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The origin of the Chardon United Methodist Church is traced to a young woman’s 40 mile ride through the wilderness in 1818. Polly Benton made the trip on horseback to ask the Reverend Ezra Booth for his help in organizing a Methodist Church in Chardon. Her exact destination is lost to history. Reverend Booth took the names of those Methodists who were living and worshiping in Chardon to the Ohio Conference in Steubenville on August 7, 1818. Organization of the Methodist Society of Chardon was completed that Fall. There were 10 founding members.
Over the intervening years, the small congregation struggled, grew, and prospered to become the church as we know it today. The name of Polly Benton has been memorialized in the name of a woman’s group within the church – the Polly Benton Circle of the United Methodist Women.
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It is noted that the church’s affiliation has variously been described as The Methodist Society, The Methodist Episcopal (ME) Church, The Methodist Church, and The United Methodist Church.
The date that the Methodist Society of Chardon joined the Methodist Episcopal Church (or perhaps simply achieved church status) is not known. The earliest records, dating to 1866, list it as an ME Church. The ME Church was organized in Baltimore in 1784. It split over the question of slavery in the 1840’s, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was organized in the southern states. The two branches of the ME Church and the Methodist Protestant Church joined to form the Methodist Church in 1939. The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church. |
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Church Buildings / Locations |
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Prior to organization of the church, a small group of Methodists met to worship in their homes and in Norman Canfield’s barroom. Following formation of the Methodist Society of Chardon, members met in members’ homes, the Court House and the Brick Academy.
Construction of the first church building, a wooden frame structure, was started in 1833. It was dedicated in 1836. The building stood on Main Street, a little more than halfway from Center Street to Court Street.
Construction of the second church building, a brick structure, was started in 1883, and it was dedicated in 1886. It stands at the corner of Main and Center Streets. A parlor and kitchen were added in 1928. The Chardon Assembly of God congregation now occupies the church.
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The first ministers to serve the Chardon church were circuit riders and did not require a permanent residence. Nothing is known about when the need for a parsonage was first addressed.
The first known parsonage was purchased in 1840. It was one lot south of the corner of Main and Center Streets. The Chardon Assembly of God Church now occupies that corner. When that church was built (1883), the parsonage was moved to the west and situated to front on Center Street (107 Center Street). It was sold in 1903. The house is now owned by Bill and Debbie Hofstetter, and it is occupied by the Rosepointe Cottage Tea Room. |
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The Historic Bell and the Bell Tower |
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 The land on which Chardon stands was purchased from Peter Chardon Brooks in 1808, and the city is named after him. He promised to give a bell to the first meetinghouse that was constructed in Chardon. He provided the bell in 1834 while the Methodist Church was still under construction. It would not be dedicated until 1836.
When a new church was built on the corner of Main and Center Streets, the bell was moved there. When that church building was sold in 1961, the bell was moved to what is now the education wing of the church at 515 North Street. For want of a bell tower, it sat on the concrete pad at the front entrance of the building. No provision was made for a bell tower when the Sanctuary was built. The bell continued to be used throughout these years. It was tolled before services each Sunday morning.
Construction of a bell tower was expected to follow shortly after completion of the Sanctuary. However, the years passed, and plans for it were not acted upon. Finally in the late 1980’s, Bertha Haueter spearheaded a movement to build a tower for the bell. The Trustees granted direct oversight of the project to an elected bell tower committee. Committee members were Bertha Haueter (Chairperson), Jim Alvord, David Bevan, William Hansen, Mark Hoekstra, Reverend H. Bernard Magee Jr., John Stewart, and Mildred Welch. |
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Significant Events in Recent Ministries |
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Robert H. Richardson (1977-1985)
- Reverend Richardson introduced the Appalachia Service Project to the Chardon United Methodist Church. This ministry has continued every year to the present.
- The Director of Music and Youth position was created with Reverend Richardson’s encouragement. Linda Bell Prusha was hired in 1984, and she continues to work in that position. Both programs have grown in size and vitality under Linda’s leadership.
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