History of

Apple Creek United Methodist Church

 

 

The Apple Creek United Methodist Church originated in 1844 in the town of Edinburg Ohio (* see note below), as the Edinburg Society.  The Society first met in a house purchased by five Methodist families in 1835. 

 

The Edinburg Society outgrew its facility, and in 1869 the First Methodist Church was dedicated in what is now Apple Creek Ohio.  This church (west of the present school) was enlarged in 1902.

 

Due to the dwindling enrollments and hard times in 1926 the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church combined to form the  Apple Creek United Church.  This church met in the Presbyterian building (our present church) which was built in 1888. 

 

The United Church survived several building moves and other problems until 1973.  Under the direction of Dr. Wohrley, the combined congregation voted to become one denomination, and the Apple Creek United Methodist Church was formed. 

1964,  parishioners dug out a full basement.  This added a Fellowship Hall, and Sunday School rooms. 

In 1997 Long Hall was added. Long Hall is a large addition, designed with a cathedral ceiling, a completed basement and kitchenette underneath.  The churches three levels became totally handicap accessible.  An elevator was added and an enlarged tri-level parking facility was completed.

* note:  In 1817 Edinburg Ohio (also spelled Edinburgh) was a small Scotch-Irish village in East Union Township, Wayne County Ohio. Edinburg was located in the area around the junction of (present) State Route 250 and Apple Creek Road.  Edinburg was settled before Apple Creek but when the Cleveland, Akron and Mt. Vernon Railroad came through in 1854, it crossed (present) State Route 250 a quarter mile southeast of Edinburg (just east of our present Apple Creek Bank building). 

About 1855 the railroad built Apple Creek Station on (present) High Street, now downtown Apple Creek.  The Village of Apple Creek grew from Apple Creek Station and finally reached the town of Edinburg.  Edinburg was eventually surrounded and Apple Creek's name prevailed. The small village of Edinburg became Apple Creek Ohio.

The railroad served the Village of Apple Creek for over 100 years. The tracks were destroyed during Wayne County's 1969 flood and were never rebuilt. 

The small clear creek, the Railroad Station, and the Village were all named after Johnny Appleseed.  Johnny's real name was John Chapman, a colorful character that spent much of his life planting apple trees in our area.  Apple Creek Village, to this day, holds a popular Johnny Appleseed Festival every summer.  The many apple trees that he planted still decorate our countryside.