History of Salem Church
Chapter 3. Denominational Affiliations
The Salem congregation was originally affiliated with a denomination called the United Brethren in Christ. The first annual conference of this denomination was held on the 25th of September, 1800, in Frederick County, Maryland.
United Brethren in Christ (1819-1946)
The Conference was held at the home of Peter Kemp, about 2 miles west of Frederick City, near Rocky Springs. It was there that this denomination, the first to be established in America, was organized and received its official name. There were 13 preachers in attendance. Early members of this denomination were from Presbyterian or German Reformed, Lutheran, and Mennonite backgrounds. It is interesting to note that during these early years the United Brethren preachers used the German language.
Rev. Christian Newcomer, born near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, moved to Maryland in 1775, began to preach in 1777, attended the first United Brethren Conference in Frederick, and was elected Bishop in 1813. For over half a century he was in his saddle almost daily, going from house to house, from state to state, carrying the glad tidings of salvation. He preached at various locations throughout Frederick County, including the Hoover homestead in Wolfsville, until his death at the age of 81. Newcomer was buried near his home at Beaver Creek, and at his request, there was no stone to mark his grave.
Evangelical United Brethren (1946-1968)
Due to denominational mergers, the name of Salem Church has changed two times since its beginning in 1819. In the early 1920’s, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ had suggested a merger with The Evangelical Church. The cultural and religious backgrounds of both churches were the same. Both denominations were distinctly American-born churches. To this end, during the 1920’s, Bishop Christian Newcomer made repeated visits to meetings of The Evangelical Church with passionate desire to bring about actual unity. But it wasn’t until November 16, 1946, that The Church of the United Brethren in Christ and The Evangelical Church met in conference at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to consummate the merger. Salem Church was affiliated with the Pennsylvania Conference and later the Susquehanna Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
United Methodist (1968-2023)
Bishop Christian Newcomer’s journal, records an entry in 1803 of his desire to adopt a plan to unite the Methodist Conference and the United Brethren in Christ. His idea was discouraged by a member of the Methodist Conference and was never formally proposed. 165 years later, on April 23, 1968, following many years of conversation and negotiation, the United Methodist Church was formed through a merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church. Salem Church was affiliated with the Cumberland-Hagerstown District of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Independent (2023-Present)
Salem Community Church, Wolfsville
On March 19, 2023, Salem members voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. The results of the vote were 79% in favor of disaffiliation and 21% against disaffiliation. A 2/3 majority was required to pass.
On September 1, 2023, Salem began operating as Salem Community Church, Wolfsville, following traditional Biblical values.
A summary of Salem’s denominational affiliations, is as follows:
1819-1946 – Salem United Brethren in Christ Church
1946-1968 – Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church
1968-2023 – Salem United Methodist Church
2023-present – Salem Community Church, Wolfsville (Independent)