HISTORY Celebrating our past and boldly embracing our future
One of the most important institutions within the Black community was the church. Black churches were committed to religious training as well as the social, economic, and sometimes political concerns within the community. This commitment to the community was evident within the Brooke Grove and Stewartown communities.
Prior to the 1860s, the Black people were allowed to worship with White members of Goshen Methodist Church (currently the Goshen Mennonite Church) on Brink Road. Blacks were required to sit in the upstairs gallery. The majority of the Blacks who attended were unhappy with this situation and decided to form a separate congregation. The following men united to establish the first Board of Trustees; Wesley Randolph, Wesley Prather, James Hall, James Ross, Charles Brooks, Hezekiah Washington, Sr., William Washington, Reason Prather, Sr. and Basil R. Frazier. In 1870, two acres of land were purchased from Mr. Vachel Duffie, a local farmer, in the amount of $150.00. One acre was designated for the church and the other acre was designated for a cemetery. In late 1871, the first sanctuary was erected. The original edifice was destroyed by fire several years later. Undaunted by its misfortune, faithful members held services in private homes until a new structure was ready. The second church was constructed on the original site in June of 1879.
“In this period of slavery and drudgery, they (Black people) were permitted to unite with the White people in the public worship of God at old Goshen Church. As the years rolled on, the strong continued to oppress the weak, the master continued to crush the slave until Ethiopia stretched forth her hands to God and from every section of this country the pleadings and cries of broken hearted fathers, mothers and children went up as one man’s prayer until God was moved upon His throne and spoke the word thus far shalt thou go and no further. Soon the war clouds of slavery disappeared and the sunshine of freedom suddenly dawned upon the face of the country. Truly it was a day of rejoicing for every heart of the Black race.”
Rev. Howard Brooks, 55th Anniversary of Brooke Grove Church
Brooke Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was part of the “Rockville Circuit of Negro Churches”, including Rockville, Emory Grove, Fairview, Mt. Zion, Howard Chapel, Quince Orchard, Brown’s and Seneca. Preachers traveled by horseback ministering to different communities about the Glory of God.
“These men were truly the pioneer preachers of the times, endowed with natural instincts for leadership. They were men who believed in their calling and in their country and their God. They were the socializing agencies for the social, political and intellectual solidarity of isolated groups, and thus they became the sources of information on subjects of political, social and economic as well as scientific and educational values.”
Rev. Howard Brooks
Although it was established in the 1800s, Brooke Grove United Methodist Church’s third present edifice was dedicated in 1952 on the original property. Established in the 1900s, Stewartown Methodist Church was dedicated in 1944 and became the hub of the community. Many children enrolled in Sunday School, and family worship and community activities were held on a regular basis. The spirit-filled and nurturing atmosphere of the congregation helped many youth to aspire to new levels of achievement within the schools and the community.
In the early 1900’s, the population in the Stewartown area increased making it difficult for church members with large families to travel and attend church together. To meet the needs of an increasing population in the Stewartown area, a group of residents decided to begin worship in the private home of Charles Benjamin Stewart in 1907. With the steadily increasing numbers of worshippers attending services in the Stewart home, a group of men called the True Reformers perceived the need for a special building to accommodate these gatherings. Funds were collected and pooled at monthly meetings to help build the Stewartown Literary, Social and Religious Society Hall (known as the Stewartown Hall). The land purchased from William Hawkins became the site for the Stewartown Hall. This hall was used as a multipurpose facility for church, school and civic activities in the small Black community of Stewartown.
In 1914, the Stewartown Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by Charles B. Stewart, Basil R. Frazier, Charles H. Stewart, John Dorsey, John McAbee, Helen McAbee, Thomas Gant, John Butler, George and Harriet Plummer, Shadrach Riggs and Somerset Washington. Four men, Basil Frazier, Charles B. Stewart, Calvin McAbee and Richard Stewart formed the Board of Trustees of Stewartown Methodist Episcopal Church. Both churches were served by the same minister.
Brooke Grove and Stewartown Methodist Churches worked together to support individual and charge activities. Combined worship choirs, men and women organizations helped to strengthen and establish co-operative activities within both churches.
The two congregations looked to the future and developed a plan that would make a new church vital and relevant in a growing and diverse community. A four-year study was conducted to project the population growth, services and spiritual needs of the citizens of both communities.
Through this effort, a committee was formed with members from both congregations to create a strategy to initiate a viable church building program. The committee recommended merging the two churches and forming a new congregation strong enough to realistically address the needs for future growth. The new church would be built on the land where Stewartown stood. The church merger was recommended to the administrative council of both churches and later presented to the entire congregation for discussion and a vote. In July 1990, a church conference of both churches voted to bring the two congregations together.
Another church conference was held in October 1990 to determine where the Sunday worship services were held until the new sanctuary was erected as well as to determine the name of the new congregation. By majority vote, the newly formed church would be called Goshen United Methodist Church. Worship services would be held at the Brooke Grove site until the new building in Stewartown was completed.
On January 1, 1991, Goshen United Methodist Church officially came into existence. Over the years, many gifts have been given in honor of and memory of loved ones. The new edifice was completed and opened on December 1, 2001. The steadfast love and dedicated service to our Lord shown by our ancestors continues to this day in our congregation. We thank God for the firm foundation on which our church was built.
Today’s growing population in and around the community has impacted the church, where our membership has moved past the five hundred fifty mark. We give thanks and praise to Almighty God for blessing the past, present, and future. As we move ahead we proclaim the power of God’s love in the lives of our men, women, and children. As members of Christ’s Holy Church we are sure God’s power, grace, and love will enable us to continually reflect the bright light of hope to all who seek refuge in the name of Jesus.
“To God Be The Glory, For The Great Things He Has Done”
One of the most important institutions within the Black community was the church. Black churches were committed to religious training as well as the social, economic, and sometimes political concerns within the community. This commitment to the community was evident within the Brooke Grove and Stewartown communities.
Prior to the 1860s, the Black people were allowed to worship with White members of Goshen Methodist Church (currently the Goshen Mennonite Church) on Brink Road. Blacks were required to sit in the upstairs gallery. The majority of the Blacks who attended were unhappy with this situation and decided to form a separate congregation. The following men united to establish the first Board of Trustees; Wesley Randolph, Wesley Prather, James Hall, James Ross, Charles Brooks, Hezekiah Washington, Sr., William Washington, Reason Prather, Sr. and Basil R. Frazier. In 1870, two acres of land were purchased from Mr. Vachel Duffie, a local farmer, in the amount of $150.00. One acre was designated for the church and the other acre was designated for a cemetery. In late 1871, the first sanctuary was erected. The original edifice was destroyed by fire several years later. Undaunted by its misfortune, faithful members held services in private homes until a new structure was ready. The second church was constructed on the original site in June of 1879.
“In this period of slavery and drudgery, they (Black people) were permitted to unite with the White people in the public worship of God at old Goshen Church. As the years rolled on, the strong continued to oppress the weak, the master continued to crush the slave until Ethiopia stretched forth her hands to God and from every section of this country the pleadings and cries of broken hearted fathers, mothers and children went up as one man’s prayer until God was moved upon His throne and spoke the word thus far shalt thou go and no further. Soon the war clouds of slavery disappeared and the sunshine of freedom suddenly dawned upon the face of the country. Truly it was a day of rejoicing for every heart of the Black race.”
Rev. Howard Brooks, 55th Anniversary of Brooke Grove Church
Brooke Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was part of the “Rockville Circuit of Negro Churches”, including Rockville, Emory Grove, Fairview, Mt. Zion, Howard Chapel, Quince Orchard, Brown’s and Seneca. Preachers traveled by horseback ministering to different communities about the Glory of God.
“These men were truly the pioneer preachers of the times, endowed with natural instincts for leadership. They were men who believed in their calling and in their country and their God. They were the socializing agencies for the social, political and intellectual solidarity of isolated groups, and thus they became the sources of information on subjects of political, social and economic as well as scientific and educational values.”
Rev. Howard Brooks
Although it was established in the 1800s, Brooke Grove United Methodist Church’s third present edifice was dedicated in 1952 on the original property. Established in the 1900s, Stewartown Methodist Church was dedicated in 1944 and became the hub of the community. Many children enrolled in Sunday School, and family worship and community activities were held on a regular basis. The spirit-filled and nurturing atmosphere of the congregation helped many youth to aspire to new levels of achievement within the schools and the community.
In the early 1900’s, the population in the Stewartown area increased making it difficult for church members with large families to travel and attend church together. To meet the needs of an increasing population in the Stewartown area, a group of residents decided to begin worship in the private home of Charles Benjamin Stewart in 1907. With the steadily increasing numbers of worshippers attending services in the Stewart home, a group of men called the True Reformers perceived the need for a special building to accommodate these gatherings. Funds were collected and pooled at monthly meetings to help build the Stewartown Literary, Social and Religious Society Hall (known as the Stewartown Hall). The land purchased from William Hawkins became the site for the Stewartown Hall. This hall was used as a multipurpose facility for church, school and civic activities in the small Black community of Stewartown.
In 1914, the Stewartown Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by Charles B. Stewart, Basil R. Frazier, Charles H. Stewart, John Dorsey, John McAbee, Helen McAbee, Thomas Gant, John Butler, George and Harriet Plummer, Shadrach Riggs and Somerset Washington. Four men, Basil Frazier, Charles B. Stewart, Calvin McAbee and Richard Stewart formed the Board of Trustees of Stewartown Methodist Episcopal Church. Both churches were served by the same minister.
Brooke Grove and Stewartown Methodist Churches worked together to support individual and charge activities. Combined worship choirs, men and women organizations helped to strengthen and establish co-operative activities within both churches.
The two congregations looked to the future and developed a plan that would make a new church vital and relevant in a growing and diverse community. A four-year study was conducted to project the population growth, services and spiritual needs of the citizens of both communities.
Through this effort, a committee was formed with members from both congregations to create a strategy to initiate a viable church building program. The committee recommended merging the two churches and forming a new congregation strong enough to realistically address the needs for future growth. The new church would be built on the land where Stewartown stood. The church merger was recommended to the administrative council of both churches and later presented to the entire congregation for discussion and a vote. In July 1990, a church conference of both churches voted to bring the two congregations together.
Another church conference was held in October 1990 to determine where the Sunday worship services were held until the new sanctuary was erected as well as to determine the name of the new congregation. By majority vote, the newly formed church would be called Goshen United Methodist Church. Worship services would be held at the Brooke Grove site until the new building in Stewartown was completed.
On January 1, 1991, Goshen United Methodist Church officially came into existence. Over the years, many gifts have been given in honor of and memory of loved ones. The new edifice was completed and opened on December 1, 2001. The steadfast love and dedicated service to our Lord shown by our ancestors continues to this day in our congregation. We thank God for the firm foundation on which our church was built.
Today’s growing population in and around the community has impacted the church, where our membership has moved past the five hundred fifty mark. We give thanks and praise to Almighty God for blessing the past, present, and future. As we move ahead we proclaim the power of God’s love in the lives of our men, women, and children. As members of Christ’s Holy Church we are sure God’s power, grace, and love will enable us to continually reflect the bright light of hope to all who seek refuge in the name of Jesus.
“To God Be The Glory, For The Great Things He Has Done”