Photos Provided The first Mt. Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church was built between 1855-1857.

WHEELING – The Mt. Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.

The church was organized in Montgomery’s cooperage shop located on what is now the Hall property on Mozart Road. Church services were held here once a month by circuit riders beginning back in 1851. The one room shop was cleared of churns and barrels and replaced by benches made from split logs.

The first church building was built on the current cemetery property between 1855-1857. Landowners Joseph and Olive White donated this piece of ground for the church.

Present day Whites Lane is named for the White family as it encompasses some of the original family farm.

Speaking of the Whites, Joseph and Olive owned 800 acres including the property of the current cemetery and current church. In 1856, Whites’ grandson, Homer, 1 year old, died of pneumonia, there was no burial ground in the vicinity so the little fellow was buried behind the church on the White property and a rail fence encircled the spot.

As a result of his death, and not having any particular burying spot for those in the vicinity, the Whites gave to the church an acre of ground for this purpose and the cemetery was created. In appreciation of the gift, the church was therefore named Mount Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church, for Mrs. White (Olive White – Olivet), which fit well with the name Mount of Olives from the Bible which is often referred to as “Mount Olivet.” Soon after, the unincorporated community adopted the name Mount Olivet as well.

The second church, costing about $3,500 was erected on this same site in the year 1899 by descendants of the members of the first congregation. It was torn down in 1960. The beautiful stained-glass windows were saved and moved to Hope Methodist Church on 29th Street, where they remain today. The bell was also saved and mounted for display on the far side of the cemetery.

Since there was no basement or extra room in the second church, the Ladies Aid Society took it upon themselves to build another building, with a first-floor social hall and stage and the lower floor with a kitchen and room to serve dinners. (This is the green building just down the street)

Mt. Olivet was one of four churches on the Marshall Charge; the first parsonage was located on W.Va. Route 88 in Sherrard. In the 1940s the parsonage was located on Mozart Road and in 1953 this house right here next to the cemetery was purchased for the price of $9,500 and remained the parsonage until the mid-2000s when it was sold.

In 1956 the church trustees saw that again that the congregation was growing and it was time to build a newer, more modern church. A plot of land previously owned by the White family located at Whites Lane and W.Va. Route 88 was chosen for the location for the new church. And on October 26th, 1958 ground was broken for the third Mount Olivet Methodist Church. The consecration service was held in the new church on April 19, 1959.

And the mortgage was paid off in January 1976. In 2005 the church was modernized yet again with the addition of a larger sanctuary and social hall.

Looking to the Future

Through the generations Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church has been a beacon of light and hope to the Mt. Olivet and Bethlehem communities. When the congregation realized that some members could not attend worship on Sundays, a 7 p.m. Monday evening service was added. This busy church serves the community with a monthly food pantry, a back pack program for school children, summer Vacation Bible School and children’s church.

A women’s group works on mission and outreach projects. There is a Discipleship study group, a women’s study and prayer group and more. There is also a college scholarship fund for young members established in memory of a former member.

The 175th anniversary celebration will take place at the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, June 7, at the 10:30 with Rev. Shannon Blosser presiding. Bishop Debra Wallace Padgett will be delivering the message. After the service, in the Methodist tradition, a covered dish dinner, a birthday cake and ice cream will be enjoyed by all.

“We enjoy looking back on all the years of worship and ministry, but are looking forward to what is to come,” said Mark Yuncke, member of the church and president of the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Association, who extended an invitation to the community to help come celebrate this historic milestone for the church and its congregation. “You are welcome to join us and be part of our new history we are making in Jesus’ name.”