Our Story

History

Methodist Episcopal – Erie Conference. Methodism started in the Ringgold area about 1816 when two traveling missionary brothers named Hancock passed through what is now Ringgold Township and preached at the house of David Milliron. Ringgold was formerly called Perrysville. Preaching continued in homes and other places and in 1842 John Wise donated ground for the site of a Church. About 1853 a joint Church of the Methodists and Evangelical Association was erected and a minister was appointed by the Methodist Conference. The first minister was Reverend George F. Reeser who was pastor of the Punxsutawney Circuit at that time. 

The Church has undergone several renovations. A building program was initiated in 1965 with the purpose of erecting a new Church and using the old building as an educational facility. Ground was broken for the new building on September 19, 1965 and it was occupied for services in 1966. 

The Church is part of a three-point Charge with Barton Chapel and Langville. The 2003 Circuit consists of Ringgold, Langville and North Freedom. The membership in 1968 was 145. The membership on January 1, 2003 was 173. 

In 2020, Ringgold UMC joined the Ringgold Charge along with North Freedom and Timblin, all of which are in Jefferson County near Punxsutawney in the Indiana District. 

Each congregation has been shaped by the history and traditions of their rural setting. They are committed to showing Jesus’ love to the community and the world. Each church has laity leadership in their worship services and is involved in their communities with various ministries. The Men in Mission and Women of Faith are active in community ministries. 

All our Pastors

Perrysville/Hamilton: 

Albert Norton 1854-1855; 

Punxsutawney/Barton Chapel/Hamilton/Frostburg/Perrysville (Ringgold): 

Parker W. Sherwood and John M. Greene 1855-1856; Jared Howe 1856-1857; Gray James Shields and James Kaldoo Shaffer 1857-1858;

 Punxsutawney/Barton Chapel/ Frostburg/Ringgold: 

Gray James Shields and Ignatius C. T. McClelland 1858-1859;

Punxsutawney/ Barton Chapel/Hamilton/Frostburg/Ringgold: 

Nicholas G. Luke and Frederick Vernon 1859-1860; Benjamin Marstellar and J. L. Hayes 1860-1861; William Grove 1861-1863; 

Perrysville (Ringgold) /Hamilton: 

Joseph Ford Hill 1863-1864; Edwin Hull 1864-1865; A. J. Bartlett 1865-1866; Abraham Bashline 1867-1869; S. Snyder 1869-1870; John Frampton 1870-1872; 

Perrysville (Ringgold)/Hamilton/Langville: 

James M. Groves 1872- 1874; Hiram Gearing Hall 1874-1876; Orley H. Sibley 1876-1878; Thomas H. Sheckler 1878-1879; Richard Peet 1879-1880; Samuel L. Wilkinson 1880-1881; No record 1881-1882;

 Ringgold/Hamilton/Langville: 

S. P. Douglas 1882-1883; Orley H. Sibley 1883-1885; Ringgold/ Hamilton/Frostburg/Langville: William Jacob Barton 1885-1887; Levi Beers 1887-1889; John Frampton 1889-1891; 

Ringgold/Barton Chapel/Hamilton/Langville: 

Anthony Groves 1891-1996; Ira Scott 1896-1899; Robert A. McIntyre 1899-1900; Labana H. Shindledecker 1900–1903 James Revens Burrows 1903-1905; William J. Small 1905-1907; 

Ringgold/Barton Chapel/Langville: 

Henry Smallenberger 1907-1908; James K. Adams 1908-1910; James C. Wharton 1910- 1912; Harry Agnew Silvis 1912-1914; Solomon L. Richards 1914-1917; Leon Albert Morrison 1917-1918; Orley H. Sibley 1918-1920; C. B. McKay 1920-1921; Samuel Lewis Allaman, Sr. 1921-1923; Ernest Victor Rupert 1923- 1924; Curtis A. Hoover 1924-1926; Arthur Ernest Timmis 1926-1929; Claude Eschelman 1929-1930; Job Ellis 1930- 1931; Paul Reams Smith 1931-1932; Charles Clyde Baker 1932-October 1935; Frederick Morris October 1935-1936; Elmer R. Nunemaker 1936-1938; H. G. Shindledecker 1938-1940; Bernard Charles Himes 1940-1941; James Ward Frampton 1941-1945; Alvin Harry Rhodes 1945-1950; Wilson Roy Ross 1950-1951; Herbert William Shobert 1951- 1956; John Lee Gorman 1956-1957; Robert Leonard Britton 1957-1962; Harold P. Scriven 1962-1964; Robert John Horneman 1964-1970; Martin Boyd Hardy 1970-December 15, 1974; Michael Lloyd Holt December 15, 1974-1983; William A. Schneider, Jr. 1983-1986; Jeffery Lee Popson 1986–1989; To Be Supplied July 1, 1989-October 1, 1989; Joel Albert Wilcher October 1, 1989-1991; 

Ringgold/Langville: 

Joel Albert Wilcher 1991-1992; Edward William Rogosky 1992-1993;

 Ringgold/Langville/ North Freedom: 

Edward William Rogosky 1993-1997; John Richard Roble 1997-2003; Joan Lee Rousseux 2003-2008;

Ringgold/Langville/North Freedom/Timblin: 

Joan Lee Rousseux 2008-2012; Nancy J. Lightcap Associate 2010-2012;

Ringgold/North Freedom: 

Kenneth Leroy Duffee 2012-2018; Angela Marie Rishell 2018-2019; 

Ringgold/North Freedom/ Timblin: 

Angela Marie Rishell 2019- December 31, 2019; Linda Anne Brown Chambers January 1, 2020-2020; Michael Edward Long 2020-2021; Ronald E. Cox, Jr. 2021--.