Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist
September – 100 years ago
At the annual session of the Central New York Conference beginning September 26, 1923, the superintendent of the Elmira District, which included much of Tioga and Bradford Counties, discussed the dire situation of Pennsylvania’s rural churches by saying his district “extends into a state in which 300,000 acres of land lie idle” with “9000 vacant farms.” He added that “Rutland asks to be united with Mainesburg and Elk Run” and “what is left of the Terrytown charge asks to become a part of New Albany and Overton.”
In addition to sometime appointments in school houses and halls, the Rutland charge (Tioga County) included 4 church buildings [Austinville, Lawrence Corners, Roseville, South Rutland] and a parsonage, while the Terrytown charge (Bradford County) included 3 church buildings [Hollenback, New Era, Terrytown] and a parsonage. Details about each of these appointments, whether discontinued or still active, is available at the conference archives and on archives portion of the conference website.
October – 50 years ago
Sunday, October 28, 1973, was the date for two unique music-oriented celebrations in the southern part of the conference.
The Sunday morning service at York Aldersgate was an Interaction Worship Service planned and presented by the youth of the church. A capacity congregation actively involved themselves in the gathering that featured the Aldersgate Youth Singers and the Lycoming College Concert Band. The service began with the youth of the church and the band participating in the opening processional “The March for Peace”. The youth shared various messages and the vocal and instrumental selections were “distinctly musical messages of depth and feeling.”
Sunday evening almost 1,000 persons attended a 90 minute program of singing and celebration at Faust Junior High School in Chambersburg. The event was organized by five area United Methodist pastors and featured several local groups: “The Joyful Noise” and “The Faith and Hope Singers” of Chambersburg, “The New Life Singers” from Walnut Bottom, and a group of ministers’ wives known as “Peace, Love and Joy Singers.” Inspiration for the event came from an evening of musical celebration at that year’s annual conference featuring some of those groups.
