history
White Memorial Wesleyan Methodist Church was founded on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-five.
In the summer of the previous year, 1934, Ms. Grace Spinney organized a tent revival on what is now White Memorial WMC's church parking lot. During the tent revival, Rev. I.N. Toole, Rev. Florence Dray, Rev. A.L. White, Rev. J.R. Swauger, and Rev. Oneida Gleason preached. With the arriving of autumn, services of worship were transferred to a store room on Midlothian Boulevard near Walton Street. In the Spring of 1935, the tent was again erected and another tent revival launched. In early June, the Allegheny Annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church met in Middlefield, Ohio. The Conference was petitioned by the Struthers congregation to send them a minister. The Rev. Clarence J. White was appointed to the work as pioneer pastor. The Whites moved here from Meadville, Pennsylvania, where they had served Allida Smith Memorial WMC. With the store room on Midlothian Boulevard still serving as a place to worship, the church was officially organized on July 10, 1935 by Conference President Albert J. White.
The lot on which the church now stands was made a gift to the congregation by Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Held. It was dedicated to Our Lord on July 14, 1935. Plans to erect a basement church were soon under way and in September the construction began. Good progress was being made and the roof was almost completed when, on December 20, 1935, the tragedy occurred which shook the entire Conference. Rev. A.L. White, along with wife Lucy, and son, Allen, were en route to Stuthers from their home in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, when a train struck their car near East Palestine, Ohio. Since the Conference President had been so deeply interested in the progress of the new church in Struthers and with his brother serving as its minister, it was timely that the new church should become a memorial to the White family. Naturally the interest was widespread and churches in all parts of the Allegheny Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church sent memorial contributions.
Rev. J.R. Swauger, who was Conference Vice President at this time, now became President. He was vitally interested in the Youth Work of the Conference; to this end, the Allegheny Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church received funds from the the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Youth to construct our church. When the basement was practically completed, providing both a space for worship, as well as housing for the pastor, it was dedicated in a service conducted by Rev. Swauger on February 23, 1936. On April 5, 1936, the cornerstone of White Memorial WMC was laid and a worship service was held, which was presided by Rev. J.R. Swauger and Rev. C.C. Cross.
In the summer of the previous year, 1934, Ms. Grace Spinney organized a tent revival on what is now White Memorial WMC's church parking lot. During the tent revival, Rev. I.N. Toole, Rev. Florence Dray, Rev. A.L. White, Rev. J.R. Swauger, and Rev. Oneida Gleason preached. With the arriving of autumn, services of worship were transferred to a store room on Midlothian Boulevard near Walton Street. In the Spring of 1935, the tent was again erected and another tent revival launched. In early June, the Allegheny Annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church met in Middlefield, Ohio. The Conference was petitioned by the Struthers congregation to send them a minister. The Rev. Clarence J. White was appointed to the work as pioneer pastor. The Whites moved here from Meadville, Pennsylvania, where they had served Allida Smith Memorial WMC. With the store room on Midlothian Boulevard still serving as a place to worship, the church was officially organized on July 10, 1935 by Conference President Albert J. White.
The lot on which the church now stands was made a gift to the congregation by Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Held. It was dedicated to Our Lord on July 14, 1935. Plans to erect a basement church were soon under way and in September the construction began. Good progress was being made and the roof was almost completed when, on December 20, 1935, the tragedy occurred which shook the entire Conference. Rev. A.L. White, along with wife Lucy, and son, Allen, were en route to Stuthers from their home in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, when a train struck their car near East Palestine, Ohio. Since the Conference President had been so deeply interested in the progress of the new church in Struthers and with his brother serving as its minister, it was timely that the new church should become a memorial to the White family. Naturally the interest was widespread and churches in all parts of the Allegheny Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church sent memorial contributions.
Rev. J.R. Swauger, who was Conference Vice President at this time, now became President. He was vitally interested in the Youth Work of the Conference; to this end, the Allegheny Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church received funds from the the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Youth to construct our church. When the basement was practically completed, providing both a space for worship, as well as housing for the pastor, it was dedicated in a service conducted by Rev. Swauger on February 23, 1936. On April 5, 1936, the cornerstone of White Memorial WMC was laid and a worship service was held, which was presided by Rev. J.R. Swauger and Rev. C.C. Cross.
The three years which followed were filled with hard but loving labor by the Whites and members and friends. Often, men would work many hours daily after coming from their work. For the most part, work progressed only as funds were available for materials. On a few occasions the pastor and another church family mortgaged their household goods to get money for building materials. The twenty-seven thousands bricks in the church were all laid by Rev. White. All of the construction was done by the pastor and people except the plastering and plumbing for which contracts were let.
The church was dedicated on April 30, 1939 with Dr. F.R. Eddy, the publishing agent of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, delivering the sermon. Rev. Swauger was presented the keys to the church by the Boards of Trustees who were Mr. W.H. Rosensteel, Mr. Earl Sheesley, and Mr. Barney Pezzelle. In the summer of 1946, our parsonage was purchased.
In February 1960, White Memorial WMC's church bell was given to us by our fellow Wesleyan Methodists of Ashtabula, Ohio. On 6 July and 7 July of the same year, it was installed in our bell tower and was rung for the first time on Sunday, 10 July 1960, which marks the beginning of our second quarter century as a church. The church bell was dedicated to Our Lord in memory of White Memorial Wesleyan Methodist Church's first pastor, Rev. C.J. White, and it continues to call our community to prayer and worship.
The church was dedicated on April 30, 1939 with Dr. F.R. Eddy, the publishing agent of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, delivering the sermon. Rev. Swauger was presented the keys to the church by the Boards of Trustees who were Mr. W.H. Rosensteel, Mr. Earl Sheesley, and Mr. Barney Pezzelle. In the summer of 1946, our parsonage was purchased.
In February 1960, White Memorial WMC's church bell was given to us by our fellow Wesleyan Methodists of Ashtabula, Ohio. On 6 July and 7 July of the same year, it was installed in our bell tower and was rung for the first time on Sunday, 10 July 1960, which marks the beginning of our second quarter century as a church. The church bell was dedicated to Our Lord in memory of White Memorial Wesleyan Methodist Church's first pastor, Rev. C.J. White, and it continues to call our community to prayer and worship.
Mrs. Rosensteel donated our altar table to the church in memory of her husband. The altar candlesticks, Holy Bible, and missal stand that lay upon it were donated to our church by Mr. Hiner, in memory of his wife. These continue to be used in celebrations of the sacrament of Holy Communion.