by George A. Turner

The origins of our church began in 1831 when Rev. Alem Brittain, a circuit rider, began holding regular services in Bloomsburg. A year later a small group of Methodists, the founders of our church, began holding class meetings to study the Bible and worship together. In time their numbers increased, and by 1837 they decided to purchase some land in Bloomsburg and to build a church. Five men holding the position of trustees, Samuel Melick, Jesse Shannon, William Brown, George John, and Jacob Melick Esq., reached an agreement to purchase a lot from Gerloch Bomboy and his wife Sarah for one hundred dollars on March 4, 1837. The property on the southeast corner of Third Street and what is now Murray Avenue became the site for the first Methodist Church. Six months later, the congregation held dedication services for their single story frame building on August 18, 1837; the local newspaper, The Columbia Democrat, reported: "Several clergymen were in attendance, and a great concourse of people assembled to witness the ceremonies."

The centennial committee for the church building was very fortunate to find the deed to the original lot for the first Methodist Church. It was in very poor condition and showed several signs of deterioration. With the financial support of the trustees, the deed was taken to a paper conservationist in Philadelphia who cleaned and restored it. The deed has been appropriately framed with acid-free matting and ultra-violent glass to protect it from light rays. This valuable historic document of our church will be placed in a prominent location in the church.

A copy of the deed follows. It is an exact transcription as written with no changes in punctuation or spelling. The style of writing is very different from ours today and requires careful reading.

Text of the Deed
This indenture made the Fourth day of March -- in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Thirty-seven Between Gerloch Bomboy of the Town of Bloomsburg in the Township of Bloom in the County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania Innkeeper and Sarah his wife of the one part and Samuel Melick, Jesse Shannon, William Brown, George John, and Jacob Melick Esq. Trustees in trust for the use and purpose herein after mentioned, all of the County and State Pennsylvania aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred dollars to them in hand well and truly paid at and before the ensealing and delivering and delivering hereof, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof acquit and forever discharge the said Trustees and their Successors in Office for time being, by these presents have granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released and confirmed and by these presents, Do great bargain sell, alien, enfeoff release and conform unto the said Samuel Melick, Jesse Shannon, William Brown and George John & Jacob Melick Esq. -- (Trustees in trust, for the use and purpose herein after mentioned) all the estate right title interest property claim and demand whatsoever either in law or equity which he the said Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife have in to or upon a Certain lot of land Situate lying and being in the Township County and State aforesaid, bounded and butted as follows to wit: Beginning at a corner of a lot belonging to the wife of Jacob Reedy on the south side of Third Street of the town of Bloomsburg thence along the line of the same South Eastwardly One hundred and sixty five feet to an Alley Thence along said alley South sixty-one degrees West sixty six feet to a corner of an Alley Thence along the same North twenty nine degrees East and One hundred and sixty five feet to a corner on Third Street aforesaid, Thence allong said Street North sixty-one degrees East sixty-six feet to the place of Beginning Containing in length One hundred and sixty five feet and in breadth sixty-six feet Which said lot above described by a Conveyance duly had and executed. Philip Mehrling late of Bloomsburg in Bloom Township aforesaid Deed became in his lifetime lawfully siezed in his demesnee as of fee of and in the said lot of ground with the appurtenances and being so thereof seized died Intestate without issue but leaving one only brother, to Wit: Peter Mehrling to whome the said above described lot among other lots with the appurtenances did descend and come and the said Peter Mehrling and Sarah his wife by their Indenture bearing date the Twenty fourth day of May A.D. 1822 (Said Deed Recorded in the Office for recording of deeds in & for the County of Columbia aforesaid in Deed book C Pages 521, 522 & 523) did convey the same unto John Mehrling and James Reagan And the said John Mehrling and James Reagan and Catherine Reagan wife of the said James Reagan by their Indenture bearing date the First day of May A D One thousand Eight hundred and Twenty-six did Convey the same unto the said Gerloch Bomboy a party hereto in trust that the said Samuel Melick, Jesse Shannon, William Brown, George John and Jacob Mellick Esq. trustees as aforesaid shall erect and build on shall cause to be erected and built on the above mentioned or described lot of ground a house of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America according to the rules and Discipline which may from time to time be agreed upon and adopted by the members and Preachers of said Church at their General conference in the United States of America and in further trust and confidence that they shall in their Office as Trustees act agreeably to the rules and discipline of the said Church. And the said Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife by their presents doth Warrant and forever defend the above mentioned and described lot of ground unto them the said Samuel Melick, Jesse Shannon, William Brown, George John and Jacob Melick Esq. and their Successors from the claim or claims of him the said Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife and their heirs and from the claim or claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof the said Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife have hereunto set their hands and Seals The day and year first above written.

Seal the day and year above written.
Sealed and delivered in presents of us
Iddings Barkley
Gerloch Bomboy (seal)
George Lilley
Sarah X Bomboy (seal)
her mark

Received the day of the date of the above written Indenture of and from the above named trustees the above mentioned on One hundred dollars the consideration money above mentioned in full presented

Signing
Iddings Barkley
Gerloch Bomboy
George Lilley
Columbia County

Be it remembered that on the Fourth day of March A D 1837 before me the subscriber one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County came the above named Gerloch Bomboy and Sarah his wife and acknowledged the above indenture to be their act and Deed and desired that the same might be recorded as such according to Law. The said Sarah being of full age and by me duly examined Separate and apart from her said husband and the contents thereof being first made known to her, declared, that she did voluntarily and of her own accord Seal and as her act and deed deliver the said Indenture, without any compulsion of her said husband. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Received the day of the date of the above written Indenture of and from the above named trustees the above mentioned of One hundred dollars the consideration money above mentioned in full presented

Iddings Barkley

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