The History of Central United Methodist Church 1873 - 2017

On reading the records of various denominations in today's world, we find a great spirit of expansion. The same spirit rules in the individual churches. Those that are strong are reaching out, looking for fields that are "white with harvest" starting Sunday Schools which soon develop into churches. This spirit originated with the apostles and has come down through history, often through sacrifice and even death. John Wesley and the early circuit riders kindled fires of faith and courage in cabins, wildernesses or wherever there was one to listen. These fires have never gone out.

One hundred and sixty-one years ago Mathews County was part of a circuit of 17 churches and a territory covering four counties. At this time a division was made and a Charge organized in this county consisting of Providence, Mathews Chapel, Bethel, Billups Meeting House or Salem and Point Comfort or St. Paul. The question of the need of a centrally located church came up from time to time, but nothing definite was done until the ministry of the Rev. F. M. Edwards. He saw the difficulty of church attendance in the large area around the county seat. Those who lived to the west of the Court House crossed East River in boats and walked to Providence. Those who lived in the east went to Salem. Transportation was scarce and roads were bad. Mr. Edwards prepared the soil for his successor, the Rev. Alfred Wiles, who called a meeting in 1871 at the home of Mr. Walter Stokes and along with Mr. John Weston, Mr. Abram Guion and others made a decision to secure a site and proceed to build Central Church.

The committee chose wisely in selecting the present site. It was formerly called the Old Tan Yard and belonged to Colonel Walter Lane of Hyco who sold it to Mr. Abram Guion. An old school building stood on the property and Capt. John Miles attended the school at the age of six, which was 141 years ago. A Sunday school was conducted in the school building.

The church was begun in 1873 and the amount of cash on hand was $250.00. Part of this amount was proceeds from the sale of the old parsonage, the former home of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Tatterson and the balance was proceeds from a Fair held in the Masonic Hall. Mr. Abram Guion, great-grandfather of Capt. Robert A. Billups and Mrs. James A. Pettit, had the cypress lumber hauled by ox team from Fairport in Gloucester County. The building was begun under the supervision of Mr. John Weston.

As much progress was made as possible while Mr. Wiles remained on the charge and the work continued under the Rev. W. G. Williams, who served the circuit for three years. They were followed by the Rev. W. C. Vaden, during whose ministry the church was finished and organized.

In the year 1878, Mr. Abram Guion deeded the property on which Central Church stands to the following trustees for the use and benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South Messrs. Abram Guion, Winslow Foster, Walter R. Stokes, Robert White, Humphrey Hudgins, Robert Forrest, Lewis M. Hudgins, William Perrin Hudgins, and Dr. C. C. White. These men were prominent laymen and trustees of the Mathews Charge.

The first Board of Stewards of Central was composed of Mr. Robert White, Mr. Robert Forrest, Mr. Abram Guion and Mr. Vrandenberg.

Prominent among the women of the circuit who worked faithfully for the construction and organization of the church were Mrs. Godsey, Mrs. Vrandenberg, and members of the Guion and Weston families.

The first seats were of rough boards propped up with blocks of wood which were very uncomfortable. The sermons were long in those times, especially those of presiding elders which were from one and a half to two hours in length.

The public contributed liberally to the building and equipment of the church. An organ was donated by Mrs. Godsey, who played for the services. The first bell was given by Mr. George Y. Hunley and Mr. John Weston. The cost was $200.00.

Sunday school was organized in 1878. The Quarterly Conference appointed Mr. Walter Stokes Superintendent and Mr. Leroy Hunley, Assistant Superintendent. After the organization, Mr. Stokes resigned and Mr. Leroy Hunley became the first superintendent of Central Sunday School. The other officers were Librarian, J. A. Weston; Secretary, J. R. Foster; and Treasurer, Robert Forrest. Each member of the new Sunday school was asked to contribute a penny a Sunday and one-third was given to missions. This was a large sum from the little cash of that day.

Memorial stained glass windows were added in June of 1910.

On Sunday, May19, 1935, during the worship service, a passerby, Julian Fox noticed that the roof of the church was on fire, halfway between the eaves and the peak of the steep roof. Giving the alarm, he picked up members of the newly organized volunteer fire company, and within 5 minutes, they were on the scene. Their prompt response resulted in no more damage than burning a large hole in the roof.

On May 30, 1948 a dedication service was held for the organ given by Capt. Rufus Miles in memory of his parents, John H. and Charlotte F. Miles. Also dedicated was the setting for the organ the choir loft and chairs, the gift of Mr. Raymond B. Richardson, as a memorial to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Richardson.

The Women's Society of Christian Service and the Wesleyan Service Guild merged to become United Methodist Women in 1972. The women of Central remain an active organization and are mission-minded on all levels.
The church has been served by the following pastors: Alfred Wiles, A. M. Hall, W. G. Williams, W. C. Vaden, G. C. Vanderslice, J. C. Watson, E. M .Peterson, James A. Moss, D. G. C. Butts, and R. A. Compton. J. E .De Shazo, C. D. Crowley, John 0. Moss, Richard Ferguson, L. J. Phaup, N. B. Foushee, B. E. Hudson, J. M. Kline, L. C .Moore, H. J. Paylor, E. F. Hall, Jr., J. Fletcher Osborne, D. G. Trent, R. H. Humphrey, W. M. Pickard, S. L. Dumville, W. G. Bates, E. J. Nottingham, III, 0. L. Gilliam, W. H. Acosta, S. Bruce Jones, Wilson S. Lambert, W. S. Maxey, William P. Tatum, C. Edward Pruitt, Robert H. Woodfin, Rudy L. Smith, John Durkovich, W. Joseph Sheppard, William L. Clark, James M. Salmon and Carl W. Ulrich and Suzanne Gibson. On July 1, 2016, Rev. Gibson moved to Bethany UMC in Hampton and Central Church welcomed the Rev. John Choi as our pastor.

Under the leadership of the Rev. E. J. Nottingham, the Educational Building became a reality and was dedicated by the Rev 0. L. Gilliam. In 1957, the Rev. William H. Acosta successfully led the four churches of the Mathews Charge in forming two charges. Bethel and St. Matthew became as noted and Central and Salem became the Mathews Charge. During the ministry of the Rev. S. Bruce Jones, the church and parsonage were renovated.
The Rev. Stuart Maxey served the Mathews Charge for five years and led us in the building of the present parsonage, the pulpit renovation and the purchase of new hymnals.

The parsonage was sold and a new parsonage was built circa 1965.

Beginning in 1969 the Rev. C. Edward Pruitt faithfully led us for nine years. Fellowship and spiritual growth were evident. Among the numerous improvements made in the church were installation of hanging lights and carpeting; the sanctuary and educational building were painted and air conditioned; roof repairs were made to the steeple and educational building; new pews were donated; additional class rooms were completed on the second floor of the educational building and the Fellowship Hall walls were paneled. Central celebrated its Centennial in 1973 with Bishop Kenneth Goodson delivering the Homecoming Sermon.

The Rev. Robert Woodfin served from June 1978 until June 1981. During this time a Church Directory was provided; a Charge Bus was purchased for our youth; a fire escape was built for the educational building; storm windows were installed and additional landscaping was completed.

The Rev. Rudy L. Smith served us from 1981 to 1985. Under his dedicated leadership, a successful Shepherding Program, a membership outreach plan was initiated. The Sanctuary was damaged by a severe ice storm, and a complete new heating system was installed. Bishop Blackburn selected Central and Salem for visitation and preached the morning sermons

The Rev. John Durkovich came to us in 1985 to 1992. Under his capable leadership, plans for the new Fellowship Hall came to fruition from the drawing of the blue prints to the completion of
the building. Hymnal racks were purchased; also a new Rodgers Organ, an exterior bulletin board, carillons, ramp and audio visual equipment. Furnishings for a Prayer Chapel were donated in memory of Capt. James Wilbur Hunley by his family.

The Rev. W. Joseph Sheppard served from 1992 to 1994. Under his leadership the membership increased, and the attendance grew steadily. Additional parking spaces were made available.

The Rev. William M. Clark served from 1994 to 2000. Rev. Clark was instrumental in dissolving the Mathews Charge and Central became a Station Church. The Mathews Charge parsonage was purchased from Salem United Methodist Church. In 1998, a second church directory was published.

The Rev. James M. Salmon served from 2000 to 2002 during a transition period as Central began to grow as a station church.

The Rev. Carl Ulrich ably served from 2002 to 2009. Under his organization, from 2005-2007 Central sponsored and began the WAY Program for middle school youth. WAY stood for Wednesdays After-school for Youth. The church was able to purchase needed electronic equipment through available grants. The program worked well for a time but is now discontinued. During Rev. Ulrich's pastorate at Central, around 2004, an early service was added and attendance has grown. The early service meets at 8:30 p. m. with a time of fellowship from 9:30 to 10:00.

The men, under Rev. Rudy Smith's pastorate, organized The United Methodist Men, and they were the first in Mathews to receive a Charter. They meet monthly for breakfast with a guest speaker. Under the leadership of Moses "Moe" Griffith, UMM President, in 1997 the men began serving all-you-can-eat spaghetti and shrimp dinners. The dinners are successful in more than monetary gain. The whole community supports the dinners and seems to enjoy the fellowship. Most of the money raised goes to benefit those in Mathews who are struggling financially.

In 2004, Central entered into a covenant relationship with Dr. Elma Jocson, a Philippino native, who was assigned to a burn clinic in Nepal. She returned home to the Philippines to take a two-year course of study in pediatric surgery. She has now completed her studies and is now assigned to a hospital in Liberia.

In 2007, Terry Leach became our organist and choir director following the retirement of Mrs. Nancy Pugh. She has written our Christmas programs for the past three years.
Our third church directory was published in 2007.

Central purchased a new piano on June 7, 2008, and a dedication service and musical was held on October 19, 2008.

Led by Christine Ulrich, the UMW started partnering with Three Rivers, Healthy Families, a program of the Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board which serves ten rural counties in southeastern Virginia. This program provides mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, early intervention and prevention services to residents in the ten-county area. Dee Bane is now developing the programs, due to Christine's move to Richmond. There are about four programs per year and UMW members provide childcare and lunch for participants.
Held on the six Sundays of Lent, prior to Easter 2009, the newly-formed Creation Care Team: Rev. Carl Ulrich, Marga and Terry Pletcher, Ben Leigh and Rev. Bob Wohlfort sponsored a six-week series on "Healing the Planet." This was an event that was a new concept for our church.

Rev. Carl and Christine Ulrich moved to Richmond on July 1, 2009, to serve another church and we welcomed our first female minister, the Rev. Suzanne Gibson. (2009-2015)

Following the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, Central Church gave a $10,000 gift to aid the devastated country.

Terry Leach resigned in January of 201l and after much prayer and a search, Janet Gomez was hired as organist and choir director in May of 2011.

The church office was remodeled and expanded in March 2011.

In September 2011, the insulation and re-siding of the church building was completed.

As of fall 2012, Central is now in covenant relationships with missionaries Donald and Carol Paige, serving in Paraguay and Charles Tran, serving in Malaysia. Rev. Tran, a United Methodist elder, serving as a missionary to Vietnamese factory workers visited Central on May 6, 2012.The Paiges and their children, Cora and Daniel, came to Central on May 20, 2012. Donald is a silversmith and Carol is a social worker.

A 2016 update on the status of our covenant missionaries: Dr. Jocson is not on active status as 2015, Rev. Charles Tran’s whereabouts are unknown and the Paiges are on sabbatical.

At an Administrative Council meeting on November 14, 2012, following a motion by Stuart Woodcock, which was seconded by Judy Moughon, the council voted to give $10,000 to UMCOR to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

At the May 29, 2013 Administrative Council meeting, the council voted to send $5,000.00 to UMCOR for the recent tornado disasters.

New mahogany front doors with a stained glass transom were installed between December 14-16, 2015. Materials and labor for the stained glass transom were donated by local artisan, Art Miller. Paul Vanden Bout donated all his labor at no cost for the installation of the doors. The doors were given in honor of a deceased member of the church, Ronnie Duff – September 24, 1936-July 14, 2014. Ron was a faithful member who served his Lord through his leadership on many committees while he was a member at Central.

On July 1, 2015, Central welcomed the Rev. “John” Ji Hoon Choi as our new pastor.

On Sunday, February 21, 2016, with Ronnie Duff’s family present, as well as Art Miller and members of the congregation, the doors were officially dedicated. The stained glass transom above the doors were created by Art Miller and donated to the glory of God and in honor of Richard and Melissa Moughon and family.

On August 28, 2016, a new carillon system was dedicated during the 11 a.m. worship service.
Nostalgic recollections of the carillon at Massanetta Springs Bible Conference encouraged Janet Burgess, an active member of Central United Methodist Church, to donate funds for the new carillon. She revisited the memories of attending the yearly Bible Conferences with her parents from age eight until graduating from nearby Madison College in Harrisonburg, VA. The site was so impressionable that her own children also attended the camp.

Emily and Mark Hoffman, two of Janet’s four children, and Brenda Tagge, Janet’s best friend of fifty-five years, were witnesses as the new carillon was dedicated “in loving memory and honor of Adele and Robert H. Burgess, who shared their love, their lives, their devotion and their faith.”

The chimes will ring for the congregation and the community of Mathews and for those beyond its boundaries who visit here. They will, in their tones and hymns, reverberate as memories to those who listen and remember a time and a place.

In October 2016, floor joists under the sanctuary under the pulpit area were replaced to correct the sagging floor.

New red carpet was installed in the sanctuary in December 2016. Funds for the carpet were given in memory of Brandon Burroughs, son of Richard “Dicky” and Roberta Burroughs. The carpet was dedicated on June 25th, 2017 at 11 A.M.

We wish that we could list the names of those who have worked faithfully and with great sacrifice through the years as well as those who serve in a dedicated manner.

We have been blessed by the kindnesses of former members, present members and friends in contributing gifts to our church. It is impossible to list the gifts in this history; however, we do want to mention bequeaths received from the Estate of Mrs. Mary Osborne, Bailey D. Hudgins, R. Henley Pierce, William Miles, Betsy Duff, Anne South and Janet Burgess.

May we as a church have the courage and the strength to carry on the work of our predecessors and at the same time, reach new heights.