Free methodist church

Free methodist church

Camp Association

Denomination history: The Free Methodist Church was formed in Pekin, N.Y., in 1860 under the leadership of the Rev. Benjamin Titus “B.T.” Roberts, a graduate of Wesleyan University. In the early 1870s, the movement spread to Pennsylvania and what would become the Pittsburgh Conference.

Camp: The Tri-State Free Methodist Camp is a holiness camp that grew out of the society of Free Methodists formed in the fall of 1891 in Rochester, Pa., and what would be the Rochester District. The society’s first official summer was in 1892. 2012 marks the 120th anniversary of the Free Methodist group according to “The History of the Pittsburgh Conference of the Free Methodist Church” published in 1932.

Camp grounds: The camp, located on Anderson Boulevard in East Liverpool, was bought in the fall of 1921. The first camp meeting took place there 90 years ago, in August 1922. In the previous 30 years, members of the group traveled and lived in tents for 10 days each year during the summer in various locations across the tri-state area. That included the original Beaver County Fairgrounds in Beaver, Pa.; “Daugherty’s Grove” in Daugherty Township, Pa.; “Dawson’s Grove” near the Ohio and Pennsylvania state line; “Oak Grove” in La Belle View at Steubenville; “Pusey’s Orchard” in Chester, W.Va.; “Ferguson’s Orchard” near Follansbee, W.Va.; Laurel Hollow Park in Newell, W. Va.; and Thompson Park in East Liverpool.

Early meetings: The Daily Times in Beaver, Pa., on July 2, 1915, reported on a camp held at Dawson’s Grove: “The camp is located between the State Line and Beaver Creek. Those coming by trolley get off at State Line, those coming by train take P.R.R. to Smiths Ferry, Pa. Arrangements have been made for hauling baggage to the grounds on the first day of the meeting, at reasonable rates. The boarding tent will furnish boarding at the following rates: Meals, 25 cents each; for the season (10 days) $6. No meals sold on the Sabbath day. Lodging per night is 15 cents; for the season, $1. All lodgers will furnish their own bedding.” The Evening Review in East Liverpool reported in July 1922 that church representatives met at a new campground on the Dixonville Road, just below Thompson Park. Some 30 men cleared the campsite and discovered a large natural spring. There will be 15 ministers at the camp meeting and a different pastor will lead the evangelical services every morning and evening. A tent accommodating at least 1,000 people was in the center of the campgrounds and was surrounded by about 100 smaller ones for families. A temporary dining hall and storeroom have also been built and a dormitory is being built.

Association: Fourteen churches make up the Tri-State Free Methodist Camp Association. People from other denominations and states attend regularly and the public is welcome. The churches are: Aliquippa Free Methodist Church in Aliquippa, Pa.; Beechwood Free Methodist Church, First Free Methodist Church and Oakland Free Methodist Church, all in East Liverpool; Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church in Wellsburg, W.Va.; Free Methodist Community Church in New Middletown; Ellwood City Free Methodist Church in Ellwood City, Pa.; Hookstown Free Methodist Church in Hookstown, Pa.; Monacrest Free Methodist Church in Monaca, Pa.: New Brighton Free Methodist Church in New Brighton, Pa.; New Cumberland Free Methodist Church in New Cumberland, W.Va.; Ohioville Free Methodist Church in Midland, Pa.: Rochester Free Methodist Church in Rochester, Pa ; and Weirton Heights Free Methodist Church in Weirton, W.Va.

Information: For information on camps, call 330-383-3428.

Source: Tri-State Free Methodist Camp Association