Old Asbury Chapel Historical Sketch
By Rebeka Ragan, July 1955
No more romantic figure appears in Methodist annals than that of Francis Asbury, lone rider of the wilderness, called "The Prophet of the Lone Road."
Perhaps some day a historian may write the part that half a century of circuit riding had in the shaping of our western civilization. They went out not knowing where, those pioneer preachers of Methodism rode without hesitation.
Francis Asbury, founder of this church and for whom it is named, was the first Bishop of American Methodism ordained in America (1794). He traveled on horseback over roads that were not roads but trails. He crossed the Alleghenies more than sixty times. He visited a thousand homes on the frontiers. Wherever he went he lifted men's thoughts to God.
It was the outgrowth of one of these visits to a humble log home of Mrs. Elizabeth Miles that Asbury Church was organized in 1802 by Rev Jarvis Taylor. This was located just off Winter's Lane, what is now known as the Payne Farm, about one mile from the present site.
The first church services were held in a log schoolhouse
near the Miles home. This is said to be the oldest Methodist Church, South
of the Ohio River, in continuous existence. The charter members were:
Mrs. Elizabeth Miles
Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Reeves
Mrs. Harrison and Deliah Travers
The church remained here for thirty-five years.
In 1837 the old log church was in a state of decay and a new log church was erected with money donated by Brother James Dickerson on the site of the present church. The Rev. Leroy Swarmstedt was pastor at this time.
In May 1838 the Reverend Harmon, a Presbyterian minister, and E. L. Southgate came to Old Asbury and founded a Sunday school. Thomas Miles, son of Elizabeth Miles, was elected Superintendent and served in that capacity for forty five years. Charles Horner and James Cones were among the members at that time and were active in the church work.
In 1884, or thereabouts the present building was erected. The Building Committee was: Thomas Miles, Dr. Peter Thornton, Charles Horner, Frank North, Martin Hildebrandt and Joseph Robertson.
In 1934 Asbury Church was presented with a bronze plaque commemorating the sesquicentennial of Methodism in America. These plaques were presented only to churches having the distinction of being founded by the late Bishop Francis Asbury. More than fifteen hundred people from every part of Campbell County attended the laying of the cornerstone for the recreational and religious education unit which was added to Asbury Church in 1935 under the leadership of Rev. I. S. Pineur.
Now in July, 1955, as we near the completion of a new
Asbury we know it is the fulfillment of a long cherished vision, and that Asbury
may well be proud of her rich tradition which it cherishes as a landmark of
civilization in the great Ohio Valley. The test is not the record of the past,
at is the purpose and direction of the future.