses Ada,
Fannie and Ruth Wynkoop.
The organization of the early church was not too dissimilar from its
organization today. There was an organization called the "Aid Society
of the Round Hill ME Church-Hillsboro Circuit." This society came into
being on May 2, 1894, and a constitution and by-laws were drawn up.
Thirty-two names were enrolled, including both men and women. From this
list it is interesting to note the following names: Walter Parks,
Nannie Cross (Mrs. Nannie Ballenger), Mr. and Mrs Milford Parks, and
Mrs. John Gill. I quote from the second meeting of this organization,
"This registry gave a majority of ladies and by their vote they said,
'Man shall no longer rule over us'; so they nominated and elected Mrs.
John Gill, President, Mrs. H.K. Arthur, Secretary, and Mrs. Milford
Parks, Treasurer." From this time on it was known as the Ladies Aid
Society until it became the Woman's Society of Christian Services, and
was changed to United Methodist Women in 1973.
Church records list names of many loyal laymen who have worked for the
good of the church and community, including Wynkoop, James, Hammerly,
Parks, Davis, Lynch, Poulsen, Gill, Simpson, and others.
In 1955 the church felt we could better serve and be served by having
our preacher live in Round Hill. Therefore, the circuit was divided,
and the Round Hill Methodist Church became one of a three-point charge,
including Bluemont and Roszell Chapel Methodist Churches. A dwelling
adjoining the church property was purchased from Mr. C.H. McDonough,
and was furnished for the preacher and his family.
An Educational Building was constructed by R. D. McCauley and Son, at a
cost of approximately $24,000. A large crowd was on hand for the
dedication services on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 1959. The Rev. M.G.
Wooten, the current pastor, presided, and District Superintendent, Rev.
Roland Riddick, was the principal speaker.
The sanctuary was redecorated in 1962, under the leadership of Mrs.
Howard Black and Mrs. Holmes Thomas. The floors were sanded, benches
reconditioned, stained glass was put in the windows, walls painted, and
the pulpit chairs recovered.
A new organ was purchased in 1964, under the direction of our music
committee chaired by Mrs. Dennett Guthrie. An Allen organ was purchased
at a cost of about $4500, and was first used and demonstrated at a
musical presented by members and friends of the church under the
direction of Mrs. Guthrie on Sunday afternoon, December 20, 1964.
