Rev. Mele Taumoepeau Aho
Mount Olive UMC
2927 Gillis Falls Road
Mount Airy, MD
Services Sunday at 9:00 AM. Come join us in person or via Zoom Meeting.
HISTORY
Through the years!
Compiled from documents written by Ella Gosnell Shipley, Beatrice Gosnell Shipley Kolb, Linda Conaway and the Maryland Historical Trust.
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By remembering those who served so well through the years with loyalty and devotion, we can continue to serve Christ as we worship and work together at Mount Olive United Methodist Church.
Beatrice Kolb
1870 - 1881
Land was purchased on December 13, 1870, to build the church from Reuben and Ann Henry on Gillis Falls Road (known as Harrisville Road at that time). Wesley Harrison and William Harry Gosnell are remembered as having built the first and present church buildings.
It was stated in “The Methodist” in 1881 that the building at Mount Olive has been completed and remodeled. The building was completed with manual labor, using horses and traveling long distances , working between crop plantings and harvests and weather conditions. Mrs. Beatrice Kolb possesses a Mount Olive Sunday School Bible dated 1877.
In the early days there was a high pulpit in the church and no railing, just a bench called a mourner’s bench. There was a back door in the west corner of the church which was later made into a window. There were oil lamps in brackets on the walls, and two or three hanging lamps from the ceiling. The wood-burning stove was about in the center of the church, in the aisle and the stovepipe went up and across to the wall on the roadside. Later, this was changed to an oil-burning heater which was on the right side of the church.
The 1880's
1885 Reverend Bender
Reverend Burton
1895 Reverend Campbell
The Wesley Theological Seminary of Washington, D.C. was founded in 1882 in Westminster, MD.
Reverend Bender boarded at Mr. Wesley Gosnell’s as there was no parsonage.
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Reverend C. D. Smith was known as the ‘marryin’ parson because he married almost of the couples around.
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Many small churches sprout in Maryland. Horse and buggy transportation were limited and sometimes not possible, so many Methodist churches were established within a few miles of each other.
1900's
1905 Reverend Harris
1908-1909 Reverend C. D. Taylor
1909-1916 Reverend T. M. Dickey
1916-1918 Reverend C. F. Bonn
1918-1922 Reverend F. Reed Issac, Jr.
1922-1926 Reverend Henry Lumb
1926-1928 Reverend J. J. Resh
1929 Reverend J. L. Prettyman
By 1900 there were eight churches on the West Falls Circuit that required two preachers: Ebenezer, Salem Bottom, Taylorsville, West Falls, Bethesda, Watersville, Mount Olive and Morgan Chapel. In 1909, the circuits were changed and West Falls, Watersville, Mount Olive and Morgan Chapel became Morgan Charge.
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A parsonage committee was formed in 1909 to build a new parsonage. Otis Buckingham and Samuel Poole represented Mount Olive. The land for parsonage was obtained from Upton and Effie Henry.
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In 1906 the Ladies Aid Society (present-day United Methodist Women) was organized January 17, 1906, under Reverend G. C. Harris. The Trustees (all men at the time) were the moving force during the early building years. The Ladies Aid Society became the money-making vehicle during the earliest years and included some men. Later, both sexes were represented in the organizations.
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One of the first collections was for an organ. A donation of 25 cents was requested
1915 – Electricity was added in the parsonage and community hall.
1930 - 1940
1929-1933 Reverend D’Arcy Littleton
1933-1937 Reverend Karl Knox
1937-1939 Reverend Ward Kemp
1938-1942 Reverend Leopold Hays
During the Depression years, Mount Olive continued to progress.
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John Lewis made the church altar rail for sixty dollars minus 10% for early payment. The rail was later painted and then restored to the original wood.
1940 - 1960
1942-1944 Reverend Charles Wallace
1944-1947 Reverend Charles Mead
1947-1949 Reverend C. M. McIntire
1949-1955 Reverend C.D. Cunningham
1955-1956 Reverend C. Winfield Hall
1956-1958 Reverend John Bryan
1958-1961 Reverend Ed A. Ankeny
The Women’s Society of Christian Service paid the Mount Olive portion of the final payment for the parsonage in 1942.
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Reverend Charles I. Wallace presided over a number of weddings.
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The picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the altar cross and candlesticks were dedicated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Charles O. Welsh on July 2.
1960 - 1970
1958-1961 Reverend Ed A. Ankeny
1961-1964 Reverend Maurice Vineyard
1964-1965 Reverend Paul H. McCauley
1965-1966 Reverend Jon P. Iseminger
1966-1969 Reverend Jarrett Wicklein
1969-1971 Reverend James Morgan Hunt
By 1962-63, Reverend Maurice Vineyard introduced the Lord’s Acre concept. A vestibule was added to our church and the new community hall was finished and dedicated before Reverend Vineyard left at the 1964 Conference changes.
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Many wonderful dinners were served from the new building. The men carved the turkeys downstairs in the 2nd Sunday School room. The ladies that were our tried and true oyster patters first were put in the basement to do their skillful patting of oysters, but later were moved to the stage so they were not to miss any of the comings and goings. After the first time there, it was determined that we had to put a skirt on the table front to keep the lady’s modesty in check. There was always a large crowd for the dinners. Rod Frederickson would bring back fresh oysters from the Eastern Shore, at least 25 gallons for dinner. Potatoes were mashed in the new commercial mixer. There was much joy in the fellowship at the dinners.
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The present community still talks about the Lord’s Acre Sales. They were held on the last Saturday in August. It took a lot of work, often needing two auctioneers. Linda Conaway would bake up to 100 apple dumplings that would be gone before lunch. Barbeque, chicken salad sandwiches, homemade soups and many delicious pies were sold. It was a great fundraiser for Mount Olive, but it also spread a lot of goodwill. It required lots of hard work but left wonderful memories.
In 1968, Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the former Methodist Church becoming the United Methodist Church.
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The new “Women’s Society of Christian Services and Wesleyan Service Guild” was formed. The pastor at the time was Reverend Jarrett Wicklein and his mother Mrs. Helen Wicklein was Baltimore Conference Society President.
In 1969, the baptismal font was given in memory of Mr. Oliver Welsh.
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Sunday School thrived during this time period. Membership numbered about 40. There was a teen group and an adult group. Vacation Bible School was held in June with attendance one year over 80. Many volunteers, teachers and helpers made the program a success.
1970 - 1983
1969-1971 Reverend James Morgan Hunt
1971-1978 Reverend Donald M. Smith
1978-1981 Reverend Kermit A. Hoffman
1981 Reverend Robert D. McCullough
During 1971 – 1978 much of the maintenance was done by Reverend Donald Montgomery Smith for the church, community hall and parsonage.
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The parsonage roof was shingled, the old heater stove and pipe was replaced with electric heat, new rugs, wallpaper, painting, and perpetual lights were added in the church windows.
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In 1971, the large print RSV pulpit Bible was given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Shipley.
The first Lay Witness weekend was held in 1974.
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Interdenominational Youth rallies were held for Mount Airy Youth in 1975 – 1976.
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The nursery program “The Cabbage Patch” was begun in the fall of 1977.
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Reverend Robert Dixon McCullough was appointed in July 1981.
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Fall 1982, the parsonage added aluminum siding. The interior of the church building received new wallpaper and the installation of four beautiful wall sconces. There were plans to purchase new pews and pew Bibles. A new furnace was installed in the Church Building and an addition is planned.
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In 1983 a Homecoming celebration was held. Reverend Charles Wallace was guest speaker. Lunch and social hour was enjoyed and A Time for Remembering highlighted former pastors.
Noted in 1983
Mount Olive chose to be a student charge through all its history until 1976.
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The era of the total farming community around Mount Olive has changed completely. The congregation has only one full time farmer who is about to retire. Authorities predict that the area around Mount Airy will be the fastest growing on the East Coast during the 1980s. It will be very interesting and challenging to be a part of this new phase of Mount Olive’s history.
1983 - Present
The Mount Olive Senior Citizens met for many years every Tuesday. Ladies from the church and surrounding community met and produced many beautiful quilts. Each stitch was filled with love. The group stopped meeting in 2013 but is fondly remembered.
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The UMW has been a very viable source for our church. Over the years, the many women that have been a part of the organization have played a very important role in getting things done. The Christmas Bazaar was suggested by Agnes Kendall and later led by Linda Clutter. The Christmas Bazaar and lunch was expanded to a Pancake Breakfast. Over the years, things have changed but the Pancake Breakfast continues today.
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The Cross and Flame on the backside of the church was donated in memory of Harold Stallings by Joanne and Sandra. The Communion Table at the front of the church was donated in memory of Jack Riley by his wife Margaret. The paraments on the table and pulpit were donated in memory of Rosa Thomas. The hymnals are dedicated to someone who has been a part of Mount Olive. On the back wall of the church are plaques that have the names of people that have had contributions made to our church in their memory.
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Pastors Include:
Rev. Linda Schaffer
Rev. Suzanne Weber
Rev. Art Monroe
Rev. Kermit
Rev. Kaufman
Rev. Kermit
Rev. Kaufman
Rev. Lynn Humphries Russ
Rev Jim Skillington
Rev. Mele Taumoepeau Aho