This history of the Clover Hill United Methodist Church was taken, in part, from its 100th Anniversary (1886-1986) publication. That article was written by Bernelle Hill with the early history of the church written by Mildred Revercomb, entitled “The Little White Church on the Hill.” Below are some of her beautifully written words.
”On March 1, 1886, a board of trustees, purchased one acre and sixteen poles of land for the sum of seventy-five dollars, fifty dollars of which was donated by the owner. They purposed in their hearts to build a church. Urged, no doubt, by the interest and encouragement of eager members, the contractor and his workmen completed the building that same year. The people wondered what to name their godly creation. It was suggested it be named for a beautiful field of clover adorning its hilltop location and thus ‘Clover Hill Church’ was born and became a community landmark for successive generations.
Dedicated preachers served the circuit, riding horseback from station-Clover Hill, Bridgewater, Spring Creek, Sangersville, Mt. Solon, Rushville, Dayton and others. Interest grew in the new Clover Hill Church. The hitching rack extending all the way around the cemetery fence was well filled and responses were enthusiastic from the “Amen” corner. On April 4, 1897, a Sunday School was organized with six officers, eight teachers, sixty-one scholars, forty uncommitted “spectators” and a collection of forty cents. This school functioned until late December when it was thought best for the little ones not to brave the winter and it adjourned until April. Spring opening of Sunday School must have been an exciting day for the youngsters.
Years passed. The summer sun shone fragrantly on fields of clover and winter blizzards howled. Still the winds blew, as it sometimes seems they can blow only at Clover Hill. Centered in their onslaught, the little church rocked and trembled until many members felt it was not a safe place in which to worship. Apprehension reached a climax in 1903, when a committee was formed to survey the situation. It was decided that the church was improperly braced and that the defect could not be corrected. So on July 1, 1903 contractors and members began tearing down the old church. Within a year, a new church rose in its place.
As with any growing community, there is birth and death. In April 1915 the trustees bought one-half acre of land for a cemetery addition. To some, the little church became dearer because their loved ones slept within its shadows. Sad occasions were followed by joyous ones. Such a time was the purchase of a bell costing about seven or eight dollars. Electric lights were installed in July 1926, replacing the hanging oil lamps which posed quite a problem at times.
In 1937, a committee formed to plan the addition for Sunday School rooms. Work was completed August 13, 1937. In 1947 a committee planned more improvements. Again in 1950 there were “growing pains”. This time the committee decided to build an addition with a basement to contain a kitchen and toilets. Four rooms upstairs were to be used as Sunday School rooms, library and nursery. On August 25, 1957 this latest addition to the church was dedicated. A new electric organ was also dedicated at this time. A new look was given the church front in 1957 which completed the renovation.
Mildred Revercomb ends her historical account with these beautiful words, “May we all give thanks this day to God for our church in the century past; may we too seek His blessings in being ‘the body of Christ’, the church, in the years ahead.”
The Clover Hill Methodist Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1961. The formation of the United Methodist Church occurred in 1968 from the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches.
The need for a parsonage at Clover Hill became apparent in 1962. A parsonage lot was acquired in 1963 and a parsonage building committee was named in 1964. By November 1968 the building was completed and the dedication was held December 5, 1971.
In May 1966, the trustees purchased a large addition to the cemetery. In 1973, the twelve acres was purchased for locating the new church. A land management committee, with professional help, planned carefully how to use this woodland to best advantage. However, a devastating wind storm in April 1975 nullified the plans, and removing fallen trees from the brushy entanglement was drudgery for the next several years.
Meanwhile the old church building was deteriorating badly. The decision was made to construct a new building on the frontage of the newly acquired land across the road from the old church. In 1980, under professional fund-raising guidance, the church sold bonds to complete the necessary capital. March 1981 was the time of ground-breaking.
On Sunday, July 11, 1982, a brief final outdoor service was held in the old building followed by a colorful procession up the hill to the new building. The first worship service was held in the new sanctuary to complete this historical day in the life of Clover Hill Church. Despite the new surroundings, the church exuded a sense of familiarity. The old pews were waiting as well as many other precious furnishings and fixtures from the old building. The organ was moved and the bell from the old church found a place in the new bell tower early in the building process. The minister, Reverend Armentrout, remarked that “the new building’s location on the top of the hill lifted it closer to God”.
Clover Hill Church celebrated its 100th Anniversary on October 12, 1986.
In 1996, a Long Range Planning Committee was formed to look at the physical needs of the church to take it into the 21st century. The committee found that Sunday School classes needed more space, the social hall should be larger and on the same level as the sanctuary, and the sanctuary needed additional seating. A larger kitchen was also a priority put forth by many people in the church and a commercial type was preferred because of the longevity and food productivity of the components. In 1997, a Preliminary Building Committee was formed to research and come up with a building plan.
On October 24, 1999, a Church Conference was held and it was voted to formally establish a Building Committee to further explore all areas involved in expanding the existing church building. Following this vote, the Building Committee was formed to work on all aspects of the building project. This Building Committee was divided into two groups: the Finance Branch handled all aspects of the funding and the Building Branch was tasked with the design and building of the addition. These committees modified the building plans and decided to proceed with a Capital Funds Campaign to begin raising funds for the addition.
A Commitment Sunday was held April 8, 2001 to kick-off a three year Capital Funds Campaign to secure commitments for the Building Fund. Plans had been drawn and now funds must be raised to make the dream for this addition a reality.
The ground was broken for the new fellowship hall, kitchen and two new classrooms and bathrooms on August 9, 2006 and the congregation began using the new facility in July 2007.
Looking again to the future, in 2014 a Congregational Planning Summit was held and resulted in members deciding to rename and restructure working committees within the church to make them more dynamic and relevant. Participants also adopted a new Bible based vision statement taken from John 5:5 “As Jesus is the vine, we are the Branches”.
After years of fund raising spaghetti dinners, silent auctions, chicken barbeques, selling homemade Easter eggs, selling homemade cheesy potato soup and many other events as well as donations from congregation members and friends our goal was in sight. A very generous gift from a church member’s estate pushed us over the top and the debt was retired. A note burning service for the new fellowship hall was held on October 23, 2016 in conjunction with our 130th Homecoming.
As you have read in this history, you see that the people of the Clover Hill United Methodist Church are continuing to look at the future but remember fondly the past that has brought us to where we are today. May we always remain “The Little White Church on the Hill”.
If you are interested in purchasing a complete copy of “Clover Hill United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary, 1886-1986” or “Clover Hill United Methodist Church 1886-2016, 130th Anniversary & Homecoming” publications, please call the church at 540-879-934 or email cloverhillum@gmail.com
”On March 1, 1886, a board of trustees, purchased one acre and sixteen poles of land for the sum of seventy-five dollars, fifty dollars of which was donated by the owner. They purposed in their hearts to build a church. Urged, no doubt, by the interest and encouragement of eager members, the contractor and his workmen completed the building that same year. The people wondered what to name their godly creation. It was suggested it be named for a beautiful field of clover adorning its hilltop location and thus ‘Clover Hill Church’ was born and became a community landmark for successive generations.
Dedicated preachers served the circuit, riding horseback from station-Clover Hill, Bridgewater, Spring Creek, Sangersville, Mt. Solon, Rushville, Dayton and others. Interest grew in the new Clover Hill Church. The hitching rack extending all the way around the cemetery fence was well filled and responses were enthusiastic from the “Amen” corner. On April 4, 1897, a Sunday School was organized with six officers, eight teachers, sixty-one scholars, forty uncommitted “spectators” and a collection of forty cents. This school functioned until late December when it was thought best for the little ones not to brave the winter and it adjourned until April. Spring opening of Sunday School must have been an exciting day for the youngsters.
Years passed. The summer sun shone fragrantly on fields of clover and winter blizzards howled. Still the winds blew, as it sometimes seems they can blow only at Clover Hill. Centered in their onslaught, the little church rocked and trembled until many members felt it was not a safe place in which to worship. Apprehension reached a climax in 1903, when a committee was formed to survey the situation. It was decided that the church was improperly braced and that the defect could not be corrected. So on July 1, 1903 contractors and members began tearing down the old church. Within a year, a new church rose in its place.
As with any growing community, there is birth and death. In April 1915 the trustees bought one-half acre of land for a cemetery addition. To some, the little church became dearer because their loved ones slept within its shadows. Sad occasions were followed by joyous ones. Such a time was the purchase of a bell costing about seven or eight dollars. Electric lights were installed in July 1926, replacing the hanging oil lamps which posed quite a problem at times.
In 1937, a committee formed to plan the addition for Sunday School rooms. Work was completed August 13, 1937. In 1947 a committee planned more improvements. Again in 1950 there were “growing pains”. This time the committee decided to build an addition with a basement to contain a kitchen and toilets. Four rooms upstairs were to be used as Sunday School rooms, library and nursery. On August 25, 1957 this latest addition to the church was dedicated. A new electric organ was also dedicated at this time. A new look was given the church front in 1957 which completed the renovation.
Mildred Revercomb ends her historical account with these beautiful words, “May we all give thanks this day to God for our church in the century past; may we too seek His blessings in being ‘the body of Christ’, the church, in the years ahead.”
The Clover Hill Methodist Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1961. The formation of the United Methodist Church occurred in 1968 from the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches.
The need for a parsonage at Clover Hill became apparent in 1962. A parsonage lot was acquired in 1963 and a parsonage building committee was named in 1964. By November 1968 the building was completed and the dedication was held December 5, 1971.
In May 1966, the trustees purchased a large addition to the cemetery. In 1973, the twelve acres was purchased for locating the new church. A land management committee, with professional help, planned carefully how to use this woodland to best advantage. However, a devastating wind storm in April 1975 nullified the plans, and removing fallen trees from the brushy entanglement was drudgery for the next several years.
Meanwhile the old church building was deteriorating badly. The decision was made to construct a new building on the frontage of the newly acquired land across the road from the old church. In 1980, under professional fund-raising guidance, the church sold bonds to complete the necessary capital. March 1981 was the time of ground-breaking.
On Sunday, July 11, 1982, a brief final outdoor service was held in the old building followed by a colorful procession up the hill to the new building. The first worship service was held in the new sanctuary to complete this historical day in the life of Clover Hill Church. Despite the new surroundings, the church exuded a sense of familiarity. The old pews were waiting as well as many other precious furnishings and fixtures from the old building. The organ was moved and the bell from the old church found a place in the new bell tower early in the building process. The minister, Reverend Armentrout, remarked that “the new building’s location on the top of the hill lifted it closer to God”.
Clover Hill Church celebrated its 100th Anniversary on October 12, 1986.
In 1996, a Long Range Planning Committee was formed to look at the physical needs of the church to take it into the 21st century. The committee found that Sunday School classes needed more space, the social hall should be larger and on the same level as the sanctuary, and the sanctuary needed additional seating. A larger kitchen was also a priority put forth by many people in the church and a commercial type was preferred because of the longevity and food productivity of the components. In 1997, a Preliminary Building Committee was formed to research and come up with a building plan.
On October 24, 1999, a Church Conference was held and it was voted to formally establish a Building Committee to further explore all areas involved in expanding the existing church building. Following this vote, the Building Committee was formed to work on all aspects of the building project. This Building Committee was divided into two groups: the Finance Branch handled all aspects of the funding and the Building Branch was tasked with the design and building of the addition. These committees modified the building plans and decided to proceed with a Capital Funds Campaign to begin raising funds for the addition.
A Commitment Sunday was held April 8, 2001 to kick-off a three year Capital Funds Campaign to secure commitments for the Building Fund. Plans had been drawn and now funds must be raised to make the dream for this addition a reality.
The ground was broken for the new fellowship hall, kitchen and two new classrooms and bathrooms on August 9, 2006 and the congregation began using the new facility in July 2007.
Looking again to the future, in 2014 a Congregational Planning Summit was held and resulted in members deciding to rename and restructure working committees within the church to make them more dynamic and relevant. Participants also adopted a new Bible based vision statement taken from John 5:5 “As Jesus is the vine, we are the Branches”.
After years of fund raising spaghetti dinners, silent auctions, chicken barbeques, selling homemade Easter eggs, selling homemade cheesy potato soup and many other events as well as donations from congregation members and friends our goal was in sight. A very generous gift from a church member’s estate pushed us over the top and the debt was retired. A note burning service for the new fellowship hall was held on October 23, 2016 in conjunction with our 130th Homecoming.
As you have read in this history, you see that the people of the Clover Hill United Methodist Church are continuing to look at the future but remember fondly the past that has brought us to where we are today. May we always remain “The Little White Church on the Hill”.
If you are interested in purchasing a complete copy of “Clover Hill United Methodist Church 100th Anniversary, 1886-1986” or “Clover Hill United Methodist Church 1886-2016, 130th Anniversary & Homecoming” publications, please call the church at 540-879-934 or email cloverhillum@gmail.com