The church continued to grow and in May 1897 a class of forty people joined the church. Three different pastors served the Circuit from 1895 through 1904. In March 1904 a decision made at the Philadelphia Conference, our church was transferred from the Bird-in-Hand Circuit and became known as the Leola and New Holland Circuit. Rev. E. W. Rushton was appointed as the first minister of this new Circuit. Since this new Leola - New Holland Circuit had no parsonage, it was required that any pastor appointed be single.

It was in 1904 that plans were formulated to build a new and much larger church building. The last worship service was held in the old church on June 9, 1907.The new brownstone church constructed across the street on the north side of the “pike” was dedicated June 16, 1907, and with additions and renovations remains there in 2011

June 11, 1864 is the first recorded date of the Methodist Church of Leola being represented in a Quarterly Conference. That Conference was held in Georgetown. Other churches of the circuit  represented at the Conference were Soudersburg, Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, New Holland and Hinkletown. The preacher in charge of this Circuit was paid $650 a year and the Junior preacher received $300. This was called the “Enterprise Circuit.”

On September 17, 1864 the Second Quarterly Conference was held at the Bareville Church. The Bareville Church was the name used for what was to become the Leola Methodist Church. This was the first  Quarterly Conference of the Enterprise Circuit of record that was held at our church.

On April 2, 1861, John W. Bender purchased an acre of land from Amos Batten, located diagonally southwest across Route 23 from our present church. On this one acre lot was to be built the first Methodist church in the Leola area. Signers for the deed were Rev. Abram Hook, Samuel R. Trainer, Joseph Cooper, John Binkley, Lewis C. Light, William Hoar, Cyrus Batten, John W. Bender and William K. Bender.

William Bender hauled brick and lumber to the site with his own four-horse team. The brick were made in Leola. William Kreamer was the carpenter. Much of the building was paid for by Mr. Bender himself. A portion of the land in the rear of the church was used as a small cemetery.

Those in attendance at the little church in its early days would gather for Sunday afternoon service of preaching and Bible class. In the evening young people would come from all around the neighborhood because it was the only place of in the area where they could meet to socialize.

It was a small group in these early days of the 1860’s, but it was growing.

From 1838 on, “brethren”, as they were referred to, from Bird-in-Hand came to this area and held prayer meetings.  Among those converted during a meeting at the home of John Weidler Bender were Mr. Bender himself and his wife Annie W. Bender, who became the founders of the very first church which was built in 1861.

From mid 1800’s until 1860 there is very little of historical significance recorded on the development of Methodism in Leola. But in the summer of 1860 a Sunday School under Methodist auspices was started in what was then the Bareville School House. It was started as the beginning of a society by a group of local people, and before starting it they canvassed “the pike” for children.

There had been Sunday Schools, called “unions” held here before. However, Dr. H.V.Givler writes that “when the Methodists took charge, a number of people stood aloof for fear of contagion as there was an impression that the Methodists practiced hocus-pocus to entrap people into their belief….A report went out that when a man and his family ‘jined’ the Methodists then the preachers, like the Egyptian locusts, came and ate up all their substance.”

Such were the stories as Methodism began to take root in Leola, Pennsylvania.

The year 1838 is generally regarded as the beginning of Methodism in Leola, PA.  1838 was the year Cyrus Batten was converted to Christianity at Bird-in-Hand at the age of 27, two years before a church was built there.

Cyrus Batten was a Bible agent and he sold religious books. Often he walked up and down “the Pike” (now Route 23) talking religion to the people of the community.

Later his mother had a religious experience, and her home in Leola became a “preaching place.” That home was a log cabin on the northeast corner of the present Route 23 and North Maple Avenue. It was then, and still is, known as Batten’s Corner. It was the custom of the early Methodists to meet at preaching places such as this. It was truly the nucleus of Methodism in Leola.

• Outdoor band concert with a corn and hotdog roast
• "History of the church" moments during worship
• A special "renew your wedding vows" service followed by an Amish wedding dinner.
• A special unity service followed by dinner out at a local restaurant.
• Hymn sing
• Banners outside the church

The jewelry in this box was made from stain glass windows from the Leola United Methodist Church.  The project was known as "Operation Re-cycle".  It was headed by Mr. & Mrs. Donald Gehr and a group of church people worked on the project in the years 1974 and 1975, when the project was terminated.  The stain glass was removed from the window sash, cleaned, cut and polished.  The stones were then glued into findings (rings, necklaces, pins, ear rings, etc.).  The project realized almost $7,000.  It paid to completely furnish the church parlor, panel the upstairs adult class and redo the Pastor's study.

The Stones in this box were placed in the bank safety deposit box on Friday evening, January 30, 1976.

In 1907 Leola United Methodist Church dedicated the brownstone church that we worship in weekly.  For the first time, we are publishing pictures of the original dedication book.  The booklet consists of the program of events for the week of the dedication, advertisements from local businesses and a history of the church.  Things are a lot different 100 years later. Trivia Quiz: A special speaker presented a talk (in native garb) about his homeland, what biblical land was he from? How many advertisers are still in business today? How many preachers (Rev.) participated over the week long event? Special thanks to Historian Bill White for sharing from the Leola UMC historical archives. 1907 Leola Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church Dedication book