Dover-Bethany United Methodist Church

4510 Bull Road

 

 

For several years prior to 1861, prayer meetings and preaching services were held in various homes in the area. Neimans Prayer House and Kochenours School House were also used for this purpose. Eventually this group of people decided to build a church building on land donated by David Weigle. The original building made of native stone was erected on the present site in 1861 and was called Bethany United Brethren in Christ Church of Dover although for many years before it was known as Weigle’s Church.

 

A bell tower and bell were added in 1894.  1923 the church was extensively remodeled and improved. Among the improvements a basement was added, an electric light system was installed and the church building was enlarged.

 

Early church records record the family names of Wallace, Holler, Rauhauser, Weigle, Gross, Shaffner, Messerly and Neiman. Many descendants of these families are active members in the church today.

 

November 16, 1946, the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren in Christ church merged to become the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

 

On April 5 1953 ground was broke for the addition to the church building, which comprised the enlargement of the sanctuary seating to 220 and a social room that could be divided by curtains into several rooms. Dedication for this project was held September 20, 1953.

 

July 28, 1963 the dedication for the parsonage was performed.  August 13 1967 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new educational building. This was phase one. Phase two was a new sanctuary that was finally dedicated on April 7 1968.

 

On April 23, 1968, The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church; thus Bethany became known as the Dover Bethany United Methodist Church.

 

By 1980, church membership and attendance had increased to the point that a larger sanctuary was necessary. Ground breaking for this construction was held on March 20 1983. The plans called for a new sanctuary, new choir room and combine two double classrooms in the basement to form a large fellowship hall. Ramps for the handicapped to the basement and first floor were installed.