Churches

Churches

   Exeter Township is very rich in it's spirtual heritage. Freedom to worship as we please is one of our greatest privileges. The Township had only one church in the early day's. Now there are four active churches as well as the Wyoming Campground.

    The first church was the Union Baptist Church, located in Upper Harding. Little is remembered about it except that a woman name Mrs. Joseph Marcy cleaned and dusted the building and trimmed and polished the lamps. Early in this century the church fell into disuse, was vandalized, and was demolished. Some of the parishioners left the township and started the Slocum Chapel in Exeter Borough
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    The oldest existing congregation in the township is that of the Dymond Hollow United Methodist Church. The members when first organized met in homes. Later, meetings were held in a school house until 1835 when the first church was built on land owned by Edgar Barth. The present church, built on land given by John B. and Mary W. Dymond, was dedicated in 1869 by D.C. Olmsted and the pastor, A.J. Arnold. Members of the building committee were J.B. Dymond, A. Mantanye, E. Whitlock, L. Dymond Sr., L. Fitch, N.J. Vantuyle, D. Berlew, C. DeWitt, A. Lee, and M. Brace. The conventional design of the times was used; there were two front doors, four windows on each side, and two in front with shutters. There were double pews in the center of the church with side aisles and a stove on each side

    In 1917 extensive renovations were made. A basement, housing kitchen and dining room, was added, and the pews were rearranged to form a center aisle. Later, in 1929, twelve memorial windows replaced the original ones. Still later, altar draperies and a gold cross were added and in 1950 oil heat was installed and a well drilled. Refurbishing continues to be done from time to time. The present pastor is Roy V.W. Ashall.

    The idea for Wyoming Campground originated on June 28, 1871, when a meeting of ministers and laymen of the Wyoming District of the Methodist church was held in the Kingston Methodist Church, considered to be the mother Church of the Wyoming Conference. Their purpose was to discuss the question of a camp meeting association for the district. On motion of Dr. George Peck, a committee was appointed to investigate the purchase of ground.

    On July 21, 1871, the committee looked at two properties, the Burgess farm and the neighboring Sutton farm. By ballot, it was decided to be the Sutton farm, 67 acres for $4,000, located on Mt. Zion Road. The executive committee included the Rev. George Peck, D.D., chairman, F.L. Hiller, A.C. Bowdish, J. Madison, and laymen R.H. McCune, I.D. Shoemaker , P. Pettebone and B.D. Beyea. S. Jenkins of Wyoming surveyed the grounds. Ten acres were set apart for cottages.

    On August 14, 1871, the stockholders met in the Methodist Church in Wyoming, and resolved that they be called the "Wyoming Camp Meeting Association". On August 19, a committee was appointed to form a charter. On the first board of managers were the Rev. A.C. Bowdish, F.L. Hiller, L.T. Walker, R.W. VanSchoick, and the following laymen: Payne Pettebone, B.D. Beyea, Richard Jones, George B. Kulp, B.G. Carpenter, and E.D. Wilson. The Rev. George Peck, E.D. Wilson. The Rev. George Peck, D.D. used the following text for the first sermon: " This is none other than the house of God ".

    At present, there are 36 cottages in the Wyoming Campgrounds, and every Sunday there are Vesper services at the Hall. Managers are still elected annually by stockholders.

    "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth , is Mount Zion." That phrase from Psalm 48 must have been in the minds of the early Methodist when they decided to build their church, the Mt. Zion Methodist church, 125 years ago. They had been meeting in homes and the school house for some time, but in February 1851 the trustees became a building committee. Members were Levi Lewis, Robert Lewis, Evi wilson, Isaac Stevevs and Alvin Holmes. Levi Lewis contracted to build a church "in as good a style as the Trucksville meeting house"
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    Isaac Stevens and Levi Lewis gave land for a cemetery, and Valentine DeWitt gave land for the building. Nine months later it was completed, at a cost of $900.00. It still stands on its "beautiful situation", although it has changed in appearance through the years.

    The original church consisted of one large room, which is still the sanctuary. There were clear glass windows with small panes and green shutters. Two front doors led to the narrow aisles. There were two heating stoves, and light for evening services came from shallow dishes of oil with a wick held in place by a wire rack. The pulpit was a marble top table still in use in another meeting room.

    Since the church was, and is, a vital part of the life of the people, there have been constant repairs and improvements. The building was just over 50 years old when a major program was undertaken, the work taking about five years. When it was rededicated in 1907, the church looked much as it does today; The building had been raised five feet and a basement added, stained glass memorial windows replaced the clear ones, the vestibule with its wide double door and the steeple above were built. Changes inside included new pews.

    Shortly before the celebration of the 100th anniversary an addition was built on the back of the church, with Nelson Lewis, Roy J. Thomas, Cornelius Hastie and William Alling as the building committee. It was completed in August, 1951.

    The Mount Zion United Methodist Church building was 125 years old in the Bicentennial year. It's growth and changes reflect it's importance to the people who loved and need it, it is the people who are the church.

    The Church of Christ first met in Harding in June 1944. In the beginning, services were held in the Harding school house. In 1944, a basement room was completed at the present site on Route 92. This was utilized as a meeting place for several year's. In 1954 the completion of the building was undertaken by the congregation. Assisted by a large congregation, members of which were located in the southwestern portion of the United States, the present building was completed in 1958.

    The Church of Christ is a fundamental, restoration church emphasizing serious Bible study. Sunday services include Sunday school, morning service, and evening service. Mid-week Bible Study is held every Wednesday evening. There is a Ladie's Bible Class which meets every Wednesday morning during the school year. All services are open to the public and visitors of all ages are welcome.

    In addition to the regular service of the church the building has been used as a commubity meeting place. In past year's, such groups as first aid, Girl Scouts, the Leos, and the Exeter Township Parents for Better Education have met in the church building. During the Agnes flood, the congregation maintained a distribution point for food and clothing for members of the community in need of help.

    The following ministers have served the Harding Church of Christ: Curtis Combs (deceased), Lewis Smith, Wellington Gallagher (deceased), Baylor Anglin, Jack Coleman, Kenneth Vanderpool, Cecil Allmon, Mitchell Embry, and Wilburn Carter. Otis Land and Michael Sublett are presently sharing the pulpit.

    St. Pius X Parish, Harding, with the Mission of St. Margaret Mary's, Falls, was established as a parish by his Excellency Bishop William J. Hafey. Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton on November 3, 1952.

    The boundaries of the parish include Exeter Township and the township of Falls in Wyoming County.

    Father Edward J. Gerrity was the first pastor of the nrwly formed parish serving from November, 1952 until June, 1967. Father John Bell was appointed pastor in June, 1967 and served until February, 1975 when he was named pastor emeritus. Fr. Edward M. Masakowski administered the parish in the interim until the appointment of Father T. E. McCann in September 1975 as pastor.

    There are approximately 200 families who belong to the St. Pius X, St. Margaret Mary parish. The Holy Named Society and the Altar and Rosary Society for women are two of the vital organizations of St. Pius X Parish.