history of heritage

Heritage was formed by the two congregations of Shiloh and York Street. They were worshipping separately and being pastored by Robert Brown. In the spring of 1977 each church voted separately to merge with the other into one congregation. Spearheaded by Pastor Brown they had a combined meeting and voted upon the name of Heritage Christian Union Church on April 13, 1977. The following Sunday April 17, 1977 was the first combined service.

It soon became evident that more space was needed to meet the growing need of Heritage. The Heritage Building fund was established on July 5, 1977 with a $100.00 gift and people began giving generously. In December of 1977 Heritage Building Committee was appointed, and met frequently to formulate plans for the new edifice. In fact the pastor at the time Rev. Bob Brown drew up the plans for the church.

On October 24, 1981 the first footer was dug.

During the next 14 months many members and friends of the church volunteered countless hours of labor.On July 12, 1982 the congregation voted to bring in Rev. Rex Roth as their pastor. His first Sunday sermon was August 22, 1982

As the final touches were being done at Heritage the congregation was preparing for their first service in the new building which was held on December 19, 1982. The final cost to build the church was $126,000.00 and was paid in full on April 21, 1986.

Shiloh

The land on which the Church was built was donated by George & Elizabeth Sanford. The construction of the building was started in 1879 and was dedicated June 13, 1880, by the Reverend J.B. Clover. The Church was located four miles southeast of Forest on Sanford's Corner, Wyandot County, Ohio.

• The first organist at Shiloh was Miss Maria McKinley, then Miss Ida McDaniel, & then Miss Minnie Sanford.

• In 1886 Shiloh's Belfry was built by Mack Hemmerly, & a bell was purchased from a catalog for $21.00

• The original cost to build Shiloh was $1,006.42. This included: hardware, lumber, plaster, foundation, painting, carpenter's work, seats, lights, pulpit & stoves.

• At Shiloh 76th Anniversary. Carol Wright, Jennie Hemmerly, & Sharon Beitler sang together as a trio.

York Street

The York Street Church was organized September 7, 1876 by a number of people who came from New York state and settled in Jackson Township and called the settlement York Street.

Services were held in school houses and barns until the York Street Christian Union Church was built in Mif-flin Township in 1877. About twenty years later an addition was built on the Church among the givers for this rebuilding was John D. Rockefeller, a school mate Mrs. Benjamin Parsell, & Mrs. Jake Parsell

Fun Facts about York Street

• The first minister was Reverend Imes

• In 1898 John D. Rockefeller gave $500.00 to York

Street Church if the congregation could raise $500.00.

The money was used to build the North end of the church.

The first couple to be married in the new York Street

Church building was Agnes Van Orsdall & George Fox, married by Rev. Duckworth.

• At York Street's 100th Anniversary they had the dedication of their new organ.

Rev. C.T. Payne, who was the pastor from 1896-1901 and from 1910-1915, is Rev. Joe Searfoss's great great grandfather.