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Bethesda United Methodist Church
The History of Bethesda United Methodist Church
The history of Methodism in the Ona community, formerly known as Thorndike, began around 1803 when the Rev.William Steele, a traveling preacher, was sent by the Baltimore Conference to explore this part of Virginia. Ten years later, a camp meeting was held on the site where Bethesda Church would be built. The Rev. David Young led this meeting.
It is interesting to look at all the ways our church has changed and yet stayed the same. Bethesda's steeple has been seen perched atop a hill in Ona on the same site since 1839. The church's history dates as far back as 1804 when the Guyandotte Methodist Episcopal Church formed it as a missionary outreach. Correspondingly, the Methodist Christians in the Howell's Mill area first met in homes and were served by many circuit riders.
The history of Methodism in the Ona community, formerly known as Thorndike, began around 1803 when the Rev.William Steele, a traveling preacher, was sent by the Baltimore Conference to explore this part of Virginia. Ten years later, a camp meeting was held on the site where Bethesda Church would be built. The Rev. David Young led this meeting.
It is interesting to look at all the ways our church has changed and yet stayed the same. Bethesda's steeple has been seen perched atop a hill in Ona on the same site since 1839. The church's history dates as far back as 1804 when the Guyandotte Methodist Episcopal Church formed it as a missionary outreach. Correspondingly, the Methodist Christians in the Howell's Mill area first met in homes and were served by many circuit riders.