Milford chronicle., 1923-03-16
A Brief History
METHODISM IN SOUTHEAST
DELAWARE
By Rev. W. C. Poole

Delaware is a Methodist State in which
one can scarcely find a single com
munity of fifty people situated two
miles from Methodist Church. Tht
traveller can travel from its north enc
to its south end, and find a Methodist
Church within three miles of him al
almost every spot of its territory.
The city of Wilmington has probab.
ly more Methodist Churches than any
city of its size in the United States
The old mother church is Asbury al
Third and Walnut Streets, founded in
1889, which remained the only Church
until Old st. Paul's was founded in
1876. Today twenty-five Methodist
churches are located in Wilmington
and about as many more within ten
miles of the city.
MethOdism in Delaware, however is
noted outside of Wilmington for it's
history. Old Barratt's Chapel, neal
Frederica, built about 1880, is probab-
ly the most historic Methodist Church
in America, standing as built. Here
Bishop Coke, coming as the special
messenger of John Wesley, met Fran
els Asbury in November 1884, and the
messengers were sent out to assemble
the Methodist preachers to meet in the
Christmas Conference at Baltimore.
Among the oldest Methodist Con-
gregations in Delaware are the fol-
lowing founded during the revolution,
Chester Bethel, near Wilmington,
where the warrior Captain Webb
preached; Old Union, Odessa, Smyrna,
Dover, Milford, Lewes, Georgetown, St.
Thomas, near Dover; Barratt's Chap
ell, Whitesville or Line Church, and
Old Moore's Chapel near Laurel which
was the first Methodist Church built
in Sussex, about 1880.
The official records of the minutes
of conferences which have been kept
since 1873, make no mention of any
preacher being appointed to any con-
gregation in Delaware until 1779,
when Francis Asbury, Caleb Pedicord,
Freeborn Garretson, Lewis Alfrey, and
Micajah Debruler were appointed to
spread MethOdism in Delaware. So
far as we know, they had not a single
church or official member except a
few members scattered in various
places who had been converted in
MARYLAND or Pennsylvania. AS the first
census taken in 1890 shows the entire
population of Delaware in that year to
have been $4,000 souls, we may as
sumo that they were sent out to serve
over $4,000. At that time, Wilmington
was a little town of perhaps 1000
souls or less. The three counties re-
ported about half as many people as
thew reported in 1920-after 13O years
of growing. The only appointment
named in the minutes for these evan
gelists was Delaware. At the follow
ing year they reported 795 members
gathered as they preached in homes,
barns and highways. Camp meetings
had not then appeared, and did not ap-
pear till about 1900.
In 1870, Sussex first appears in the
minutes with 260 members, but Della
ware appears with $50 members maxi
ing a total of 410 members as compar-
ed with 795 members reported the
year, indicating some had not
been faithful. In 1888, Dover is sub
for appointments in Delaware
and remained the appointment for
preachers sent to Delaware until 1889
when preachers went to Wilmington,
Dover, Dover Circuit, and Milford. In
1890, Dover Circuit is not named, but |
Dover, Wilmington and Milford are |
the only appointments, until 1902
when st. Martins appears. I have not
been able to locate this church abso- |
lutely, but am fully convinced this was
old Head of Sound, near RoXana, IN
the SOUTHEAST corner of the state.
Settlers had followed the old bound
COTTf0
end of the state, and the old Head of |
the Sound Church, as well as Whites
Vile were established before the close
Of the revolution. Surrounding
churches soon sprang up and we have
reason to believe that the following
churches were established and build
ings erected as follows: Old Salem
(Selbyville) 1910, Old st. Georges,
near Ocean View, 1915, and Old Zion
Dr. Antioch between Dagsboro and
about the same time. T.
For the benefit of thousands OF peo-
Die interested in Methodism in South
East Delaware, herewith give the list
If the pastors who have served this
section now so we'll occupied by a
score or more of healthy growing
churches, in Baltimore and Dagsboro
Who Have Served Methodism
in SOUTHEAST Delaware at Frankford,
selbyville, Roxana, Ocean View,
MilIsboro and Dagsboro
It. Martins:
SO2-Edward Larkins. Solomon Coving- !
SOS-Richard Lyon, Daniel Hudson.
8O4-John Bethel, James Aiken. Z
Boehm, James RldgeWay. !
8O6-John Wiltbank, Thomas Burch.
Morris, Paul Conway: 7
Aydelotte, Josiah Colborn. :
8O9-St. Martins and Snow Hill appears ,
Joseph Aydelotte, Thomas Curran. =
Bishop, Joseph Polemus !
Walker, Thomas Davis. :
Lawrenson. !
Lybrand. =
814-John Smith. (Last appointed TO ST.
Martins and Snow HILL
815-DaVid Daley, William Prettyman '
816-John Collins, David Daley.
Leonard.
818-Jacob Moore, John Fox :
319-William Ross, Paul Conway
Aydelotte, William Lummls. a
821-Avra Melvin, William Allen.
322-Avra Melvin, John Collins;
Reed, John Henry.
325-DaVid Daley, William Thompson
326-John Henry, William B. Snead. o
327-Asa Smith, Mathew Lorln.
82S-John Bayne. J. Al a; Massey Massey g
Barnes, w. B. Snead: n
sS1-Daniel Lamdin, Shepherd nofS Dram D
332-J. Humphries, Shepherd DRAM
S33-S. McTlwee, J. L. Taft. U
I34-S. McElwee, J. L. Houston. h
,35-Wm. Connely, ]. A. Roche.
J. T. Hazard, A. Smith-Berlin ap- G
,3e--Wm. Connely, G. Lacey, w Quinn,
Snow Hill. H F. Roberts to Berlin n