Church History

       The first church in McComb was Methodist.  It was organized in December 1835, in the log cabin of Benjamin Todd, in what was then known as Pleasantville, Ohio.  Rev. M. Thrap, the first minister, was the organizer.  Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Todd and Mr. and Mrs. John Kalb were the first members.  The cabin had been built by a Mr. McKinnis and was one of the first settlements made in Pleasant Township in the fall of 1833. 

       Rev. George Algire came from Fairfield County as a young man, bringing with him his bride of just a few months.  Itinerant preachers served until 1836, when Rev. George Algire became the first local pastor.  For about three years irregular services were held at the cabins of the settlers, until the first pioneer log school house was built in 1838.  The site was the lot where the former Harmon Funeral Home stood, and is now a private residence at 305 West Main Street.  The school house was then used for all the church services.

       In 1850, our first church, a wooden fram structure costing $600.00, was built on the northwest corner of Main and Liberty Streets, which was in later years occupied by the Hudson Furniture Store.  On January 5, 1957, a group of 27 men purchased a lot in Pleasantville to erect a place of residence for the minister.  Our first parsonage, then, was a small country house built one-quarter mile south on what is now Todd Street.  This would house our ministers until March 1884.

       On March 16, 1864, Lots 102 and 103, in the Todd Addition, at the corner of High and West South Street, were purchased to build a "House of Worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church...to preach and expound God's Holy word, therein."  The congregation grew steadily and by 1867 a new church was needed.  A brick building on South and High Street was built at the cost of $5,000.00. It was a long rectangular building with two doors opening on South Street. One door was for men and the other for women.

       On March 22, 1884, Lot 123, Rawson Addition, was purchased for a new parsonage, and was first occupied by Rev. L. O. Cook.  The church built in 1867 became insufficient to satisfy the needs of the church, and in 1887 was torn down.  Another more elaborate brick church was erected on its site (see 1887 picture above).  This church was used until the present church was built in 1914. During 1913-1914, while the church was being built, Sunday Church services were held in the upper floor auditorium of the Opera House building on Main Street, McComb.

       The church building committee decided on May 5, 1913 to erect the new building and cost $21,040.00.  It was chiefly through Rev. W. J. Green's efforts that the funds were secured.  In June, 1913 ground was broken for the building on the site of the former two buildings.  The cornerstone laying was a great event.  One thousand people attended the services on a Sunday afternoon.  The cornerstone was laid on the southeast corner of the church.  The general excercises were opened by a special reading service in which Rev. Green and Rev. Alexander of McComb, Rev. Wisely of Prospect, OH, Rev. Dressler of Findlay, OH, and Rev. Davis of Leipsic, OH participated.  Rev. Gibson of Findlay gave the prayer and speial music was given by the choir under the leadership of Mrs. O. S. Bails.

       The cornerstone box was placed in position containing the following articles: One copy of the New Testament, a discipline of the church of 1912, copies of the Western Christian Advocate, Epworth Herald, McComb Herald, Findlay Courier, Morning Republican, and the Classmate, two G.A.R. badges contributed by W. D. Porter and Dr. A. C. Mathias, a membership list of the Church, Sunday School, and various other committees, a Church Book dated 1835, the names of the four Charter members of the Church, Boy's Class picture, John Howard Post Roster, living and dead statement from the Mayor and Council, an American Flag, and various coins including a 1913 nickel.  A special anthem was given by the Choir, after which Dr. H. C. Jameson of Findlay delivered the address.  The closing prayer was given by Rev. Green.

       By June 2, 1914 the pews from the Fond Du Lac Furniture Company in Fon Du Lac, Winconsin had been installed.  Also, the beautiful pipe organ, which has since been replaced, had been installed along the center back wall of the choir loft.  It had been purchased from the A. J. Schantz Company for $1500.  Half of the organ was paid for by Andrew Carnegie of Carnegie Steel.  Rev. Green had heard of the millionaire's willingness to match dollars with Churches for organs, so the Pastor wrote to the famed lover of organ music.  On November 13, 1913, a check for $750 arrived in the mail as payment for half the organ.

       The bell that now hangs in the bell tower of the Church once hung in Hancock County's second courthouse in the 1840s.  When the present courthouse was constructed in 1880, the commissioners decided a clock would be of more value than the bell.  The bell was then obtained by the First Church of Christ, North Main Street in Findlay.  The bell remained there until 1910, when fire destroyed part of their church and they decided to build a new one.  The bell did not fit into their plans for the new church, so it was obtained by the McComb Methodists in 1913 for their new Church.  Merle Stout hauled the courthouse bell from Findlay to McComb in a one-horse wagon.  The inscription on the bell reads: "Cast by G. W. Coffin, Buckeye Bell Foundry, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1846."

       Upon completion, the present church was dedicated June 14, 1914. The building was made possible largely through the labors of Rev. W. J. Green.  The organist for these services was Marie Rudisill Brickman.  The violinist was Mazelle Clapper Rinehart.

       The last of the Church's charter members, Mrs. Mary Kalb Shoop, died about 1912.  During the ministry of Rev. E. A. Carnes, September 5, 1929, the four Methodist Episcopal Churches were brought together under one charge.  McComb, Portage Chapel, Shawtown, and Dukes Chapel were all served by one pastor.  McComb had services on Sunday morning, Portage Chapel in the morning before Sunday School, and Shawtown and Dukes Chapel in the afternoon and evening.  Shortly after this merger, between 1929 and 1930, the Dukes Chapel, located southwest of McComb on SR 224, closed.

       In 1929, Rev. S. E. Weed became pastor and served until 1933.  In August 1932, the Epworth League went to Lakeside with Rev. and Mrs. Weed as their Leaders.  It was during Rev. Weed's pastorate that the women of the Church held their annual Ice Cream Social at the Tola Shively farm west of town.

       Following Rev. Weed, Rev. G. E. Fisher assumed the pastorate from 1934 to 1935.  The Centennial Celebration was held October 6-13, with Rev. G. E. Fisher as Pastor.  A full week of services and meetings marked the one-hundredth anniversary of the Church.  A Centennial Dinner was held on the final day.

       From 1936-1937, Rev. S. C. McCammon became Pastor.  Hoytville was placed on the Methodist Episcopal circuit from 1936-1942 with McComb, Portage Chapel, and Shawtown, giving Rev. McCammon four churches in his charge.  During this time, a Youth Organization was formed and given the name "Barraca Phileatha."  Rev. McCammon left in November 1937 to become pastor of a nondenominational church in Mariemont, near Cincinnati.

       Dr. Dick Worthman and Mrs. Hilda Worthman took over from 1938 to 1944.  During Dr. Worthman's ministry, he introduced a penny system to elminate a debt incurred as a result of renovations to the parsonage.  During an emotional Easter service, the mortgage paper was burned to celebrate the payment of the debt.  The W.S.C.S. (Women's Society of Christian Service) was organized on October 13, 1940.  The Ladies Aid Society became part of the W.S.C.S. on April 1, 1942.  In 1943, Hoytville Methodist Church left the charge to join the Hoytville circuit, which included Portage Chapel and South Liberty.

       After Dr. Worthman left, Rev. Fred Ross served the congregation for one year, 1945-1946.  During this year, Shawtown Methodist closed, with some of their members joining McComb.  After Rev. Ross, Rev. C. E. Jeffers became minister in 1947 and remained until 1955.  The former Miss Emma Krohn and Rev. Jeffers were married in the Methodist Parsonage in McClure, Ohio, on June 21, 1919.  They had four children: Harold, Glenn, Rosemary, and Miriam.  Soon after Rev. Jeffers arrival in September 1947, the Church became a Station Charge, meaning Rev. Jeffers would pastor only the McComb Church.  With this change, Sunday School was moved to 9:30am before Worship, which ended at 11:15am.

       Under the direction of Rev. Jeffers, the church was Rededicated on Sunday, June 27, 1948 with a program arranged to fill a large portion of the day.  Regular morning services were followed by a family dinner, and a program which featured special numbers from the chimes, installed two weeks before by the Conner Pipe Organ company, Ada, Ohio.  An amplification system and record player were also installed.  Retired Pastor Dr. Worthman was engaged to rebuild the church altar on July 9, 1953.  On April 8, 1954, altar pads were installed by Robert Hale.

       During the early part of Rev. Jeffers' ministry, around 1948, a youth group was organized under the direction of Paul and Bernice Brickman.  They met on Sunday evenings, and during one of these meetings they decided to set up a choir robe fund to support their new choir.  They raised money through paper drives and purchased the robes by 1949.  Mr. Charles R. Clapper, a teacher at McComb High School, became their director.  The youth choir grew so large that the choir loft overflowed.  Their robes were maroon with white satin collars, identical to the robes used by the McComb High School chorus.  The choir borrowed robes from the school because they didn't have enough for the large choir.  After Mr. Clapper left in 1953, Mr. William Detamore, the High School music teacher, became director.  Eventually the church obtained an ample supply of robes for the choir.  Carol Coakley was organist at this time, later replaced by Bernice Brickman.  Mr. Detamore directed the choir until 1968.

       Rev. Jeffers left the church in 1955 to serve four years as an associate minister of what was then the First Methodist Church in Findlay, now St. Andrews.  He later served as associate minister at the Howard United Methodist Church in Findlay, retiring in June 1960.  Rev. Jeffers died February 13, 1985 at the age of 95.  He had served as minister in Methodist Churches for 70 years.

       Rev. Elmer C. Thorpe served as pastor from 1956 to 1958.  He was married to the former Miss Bernita Powers and attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.  He did seminary work at Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Illinois.  Although Rev. Thorpe served as minister at Portage Chapel in 1958, McComb was still officially a station charge.

       After Rev. Thorpe, Rev. Wesley L. Gebhard assumed ministerial duties from 1959 to 1962.  In 1959, Portage Chapel joined us officially as the McComb-Portage Chapel Charge.  While Rev. Gebhard was pastor, a Junior Choir was organized by Frances Beck.  It was composed of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who sang during Worship one Sunday a month.

       After the Gebhards, Rev. Robert P. Miller, Sr. was appointed in 1963, and served until April 1969.  His wife's name was Lena, and they also had four children: Robert, Joe, Vangie, and Beth.  On August 12, 1963, the church purchased lots 104, 105, and 106 in the Rawson addition of McComb.  Special Services were held on June 14, 1964 to commemorate the 50th year of the decidication of the current church.  The service recognized all members belonging to the Church at the time of the June 14, 1914 dedication.  On October 13, 1965, the Church celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Women's Society of Christian Service (W.S.C.S.).  They selected "Dorcas Circle" for the name of their W.S.C.S circle and met the first Tuesday of each month.  One of their first project was making drapes for the new church office in the fall of 1969.  The Dorcas Circle also continued to hold their annual Ice Cream Social, Father and Son Banquet, and Mother and Daughter Banquet.

       On April 23, 1968 the McComb Methodist and the United Brethren Churches were joined as one under the Plan of Union, which was made effective by the Unionizing Conference in Dallas, Texas.  From that point, the Church is known as the McComb United Methodist Church of McComb, Ohio.  The Women's Society for Christian Service became United Methodist Women (U.M.W.). They continued to support the City Mission in Findlay.

       On June 2, 1968, the U.S. Post Office Department said they were interested in purchasing a portion of the church parking lot for a new Post Office.  The east side of the parking lot was sold in April 1969 for $5000.

       Just before Rev. Miller left on May 31, 1969, the Shantz Organ Company was paid $8850 for the installation of a new organ.  After Rev. Miller, came Rev. Robert L. Hayes and his wife Eileen in June 1969.  They also had four children: David, Paul, Mary, and Stephen.  Rev. Hayes entered the ministry in 1954, after coming to Ohio from Oklahoma.  He was ordained as a Deacon in 1957 and later as and Elder in 1959.  Before coming to McComb, he had charges in Decatur in Brown County, Owensville in Clairmont County, and Mile-Darrton in Butler County.

       A new church office was established in the church in the fall of 1969.  It was officially opened on January 16, 1970.  The project was sponsored by the Dorcas Circle, assisted by the Semper Fidelis and Building Together classes.  In 1970, Dr. Worthman built a removable centerpiece for the altar rail in order to have a continuous rail for the serving of communion.

       Junior Church was started in the early seventies by Mary Schroll for kindergarten through sixth grade children.  It is held during Worship one Sunday a month, down in the social room.  The children enjoy Bible stories, crafts, and coloring.

       In March 1971, the sanctuary was completely painted.  The next month, the Semper Fidelis class purchased new light fixtures, suspended ceiling, and paneling for the hallway next to their classroom.  They also bought five new church signs for the five places where state highways enter town.  In 1972, the church office was enlarged by adding the room east of the office for use by the church secretery.  In 1974 there were many improvements, changes, and additions to the church.  In January, 152 chairs and one chair carrier were obtained for use in the church.  New carpet was donated for the church sanctuary.  In June, two new aluminum entry doors from Trico Glass Co. were installed.  In July, the parsonage was painted.  Toward the end of 1974, some of the church pews were repaired and new humidifiers were installed in the sanctuary.

       In 1975, the back portion of the sanctuary received new carpet and a new door was installed in the downstairs basement hallway.  In May, new padded chairs arrived for the back of the sanctuary.  A garage was added at the parsonage and hand rails were added to the entrance of the church.  In November, another balcony classroom was added.  Rev. and Mrs. Hayes left the church on October 15, 1976 for the pastorate of Greenwood United Methodist Church in Marion, Ohio.

       In December 1976, Rev. Howard M. Mayne, wife Donita, and daughters Patricia, Kathryn, Karen, and Mary came to the church.  Rev. Mayne's previous charge was Albany United Methodist Church, Albany, Ohio.  In 1977 came more balcony classroom improvements and new pew cushions.  In 1978, improvements included new basement storm windows, new outdoor shrubbery, a new poured basement floor, and the relocation of the organ to the west side of the choir loft.

       In 1979, a new sound system was installed by B & J Photo.  In January, 1979 an adult choir was organized and new green and white robes were purchased.  In March 1979, the santuary was redecorated in shades of gold.  New steel doors and new tables were also purchased in 1979.  The basement social room was remodeled with wood paneling on the lower part of the walls and brown carpet on the top part.  New steps and a sidewalk were installed at the northeast entrance.

       Early in 1980, the Choir gave a thank you concert for their new robes.  The nursery was remodeled with new crib bunk beds and changing table.  The restrooms were also remodeled.  A new A.B. Dick mimeograph and folding machine were purchased for the church office in 1980.  In 1981, a new Royal typewriter was purchased for the church office, new sidewalks were installed in front of the church, the parsonage roof was replaced, and ceiling fans were placed in the sanctuary.  In June, 1982, all wood on the exterior of the church was covered with white aluminum.

       On November 1, 1983, John Snyder became Youth Advisor.  He received his B.A. Degree in Religion and Sociology from Findlay in 1983, and was working on his Master of Divinity Degree at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay.  In November 1983, the church kitchen was remodeled and vinyl siding and a patio were added to the parsonage.  Remodeling was completed on all balcony classrooms in November 1984.

       In 1984, the trustees decided to purchase an elevette from the American Home Elevator Company of Toledo, Ohio.  It was made by the Inclinator Company of America, Harrisburg, PA.  The elevette is designed to hold a wheelchair and attendant.  It can also accommodate anyone else who is disabled or cannot use the stairs.  It operates on a three level basis: the ouside ground level, basement level, and main sanctuary level.  Construction was started in 1985.

       Since 1985, the Church has been served by three different pastors.  First, Rev. Tom Hoover became pastor.  His wife's name was Gretchen, and their children were Aaron, Bethany, and Ethan.  After that, Rev. Mike Raypholtz and his wife Laura came to the church.

       Pastor Jeffrey S. Harper and his family came to McComb in July of 1999 from Pickerington Trinity UMC where Jeff served as the youth pastor for 8 ½ years.  Pastor Jeff is a 1987 graduate of Asbury College with a BA in Psychology and a 1997 graduate of Ashland Seminary with a Masters of Divinity.  Pastor Jeff was ordained an Elder in 2000.  Jeff's wife, Colleen, is a 1993 graduate of The Ohio State University with a BA in English Education.  She home schools their three boys: Caleb, 12; Samuel, 10; and Daniel, 8.  The Harpers were with us until June 2008, when Jeff began the prestigious Beeson program at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky.

The Harper Family

       Since 1985, the church has undergone many changes.  The entire sanctuary was remodeled with new light blue carpet, paint, and pew covers.  The toddler room was also remodeled with a crayon theme.  The Church got a new roof and the stained glass windows received maintenance.  Recently, central air conditioning was installed to keep the sanctuary cool.  Also, the social room was remodeled with new woodwork and blue wall pieces as well as a new floor.  At the same time, the restrooms were completely remodeled.  The church also added a new projector and screen to the sanctuary, which is used every Sunday for announcements, song lyrics, sermon notes, video, and other media.  Also, in 2006, McComb and Portage Chapel became separate charges with two separate pastors.  They had been a single charge since 1959.