We are now known as The Westminster Abbey Church effective January 1, 2023.
It is now part of the Global Methodist Church after a 100% consensus vote Fall 2022.

It's fascinating to read and discover the true history of something that is so close to the heart
and that would be The Westminster Abbey Church.  Listed here are details of lots sold and bought
and dedicated individuals and groups who pressed forward knowing that Westminster, Ohio would
need that solid Christian influence of a vibrant Living Church. You'll soon find yourself immersed
in the details and the writings of a dedicated church historian named Mrs. Grayce Lepley as she
provides details from 1951 of the history of The Westminster Abbey Church.

Below is a list of Pastors of The Westminster Abbey Church from 1854 to present day.

Humble Beginnings

NOTE: This history was written and read by Mrs. Grayce Lepley at the Rally Day Service on October 7, 1951

           The Church was organized as a Methodist Protestant Church in 1854.

           The location of parsonages are as follows:

           Lot 25 is the present location of the W.S.C.S. Hall. The records show that the lot was transferred from Richard Marshall to the trustees of the Methodist Protestant Church in October 1857.

           The trustees of the Methodist Church transferred this property to Eliza Russell December 1867.
The trustees at this time were Richard Marshall, Calahan Plummer, Herman Parker,
Miles Cowen and John P. Fay. After several transfers this lot comes again back
to the Church, purchased from Mr. Sheipline in August 1950.

           Lot 19 was transferred from Uriah Shriner and Angeline Shriner to the trustees of the Methodist Church on April 10, 1866. The trustees of the church transferred it to I.N. Smith April 12, 1872.
The trustees at this time were J.L. Smith, C.H. Biteman, William Biteman, Samuel Biddinger,
William Ice, John Stevenson and J.J. Maus.

           Lot 19 was transferred from I.N. Smith and Buddy Smith in July 1880 for Lot 14.
It was later transferred by the church to Oscar Binkley in February 1923.

           Lot 43 was purchased from Owen Russell by the Church in 1923
and was sold to Raymond Coolidge in April 1947.

           The location of the present parsonage is lot 33. The garage is on lot 34.
This lot was obtained from Paul and Grayce Lepley in April 1947.

           The men of the church began clearing the ground for the new parsonage on Monday, April 21, 1947. The basement wall was laid up on May 30 and 31. The carpenters began working on June 24.
The parsonage was cleaned and ready for occupancy on December 1, 1947. It was first occupied
by Rev. Gilbert Reichert January 31, 1948. He was followed by Rev. Fred Ross, who was Pastor
in 1949 and 1950, and our present pastor, Rev. John Venezia in 1951.

Growing Through Change

We turn now to the locations of the church property.

           The first location of the church was lot 42, which was the Presbyterian Church lot.
The Methodists held a lease on this property. Records show that W.U. Lathrop who was
president of the board of trustees of the Methodist Church took this through the Presbyterian
Synod and court channels and the title was cleared. We were allowed to dispose of the lot but a consideration of $100 was involved. The lot was then transferred to H.D. Creps in March 1899.

           Lot 33 which is the present location of the church was obtained from H.D. Creps in March 1899.
Lot 42 was traded for this lot 33.

           The cornerstone of the new church was laid April 1899. School was dismissed for the occasion.
Some items placed in the cornerstone were the Methodist Recorder, the names of the
building committee, Jenny Boyd’s small Bible and some pennies that the school children threw in.

           The church was dedicated July 23, 1899. Rev. Wilkins was the pastor at this time.

           The Rev. M.M. Campbell, president of the Ohio Conference delivered the sermon.

           The church was paid for in full on Dedication Day. The total cost was $3300 plus the native timber. The seats were purchased from a Wisconsin Company. The chairs (now used in the back room) were purchased from Jim Graham, a furniture dealer in Waynesfield, Ohio. The first carpet was bought from him also.

           Mr. Graham directed the choir for the Dedication Service, and Mrs. Emma Metzger played the piano.

           W.U. Lathrop was the first Sunday School Superintendent in the new church, Joe Anderson was the first janitor, and Eliza Stevenson was the first president of the Ladies Aid Society. (The first secretary book is in the possession of Mrs. Grayce Lepley.)

This brings the history of the parsonage property up to date. 

The Methodist Protestant Church merged with the other Methodist churches to make The Methodist Church in 1939.



           Some of the Pastors that pastored here are as follows: The Reverends Moats, Ravenscroft, Kline, Dye, Wilkins, Calkins, Archer, Ewing, Hudson, Sultzbach, Creamer, Hanna, Tomlinson, Miller, Franks, Willis, Ewing (2^nd time), Davidson, E.H. Woodworth, Reed, Buckley, Dwight Woodworth, Bulen, Clark, McGarity, McPheron, Dayton, Reichert, Ross, and Venezia.

           Note as of 7-25-2012: Pastors since Venezia are as follows:

           Ned Smith, Richard Davis, William Knowles, Gary Schooler, James Cristy, Don Robertson, David Eichar, William Ballinger, Lawrence Sweet, Ed Gilford, Kent Jaquette, David Clark, Brian Jones, Carol Cooley, Phillip Andrew Bell, Linphord “Chip” Hall 2000, Troy Underhill, David Burkhart.