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OUR MISSION:
“To be a community where all can receive grace,
healing and hope in a relationship with Jesus Christ;
and find companions for their daily walk.”
OUR MISSION:
“To be a community where all can receive grace,
healing and hope in a relationship with Jesus Christ;
and find companions for their daily walk.”
OUR VISION:
“Grace for yesterday, strength for today, hope for tomorrow.”
OUR VISION:
“Grace for yesterday, strength for today, hope for tomorrow.”
CHURCH HISTORY
CHURCH HISTORY
Church groups had a hard time getting started in north central Pennsylvania due to the dense forests. Although the Williamson Road was cut through in 1792 not many settlers stopped in the area. It was not until 1825 that Asa Mann cleared a large area that a village began to form.
In 1841 Methodist meetings were held and in 1845 they organized a church and petitioned asking to be incorporated as a Methodist Episcopal Church under the East Genesee Conference of New York. The first meetings were held in a wagon shop on North Main Street and later in the White School House on Academy Street.
In 1849 with 50 members they saw the need and built a church at the corner of North Main and Elmira Streets. That building is still used as a church. It was not long before these Methodists were to test their faith and concern for the children of the village. Around 1852 or 53 a business man advanced the idea that they should have a school of higher education so that the children did not have to go away for more schooling. His idea was presented to the Methodists at a Camp meeting. Public meetings were held in the Methodist Church and eventually the approval of the Conference was given.
The Mansfield Classical Seminary was opened to the first class in 1857 the same date of the incorporation of Mansfield as a borough. The first building burned but while the walls were still falling and the fire still lighted up the night, interested citizens assembled in the Methodist Church and resolved to rebuild. The Mansfield Classical Seminary remained under the supervision of the Methodist church until 1862. Most of the men who had worked to get the school started now were gone to war and with financial difficulty of the failure of the insurance companies it was turned over to the state to become a State Normal School. The Mansfield Methodist church has through the years taken on the role of "a home away from home" to the students at the school it fostered, now the University.
In 1871 a new Methodist church was built at the corner of Wellsboro and Academy Streets. The church had more than tripled in membership.In 1927 the building erected over fifty years before seemed inadequate for theenlarged activities of the church. The church consisted of 2 college classes, a men's Class and a women's class plus a full Sunday School. To supply the needs of the church a large church school building was built in 1929 at a cost of $35,000, and at the height of the depression. Dr. Straughn, President of the normal school was building chairman.
In 1938 the Methodists got the opportunity to help the students of the Borough High School. The School Board had decided that the old brick school building built in 1880 needed to be replaced. It was taken down in 1938 and a new modern High School building replaced it.
August 25, 1938 the officials of the Methodist Church and Mansfield School District signed a contract in consideration of $1000.00. The school had the use of the first and second floors of the church school building. The lease started September 1, 1938 and surrendered possession at the close of the school year 1938-1939.
In researching information for the Mansfield Church to tie into the 1984 Bicentennial of the Methodist Church in America we found information about a former Pastor, Rev. H.S. Parkhurst, who was here in 1873-1874.He returned to Mansfield in 1875 and gathered a group together to go to the west coast. He was the leader of the Pacific Colony that left Corning, NY on October 25, 1875 for Hood River Colony, Oregon. Rev. Parkhurst became ill and died at Ogden, Utah.
The Ogden Utah First Methodist Church became involved when asked if someone could locate the grave so that a Bicentennial marker could be placed on it. They found the grave where Rev.Parkhurst was buried but indicated that it was not marked. The Ogden Church offered to make a spot in their church for a memorial. We sent the following plaque inscribed as follows: Rev. H.S.Parkhurst. Leader Mansfield PA Colony to Hood River, Ore. Died Ogden Utah. Nov. 13, 1875 Methodist Bicentennial-1984. Thus two Methodist Churches join in the Bicentennial project.
In 1927 the beautiful high steeple was taken down, but apparently this land mark and symbol to faith of many was not forgotten.A letter from the Stewardship Foundation of the Central Pennsylvania was received in November 1996 stated that: Several donors, who wish to remain anonymous, have given to the Foundation $176,280.00 for the benefit of the First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. The money to be used as follows. The first item was a steeple and cross to be erected on the existing bell tower of the church.
By the year 2000 we had the present steeple: It has already become a landmark for travelers coming into Mansfield from any direction. It has renewed the spirit of the Church and faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ and we thank those who loved it so much.
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