Local News

Century of Caring

Tennerton UMC celebrating 100th anniversary

TENNERTON -- An Upshur County church is inviting the public to help celebrate a century of service to the local community.

"We warmly invite you as we celebrate our 100th church anniversary with worship, praise and thanksgiving on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m.," reads the invitation to Tennerton United Methodist Church's anniversary celebration.

The church, located at 126 Tallmansville Road in Buckhannon, will offer Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m., with Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball speaking. The public and especially all current and past members/attendees of the church are invited to attend.

There was no church in Tennerton in the early 1920s, when the community had less than 20 residents.

There was no bridge across the Buckhannon River, but devout residents of Tennerton crossed the river by boat and walked to the Mt. Hope Methodist Church.

"In the fall of 1922, a public meeting was held to make plans to build a church in the Tennerton community. As the majority attending the meeting were Methodists, it was decided the church should be called the Tennerton Methodist Episcopal Church," a post about the history of the church states on the Tennerton UMC website. "On Jan. 15, 1923, a deed for two lots was presented to the Trustees and the Church was built. The first service was held in the Tennerton Methodist Episcopal Church on Aug. 19, 1923, with 54 people in attendance.  

"In 1968 when the Methodists joined with the United Brethren, it became the Tennerton United Methodist Church."

In the church's 100 years, a total of 31 pastors have served the congregation, spending from one to 15 years in the post. The longest-serving pastor was Rev. William Eskew, who ministered to the congregation from 1975 to 1990.

The mission of the church is as follows: "Our church works together to praise God, to bring his love from our church out into the world, and we try our best to live a Christian life in and out of the church."

Tennerton UMC's community service includes working with the Upshur Parish House & Crosslines; creating flood buckets to be used throughout the state; working with the Rosenbaum House in Morgantown, and the Burlington Youth Festival; working with UMCORE, C.O.M.E., Women United, and Christian Golfers; and adopting a child overseas for 25-plus years. 

"The church started with a small sanctuary and vestibule," the church's website states. "In the early summer of 1935, members and friends joined together and built a basement. On Aug. 25 of that same year, a railing for the steps was added and in December chairs were purchased for the basement.  

"In 1964, an education wing was completed. This addition included two bathrooms, five classrooms and an office.  

"In 1984, a larger parking lot was added for the expanding congregation," the site states. "In the summer of 1986, a choir loft was built and the vestibule was enlarged. Other improvements over the years have included siding, air conditioning, changing the steeple, handicap ramps to the basement and the side door, and a prayer garden."  

A covered-dish meal is planned for the Aug. 20 celebration, which will feature a table of memorabilia of activities of past years. Special singing by Soldiers of the Cross is scheduled for the afternoon.