Asbury M E Church
Cold Spring, Kentucky
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 2 September 1911, page 3
Almost hidden by a cluster of trees, a little frame building, surrounded by a graveyard, lies on the Alexandria pike near Cold Spring Ky. This little building the Asbury M E Church will on Monday, Sept 4, celebrate its centennial anniversary. Asbury Church is the oldest of the Methodist churches in the State. It was organized in 1811 by Jarvis Taylor, its first pastor with a membership of seven.
The first building was located a little north of the present site and was built of logs. It was completed in 1820. The congregation soon outgrew this structure and in 1836 the second house of worship was erected of frame. This church was used for divine worship until the year 1891, when the present church was completed at a cost of about $3600.
The first parsonage was built in 1846 and in 1888, when the present church was erected, it was decided to build a new parsonage. This parsonage is now occupied by the pastor of Asbury M E Church, the Rev J F Hopkins. Asbury Church was the seat of the Annual Methodist Conference in 1862. Bishop Scott presided over this conference and the Rev S M Merrell, who afterward became Bishop, was the secretary.
Fifty years ago the membership was 220, now 74 members constitute the congregation. Since the formation of the church in 1811 the names of Miles, Cones, Horner, Worth and Marshall have been associated with the membership. The church has been ably supplied with ministers and at one time the distinguished Lorenzo Dow occupied the pulpit. Among the ministers who have been most prominent in the history of the church are the names of Belleville, Ramey, Whiteman, Riffle, Jones, Harrop and the Buntons.
The church has just closed one of the most prosperous years in its history under the management of the Rev J F Hopkins. Asbury Church is probably the only Methodist Church in the county that is 100 years old. In the early days it was not an uncommon sight to see a farmer journey to the little Methodist Church with a gun on his shoulder. Wild animals and Indians were numerous in those days and the gun was his only protection.
During the Civil War when the whole country was up in arms, father fighting against son and brother against brother, Asbury Church still continued to hold services. Prayers were often made by the pastor and members of the congregation for the boys, both the blue and gray, who were fighting at the front for the right as they say it. Raiding parties often passed the little church, but never molested it in any way. Visitors will be cordially welcomed at the celebration Monday.
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This historical article is by Rebeka Ragan, July 1955
No more romantic figure appears in Methodist annals than that of Francis Asbury, lone rider of the wilderness, called "The Prophet of the Lone Road."
Perhaps some day a historian may write the part that half a century of circuit riding had in the shaping of our western civilization. They went out not knowing where, those pioneer preachers of Methodism rode without hesitation. Francis Asbury, founder of this church and for whom it is named, was the first Bishop of American Methodism ordained in America (1794). He traveled on horseback over roads that were not roads but trails. He crossed the Alleghenies more than sixty times. He visited a thousand homes on the frontiers. Wherever he went he lifted men's thoughts to God.
It was the outgrowth of one of these visits to a humble log home of Mrs. Elizabeth Miles that Asbury Church was organized in 1802 by Rev Jarvis Taylor. This was located just off Winter's Lane, what is now known as the Payne Farm, about one mile from the present site.
The first church services were held in a log schoolhouse
near the Miles home. This is said to be the oldest Methodist Church, South
of the Ohio River, in continuous existence. The charter members were:
Mrs. Elizabeth Miles
Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Reeves
Mrs. Harrison and Deliah Travers
The church remained here for thirty-five years.
In 1837 the old log church was in a state of decay and a new log church was erected with money donated by Brother James Dickerson on the site of the present church. The Rev. Leroy Swarmstedt was pastor at this time. In May 1838 the Reverend Harmon, a Presbyterian minister, and E. L. Southgate came to Old Asbury and founded a Sunday school. Thomas Miles, son of Elizabeth Miles, was elected Superintendent and served in that capacity for forty five years. Charles Horner and James Cones were among the members at that time and were active in the church work. In 1884, or thereabouts the present building was erected. The Building Committee was: Thomas Miles, Dr. Peter Thornton, Charles Horner, Frank North, Martin Hildebrandt and Joseph Robertson.
In 1934 Asbury Church was presented with a bronze plaque commemorating the sesquicentennial of Methodism in America. These plaques were presented only to churches having the distinction of being founded by the late Bishop Francis Asbury. More than fifteen hundred people from every part of Campbell County attended the laying of the cornerstone for the recreational and religious education unit which was added to Asbury Church in 1935 under the leadership of Rev. I. S. Pineur.
Now in July 1955, as we near the completion of a new
Asbury we know it is the fulfillment of a long cherished vision, and that Asbury
may well be proud of her rich tradition which it cherishes as a landmark of
civilization in the great Ohio Valley. The test is not the record of the past,
at is the purpose and direction of the future.