History of Salem Church
Chapter 4. Circuits, Charges and Pastors
Prior to 2008, Salem Church shared its pastors with other churches. The circuits and charges are listed below:
Old Frederick Circuit
United Brethren in Christ
Myersville, Wolfsville, Thurmont & Walkersville areas
1819-1855
Myersville Circuit
United Brethren in Christ
Myersville, Middletown, Wolfsville, Koogle’s School House and Pleasant Walk
1855-1857
Old Frederick Circuit
United Brethren in Christ
Myersville, Wolfsville, Thurmont & Walkersville areas
1857-1867
Myersville Circuit
United Brethren in Christ
Myersville, Middletown, Wolfsville, Koogle’s School House and Pleasant Walk
1867-1905
Wolfsville Charge
United Brethren in Christ
Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Valley
1905-1933
Myersville Circuit
United Brethren in Christ
Myersville, Pleasant Walk, Salem and Garfield
1933-1942
Big Pool-Wolfsville Charge
United Brethren in Christ
St. James (Big Pool), Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Valley
1942-1948
Big Pool-Wolfsville Charge
Evangelical United Brethren
St. James (Big Pool), Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Valley
1948-1960
Wolfsville Charge
Evangelical United Brethren
Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Valley
1960-1968
Wolfsville Charge
United Methodist
Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Valley
1968-1972
Wolfsville Charge
United Methodist
Salem and Garfield
1972-1989
Wolfsville Charge
United Methodist
Salem, Garfield and Pleasant Walk
1989-1996
Wolfsville Charge
United Methodist
Salem and Garfield
1996-2008
Wolfsville – Salem
United Methodist
Single Station Church
2008-2023
Salem Community Church, Wolfsville
Independent Church
2023-Present
During the early years, Salem’s pastors did not live in the Wolfsville community. The congregation relied upon the infrequent visits of circuit riders, or traveling evangelists, for their preaching services.
During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Salem’s pastors were shared with a large number of churches covering a wide area. During the mid-1900’s, part-time pastors were assigned. Some of these pastors were retired, some were ministerial students, and some were employed full-time in other professions and only worked with the church on evenings and weekends.
For many years, worship services were only held every other Sunday, although Sunday School was held every Sunday. Salem’s pastors began living in the community when the parsonage was completed in 1975.
Pastors serving Salem Church from c. 1847 to the present are listed below:
c. 1847 – J. J. Glossbrenner
1852-53 – G. W. Statton / W. T. Lower
1853-54 – J. Bachtel / J. F. Statton
1854-55 – J. Ruebush / J. Philips
1855-56 – T. F. Brashear
1856-57 – I. K. Statton
1857-58 – I. K. Statton / Henry Tallhelm
1858-59 – I. K. Statton / Samuel Evers
1859-60 – L. W. Matthews / W. A. Jackson
1860-61 – L. W. Matthews / T. Bushong
1861-62 – I. Baltzell / T. Bushong
1862-65 – W. T. Lower / J. W. Grimm
1865-66 – C. T. Stearn / J. W. Grimm
1866-67 – C. T. Stearn / J. D. Freed
1867-68 – C. T. Stearn
1868-70 – A. M. Evers
1870-72 – G. W. Statton
1872-75 – J. K. Nelson
1875-78 – J. W. Funk
1878-80 – C. M. Hott
1880-81 – J. Ruebush
1881-84 – C. H. Crowell
1884-87 – I. M. Underwood
1887-88 – J. W. Hicks
1888-89 – D. R. Bovey / I. Lovell
1889-92 – W. L. Martin
1892-94 – G. W. Kiracofe
1894-95 – S. F. Butts
1895-99 – Rudolph Byrd
1899-00 – G. J. Roudebush
1900-03 – F. M. Glenn
1903-04 – Charles H. Fisher
1904-05 – F. L. Stine
1905-08 – Charles H. Clark
1908-09 – W. L. Martin
1909-11 – A. H. Harnish
1911-12 – C. W. Plummer
1912-15 – Jay W. Yohe
1915-17 – H. O. Harner
1917-18 – I. M. Fridinger
1918-20 – C. W. Christman
1920-23 – H. E. Sponseller
1923-24 – J. W. Fisher
1924-27 – D. R. Fair
1927-28 – W. C. Munday
1928-33 – Palmer M. Slenker
1933-35 – Russell C. Oyer
1935-38 – D. R. Fair
1938-41 – Stanley G. Sherriff
1942-44 – Melvin Geiman, Jr.
1944-56 – Albert Snyder
1956-61 – John W. Schildt
1961-65 – Carl A. Synan
1965-66 – David L. Keperling
1966-68 – Herman J. Wiesner, Jr.
1968-74 – Robert E. Hawk
1974-75 – Stewart Crank
1975-79 – Nelson M. Pittinger
1979-89 – H. Ronald Ellis
1989-96 – Hayden L. Sparks
1996-2008 – Randall S. Reid
2006-2008 – Kathryn J. Bishop (Associate)
2008-2023 – Robert E. Snyder
2023-Present – D. Neil Suders