By Bobby Bice
This year marks the centennial anniversary for two churches in Shinnston. In 1923, two additional religious congregations formed within the town: The Parish of Saint Ann and the United Brethren Church on west side. The accompanying image shows the congregation of the United Brethren Church, taken during the summer of 1932, nine years after its founding, when the first major addition to the church building was completed and dedicated.
At one time, there were twenty-six United Brethren Churches in Harrison County. Shinnston‘s was located along west side’s Clark Street and is today known as Otterbein United Methodist Church. The original structure of the church was a single elevated auditorium, supported on locust posts, built in 1923. During the summer of 1932, the ground level of the church was enclosed to add a basement, which [still] contains the kitchen and classrooms as well as lavatories. Also at that time, the auditorium was redecorated and its entrance, as well as the choir loft and chancel were all remodeled along with the addition of a bell tower. The bell in the bell tower, as well as the first folding chairs to be used in the downstairs classroom, was all donated by then church member Benjamin Duty. The exterior of the building was painted and flowers and shrubbery were planted on the grounds. To further bring beauty and color to the building, five beautiful stain-glass windows were added, which were purchased by members whose names they bear. As visible in the photo, three of these windows are in the sanctuary and face Clark Street while the other two are in the vestibule/bell tower room. The church has had two more additions over the years, which allows for a very comfortable setting. More stain-glass windows have been added and the auditorium is now turned 90 degrees from its original floor plan with the original altar being a former upstairs classroom.
Many people may wonder where the name Otterbein derives. On November 16, 1946 at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the United Brethren denomination joined with the Evangelical Church and officially changed its name to the Evangelical United Brethren Church, hence the Shinnston U.B. Church became the Shinnston E.U.B. Church. Then in 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined with the Methodist Church and formed what is still known today as the United Methodist Church. To instill the origins of the United Brethren into its name, the church became known as Otterbein United Methodist Church, to honor Philip William Otterbein, a U.S. Clergyman and Founder of the United Brethren in Christ.
Many current and former church members have dedicated much time to service within the walls of the building as well as community outreach. One hundred years have passed since Shinnston’s west side gained a church building in which to worship, but the stewardship of its members remains as strong today as it did when this image was taken. And that is the story behind the photo!