Since 1850—Over 165 years of Mission
About five miles northwest of Frederick, Maryland, is the village of Yellow Springs, in the foothills of the scenic Catoctin Mountains. The village was named because of a yellow deposit which accumulated on the water of several springs in the area. According to legend, a local Indian tribe claimed the water had medicinal value, and gave it the name “Montonqua,” meaning healing waters.
In 1850 a Methodist circuit rider, Rev. George G. Brooke, whose territory extended from Jefferson to Emmitsburg, became aware of the fact that there was no facility in Yellow Springs or the surrounding area for holding worship services. Accordingly, he received permission from several of the prominent residents to hold a service there.
The first prayer service was held in August 1850, under a large chestnut tree at the crossroads near the site of the toll gate on the Hamburg Pike, which is presently the junction of Yellow Springs and Bethel Roads. This area was known then as “Sistersville,” as four widowed sisters lived nearby. The large attendance included both whites and African-Americans.
Following the service, a conference was held by several of the leading citizens in the community at the carpenter shop of David S. Angleberger. Plans were made to construct a building where worship services could be held. As there was no schoolhouse in the area, the building would also be used for that purpose.
Members of four denominations—Presbyterian, United Brethren, Reformed Lutheran, and Methodist—would use the facility. As they could not afford to construct their own buildings individually, they decided to unite, and the structure became known as “Union Chapel.” Five trustees were chosen; they were Charles H. Burkhart, Michael Zimmerman, Elias Grove, William F. Preston, and Cornelius Staley. The problem then confronting the trustees was lack of money. However, through the generosity of Elias Grove, who had donated the ground, each friend of the cause either contributed a little money, some labor, or the materials.
A plain, 22′ x 30′ log structure was erected at the top of the hill in Yellow Springs. The building was dedicated on June 15, 1851. Participating in the ceremony was the Revs. James Brad, M. L. Shuford, and John Richards of the Methodist, Reformed, and Lutheran churches, respectively.
Soon, Union Chapel became a flourishing congregation. For a number of years Reformed and Lutheran ministers of Bethel Charge also had regular services here. Among the preachers who served were Daniel Zacharias of the Reformed Church; Sidney Harkey; George Diehl; G. J. Martz; G. W. Anderson of the Lutheran Church; James Atkinson, Presbyterian; Revs. Waring, Lipps, Dill, Gardner, Kreglo, Welty, Herron, S. A. and W. T. Wilson, McKrendry, and Riley. Rev. Brooke was appointed to serve in Baltimore in 1851, but he did return to preach several times.
In the ensuing years the church was served by Methodist ministers who also held services at other churches in their charges. Around 1875 whenever a minister was not available to serve, Daniel J. Young, a lay member of the congregation, held worship services at the chapel at the request of the Methodist Conference. Mr. Young invited the Salvation Army of Frederick to conduct services, which created a spiritual influence that was positively felt.
Union Chapel was used for many religious revivals. Several distinguished ministers of various denominations preached there. The church was on the first circuit of the Rev. J. W. Gangley, one of the more eloquent preachers of his day. The Rev. Moncure D. Conway, noted for his theological discussion which elicited much criticism in this country and in Europe, also visited the chapel and delivered the sermon.
When a double-room brick schoolhouse was built on the lot adjoining the church property in 1883, the chapel was no longer used for educational instruction.
The church thrived for a number of years, but as time passed, due to the erection of newer and more modern church facilities of Bethel, Zion, Pleasant Hill, and Rocky Springs, many of the members left to join with these denominations. Finally, the remaining few members decided to join the congregation at Pleasant Hill Chapel. On Sunday, June 8, 1884, the Brooke Hill congregation met at the church and marched down the hill and up to the newly finished Pleasant Hill Church less than two miles away. They carried with them their Bibles, spelling books, and other materials.
The building was neglected for fifteen years.
By 1897, however, new interest was aroused by several former members of the congregation to reorganize the church. A movement began to repair the old building. Funds were raised and after renovation, some of the former members again help worship services. On Sunday, May 7, 1899, the building was rededicated as Brook Hill Union Chapel. The “e” on the name had been omitted at some point.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. S. M. Hench. Other ministers who participated in the service were the Revs. Milburn, Barshinger, Dixon, and Myers, who represented the four other denominations in which the original church had been dedicated. Beginning in 1899, the church building was used primarily by the Methodists, who maintained a Sunday School, a thriving women’s organization, and who cared for the building and church grounds.
The structure was again renovated in 1916, and lengthened with the addition of a vestibule and steeple. A church bell was also donated by Mr. and Mrs. Luther Beale.
In 1927, an addition was again made by construction at the eastern end which created an L-shape to the building. The new section was used for a Sunday School.
On February 11, 1928, Brook Hill Union Chapel was officially dedicated by the Rev. George Sanner as part of the Methodist Episcopal Denomination and was renamed “Brook Hill M. E. Church.” Rev. Myers of the United Brethren Church, the only other minister present, concurred with the dedication. The church was assigned to the Lewistown Charge, and then, in 1934 to the Urbana Charge.
Other improvements were made to the building during the first several decades of the twentieth century. The entire structure was painted and more, modern facilities were installed, including new furniture and carpeting, a new lighting system, and a hot air, oil furnace.
In 1940, Mr. Charles Lochard became General Superintendent of the Sunday School, a position formerly held by Mr. George L. Twentey for thirty-five years. In 1943, Brook Hill and Trinity in Frederick were linked together as the Trinity Charge.
During the tenure of the Rev. Herbert L. Doggett in 1952, Brook Hill acquired more new furnishings. Twenty-six pews were installed by the Maugansville Lumber Company. Mr. Henry Horst, the company’s foreman, constructed a pulpit, altar table, chairs, and a lectern.
In 1953, the congregation decided that a new church building was a necessity in order to accommodate future generations, and, therefore, established a building fund for that purpose. In April 1960, the trustees purchased 5.2 acres of land at the intersection of Indian Springs and Hamburg Roads, a quarter of a mile northwest of the site of the original church building. The deed included the restriction, without time limit, that the land be used only as a Methodist Church site. An adjoining building lot was also sold to the church. The Conference of the Methodist Church ruled that a member church must have an unencumbered title to any land on which they intended to build, if the Conference was to provide financial aid. In order to clear the title to the 5.2 acres, the Methodist Union of Washington, DC loaned the money needed to purchase the additional 10 acres of land still owned by the person who sold the original acreage to the church. The Conference requested that the church sell the excess land as soon as possible in order that the money could be used elsewhere. The plot was then sold, the money repaid, and the church had acquired a clear title to the land.
Plans for the new building were drawn by a Hensel Fink of Philadelphia. It was erected by the Ausherman Construction Company of Frederick. With the exception of the pulpit, all the furniture from the old building was used in the new facility.
A cornerstone ceremony was held on July 15, 1962. Certain contents were placed inside the cornerstone:
- statement from Rev. Bellamy and former pastors;
- a document listing church officials, names of contractors, architect, engineer, financing institution, and cost of land;
- historical sketch;
- symbolic items such as a piece of wood from the old and new churches;
- a Bible and Hymnal;
- Communion wine and wafers;
- 1960 Methodist Book of Discipline.
The congregation of approximately 160 members moved into the new building in September 1962, and the original structure was vacated. On November 25, 1962, the Rev. E. Cranston Riggin, Director of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Conference, officiated at the consecration of the new church building.
Trinity became a station church when its new facility was finished in 1966. Divinity Student William R. Pittman was assigned to serve Brook Hill Church in 1965 and the church became a separate student appointment.
In 1969, a new parsonage was constructed adjoining the church parking lot on the northwest side of the property, being dedicated in January 1970. On July 1, 1971, the Rev. Carl B. Rife was appointed as the first, full time minister of Brook Hill Church.
The parking lot next to the church building was black-topped in 1974 and in 1975 two rooms were added to the north end of the building to be used for educational and fellowship purposes. Due to deterioration, the original building was demolished during the winter of 1976. Around this time new chancel furnishings and additional pews were added. These items, including the cross and its backdrop, were moved into the new sanctuary when it was built. The pews were used in the new choir loft.
During the 1970’s a Weekday Nursery was begun by Wyndy Brake. This outreach ministry by the church has continued to flourish through the years, incorporating additional rooms and staff as growth necessitated into the 1980’s. A picnic pavilion was constructed on the church grounds in 1980 under the supervision of Ray Wahl, a member of the church. It was subsequently named the “Midge and Ray Wahl Pavilion” in memory of Midge, Ray’s wife, and in honor of Ray.
In May 1981, the Rev. Dr. Carl B. Rife (having received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1973) was appointed pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas N. Connar, a well qualified and dedicated pastor.
In 1981, Brook Hill Church contained nearly 450 members. There was an active Sunday program for all ages including: four adult classes, Junior and Senior Youth Fellowship Groups, a Hand Bell Choir, two Children’s Choirs, and one Adult Choir which consisted of 40 members. In May 1982, a United Methodist Men’s group was chartered, and later the United Methodist Women’s group was re-organized. By 1983 the membership had surpassed 500 in membership.
Brook Hill held a Mortgage Burning Service Sunday, October 31, 1982, at 2:00 p.m. Celebrating the final pay-off of the 1962 building were former ministers of Brook Hill: Dr. Herbert Doggett, Rev. Harold Ammons, Rev. James Bellamy, and Dr. Carl Rife, accompanied by celebration coordinator Rev. Charles Read, and the minister of Brook Hill, Rev. Thomas N. Connar.
Even before the mortgage was paid off, Brook Hill had been designated to expand. The Baltimore Conference identified Brook Hill to be in a growing area, which would necessitate an expansion of its facilities. The members had been informed that an $100,000 financial package would be provided by the Baltimore Conference. Brook Hill was one of about five United Methodist churches in the conference designated to receive funds for expanding ministries from the Conference’s “Time to Grow” program. The construction of a new sanctuary was tentatively set for March 1983. However, construction was delayed for over a year, primarily due to a national recession.
Brook Hill celebrated ground breaking ceremonies for a new sanctuary, educational facilities, and offices on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1984. The ordained ministers at the ground breaking ceremony were: Rev. Dr. (having received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1983) Thomas N. Connar, minister of Brook Hill; Dr. Warren Ebinger, Frederick District Superintendent; Rev. Jack Hamm, Baltimore Conference Director of Church Missions and Development; Rev. Charles Read, retired minister of Brook Hill; and Rev. Dave Andrews, Conference Council Director and former Frederick District Superintendent. Also participating was Lay Leader, Al Robertson.
Since she was the congregation’s oldest member, 92-year-old Mrs. Grace Harley, was given the special honor of turning over the first shovel of dirt. The church bell was rung 134 times in honor of the occasion and in remembrance of the years since the founding of the church in 1850 by Rev. Brooke on Yellow Springs Hill. Actual construction on the addition began in June 1984.
The new 120’x54′ addition includes two floors, attached to the original building, costing $425,000. The facility contains a 400-seat sanctuary, a large narthex, a parlor, church office, minister’s office, seven classrooms, and two sets of bathrooms. The building is accessible for the handicapped and is equipped with an elevator.
Brook Hill members held a Service of Consecration for their new sanctuary Sunday, January 27, 1985 at 1:00 pm. During the service the “key” to the new sanctuary was passed from contractor, Richard Fogal, of Centura Associates of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Dr. Warren Ebinger, District Superintendent; to Dr. Thomas N. Connar, minister, to Rev. Charles Read, retired minister; to Aaron Horst, Building committee Chairperson’ to Judy Gooding, Trustee Chairperson; and to Al Robertson, Lay Leader.
A cross and flame against a stone wall is the most striking feature of the new sanctuary for Brook Hill. At the consecration, Dr. Warren Ebinger, district Superintendent, stated, “That symbol speaks to Yellow Springs, Frederick, the Baltimore Conference, and the world that we are alive and growing to show forth Christ himself.”
Brook Hill members placed several church mementos behind a 1984 cornerstone which was placed in the new building. The metal box contains the following items:
- letter of greetings to future readers signed by members of the Charge Conference, meeting on October 30, 1984;
- a list of signatures of those attending the worship on October 28, 1984;
- a list of the Building Committee members;
- a booklet on the history of Brook Hill Church, written by Donald Anderson;
- a list of 1984 church officers;
- a 1984 pictorial directory of the congregation;
- a bulletin of the ground breaking ceremonies held on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1984
- a small, wooden cross made by church member Ray Wahl;
- a bumper sticker that reads, “Brook Hill Church—celebrating 200 years of Methodism;”
- mosaic stones from the Apse ceiling of Wesley’s Chapel, London, England, which was built in 1778 and was served by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.
In 1987 a Chapel in the Woods was constructed near the pavilion for early morning Sunday services during the summer and for youth activities.
In September 1988 asbestos had to be removed from the ceiling, mostly in the education area of the 1962 building. Afterwards, the rooms and passageways were renovated to conform to the design and fixtures in the 1984–85 addition.
On Palm Sunday, March 19, 1989, upper window panels of stained glass, portraying the life or message of Christ, were dedicated in the sanctuary. The stained glass windows were made by member Bonnie Provo and they were placed in memory of Gloria Ritenour, another church member.
Today Brook Hill United Methodist Church continues its outreach to the community. A variety of ministries challenge church members to serve Christ through missions, evangelism, worship, education, and in many other ways.