They Sang As They Walked

It is the year 1797. The hush of night has long since fallen. Through the open door of a "double" log cabin - half dwelling, half church - streams a band of sturdy, God-fearing men and women. Still ringing in their ears are the stimulating words of Francis McCormick, who cleared a spot in the wilderness just north of Milford (on what we know as "Matson's Hill" or "Sutton's Hill") and dedicated as a house of worship a part of the cabin he built thereon.

As the echo of the last psalm dies away, it is caught again in the souls and hearts of these sturdy pioneers who sang as they walked!

"Homeward they went their way. Braving the dangers of attack of Indians and wild beasts, they lift high their burning fagots, gilding with their flares the foliage of the loftiest trees. One by one the lights vanish--like so many tiny meteors-as the worshippers separate and go their separate ways." Mile upon mile they must travel from that first meeting house--some as far as "The Three Islands" (now known as Loveland); others to the "Duckwall Buttons" at Batavia. But with their courage and faith to guide them, the way seems short and the flare-lit wilderness a place of beauty and serenity.

Reverently we pause in silent tribute to these, our forefathers, who built far greater than they knew; who left us a heritage of freedom to worship God as we know Him; who carried in their hearts and souls a faith and inspiration we must carry on today . . who sang as they walked!

The inspiration and leader of those first meetings of the early settlers was Francis McCormick--a disciple of Bishop Asbury, "The Prophet of the Long Road." He was who made the first clearing in the vast wilderness and built the log cabin where those meetings were held. It is recorded that through the influence of his wife, Rebecca Easton, a Methodist, and the preaching of Lewis Chasteen, Francis McCormick was "soundly converted." Later he came under the influence of Bishop Francis Asbury, who rode circuit to the outposts of America for forty-five years.

Although the tide of emigration was flowing with increasing speed, it is a tribute to the ability, energy and zeal of this Methodist patriot, Rev. Francis McCormick, that he was able to organize a class of his fellow Methodists so early as 1797.

Early in 1798 Grace Garland, Grecy Garland, Joseph Avey and wife, Jacob Teal and his wife Elizabeth joined the society. The class was greatly strengthened later that year with the arrival of Rev. Philip Gatch, his wife Elizabeth, their daughters, Presocia and Martha; Ambrose Ranson and his wife Nancy. The young Society, now having two preachers, was well fitted and strategically located for missionary work in the outlying districts tributary to Milford.

The settlers of the Miami country as far north as Dayton came into the Territory by way of Columbia, then up the Miami, making their first overnight stop at Milford. With true pioneer hospitality they were sheltered here by the Milford people. The welcome shown these travelers paid large dividends later when the leaders of the Milford group followed the settlers to their homes to organize Methodist classes. These missionary efforts were so successful that the Church officially took notice of Milford.

In response to request for aid in organization, the Kentucky Conference sent Rev. John Kobler as a missionary. His coming to Ohio is one of the historic landmarks of the Church which fixes officially the history of this congregation.

"On August 2nd, 1798, I preached in Francis McCormick's cabin the first sermon in the Territory by a regularly-constituted missionary...On Sunday morning, December 25th, we had Sacrament and Love Feast. This was the first time the Lord's Sacramental Table was spread in this wilderness."

The interval between August and December, Rev. Kobler had spent traveling up the Little Miami to Mad River (near Dayton), thence down the Big Miami to the Ohio River, forming the Miami Circuit. For the next sixty years, Milford was part of a Circuit and served by a Circuit rider. Because of the extent of territory covered, the itinerant minister came infrequently--six to eight weeks elapsing. During that interval services were conducted by a "local preacher." His lot was had as "he labored six days a week, as other men do, and then preached on Sunday." However, it was easy compared with the task of the Circuit rider. Regardless of weather, food, lodging and shelter, half his time spent in the saddle, incessantly he must ride, preach and minister to his flocks. Without him the pioneer Church might have failed. Without him, we might not now enjoy our many blessings. The greatest of all the itinerants was Bishop Francis Asbury.

"I saw the horseman plodding at sunset, and on him and on his horse was the weariness of long roads so difficult that love of gain would not drive a man to the end of them. Zeal of the Spirit had sustained this man where flesh would fail. And for him the end of the road was not yet--nor ever, until it should lead him and all men to the safe portals of the "Father's house of many mansions." You may see him when you will. He will stand there while the centuries flee into the past. Always he will hold his Book to his breast, a finger between the pages. For this is a man more enduring than most men. "The prophet of the long road" whose work never ends. The pioneer of Methodism, the Circuit rider idealized, the bishop whose See was the Forecast, and whose changes were the wide sundered small settlements. Here Francis Asbury preaches eloquently and endlessly for a pioneering faith."

With a membership of 750 in 1805-6, Milford was the most important location in the Territory when it was visited by Bishop Asbury and Bishop Whatcoat. Bishop Asbury's Journal mentions his "sermon at Milford in their new chapel" in 1806. We hardly understood this date. We know the class met first at Mr. McCormick's cabin, later in Philip Gatch's "larger house" and afterwards in Paul Rust's carpenter shop on Main Street about a square from Matson's Corner."

Quarterly Meeting

Although he may have been lax in attending "local preaching," the old time Methodist never missed his Quarterly meeting when the itinerant and the presiding Elder came--and sometimes even the Bishop. Then the entire countryside was agog. They came in from the remote parts of the district, many on foot, twenty or thirty miles. These meetings were held at the cabin of some member before the Church was built. The preacher stood upon a platform by the cabin door. Those unable to get inside sat on the ground or on improvised puncheon benches. The meetings lasted two days. The multitude must be fed. Moreover, this was a great time for "visiting." With genuine hospitality all were entertained by the local group "picnic style," as many as fifty being cared for by one household. The later camp meetings were an evolution from these gatherings. In the old days Teal's, Dimmitt's and Gatch's were famous camp grounds. Later came Shiloh, Charleston and Loveland (Epworth Heights). Often times great revivals started at these places. Reverend Moses Smith, one of our early Circuit riders, reported a revival starting in a small camp meeting on the Obannon which swept over the entire circuit: "four months and two weeks we spent at church, day and night. One thousand and fifty were converted and one thousand were added to the churches."

By 1830 Milford was the foremost town on the lower Miami. Other church denominations came in and built homes for themselves. Our congregation had been greatly stimulated by the erection of the frame church. The Conference minutes now credited us with a membership of 1800. Consequently our building was inadequate and also not truly representative of Milford's importance as the Mother Church of Methodism in the Northwest Territory. After due planning, subscriptions were taken for the present auditorium, which was built in 1835, and was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1836.

The interior arrangement of the new church retained all the unique characteristics of the old; with the high pulpit, gallery and separate doors and seats for the men and women. "The original building is in the style of the "Greek Revival"; often called the only pure American type, an architectural development peculiar to the Ohio Valley. It is better known and appreciated by artists elsewhere than it is here in Ohio, its birthplace. In this building the beauty of simplicity and straight line comes into its own. Later in the nineteenth century, the predominant idea in church architecture became Gothic. In 1870, the tall rectangular windows were given pointed arches. The square panes were replaced by Victorian stained glass. Also a bell tower was added with battlements steeped in the Gothic tradition of feudal defense. However, the solidity and feel of permanence of the old Greek style persists and stands out from behind its Gothic decorations. No Gothic ornament can hide the strength and simple beauty of the auditorium--with dimensions of 65 by 45 feet, and a 27 foot ceiling. in its own way, it has all the simplicity and beauty of the Lincoln Memorial. The surprising thing is that such a building was erected in that day and age in a small country community structure of the age and quality of this. Battling catastrophe and with reasonable care it is only in its infancy."

The Gothic features above mentioned were a minor part of the building program of 1870. The essential feature was the brick addition in the rear for the use of the Sunday School.

Our first Sunday School had been started in the old frame Church in 1828 by Edward Hughes and a Baptist schoolteacher named Rash. At first the attendance had been restricted to children under ten years who brought their own textbooks; a Bible, primer and spelling-book. The informality of the School, and the opportunity for individual expression soon attracted adults. With the publication of special literature, lesson leaves, periodicals, etc., the Sunday School became the best attended Church services. Later six more rooms were built including a Sunday School library. Further improvements were made and a parsonage built in 1882 during the pastorate of Rev. J.H. Dart.

This drawing was made from still-evident indications on our church and from study of similar contemporary buildings. Also from the following descriptions found in the Assembled papers of L.N. Gatch. From the Rally Day paper by G.H. Hill, presented October 1904.

"...attendant at church in this house over 54 years ago. At that time it was very differently arranged from what it is at present. The Sunday room was not yet built, neither the bell tower. The bell was placed in a cupola on top of the roof at the end near where it is now. There were two doors in the end instead of one. There was also a gallery on each side and in the end next to the doors. The gallery was reached by two stairways, one from each door. It was supported by rows of wooden pillars, one row on each side of the middle aisle and another row across the end. The pulpit was next to the wall back from where it is now and was raised high above the altar space so that the preacher could be seen by a flight of steps. The choir occupied two rows of seats and racks for the support of their note books were arranged in front of the singers, the leader facing the congregation and the choir..."

From a letter from Rev. J.W. Cassett, pastor at Milford in 1852.

"...the church at Milford was quite a large church for those days. It was brick painted white--with an old fence around it. Within there was a gallery running, I think, around three sides--a small high pulpit--seven or eight steps higher than the floor."

I have pictured the church as originally unpainted red brick when it was dedicated (It was painted white before 1852). I think too, that it was unfenced at that time (1836). Note, too, that the church was built close to a road, that paralleled "the Pike" and which ran from the alley on the east, across Cross Street (now Maple Street) to the alley still in use. Later this road was abandoned and it and the ground along the pike became church property and were fenced and painted white--before 1852.

Our Dwelling Place for Generations

Francis McCormick left Milford and moved to Salem, now Mt. Washington, in the year 1806. Three of his daughters married sons of Milford Methodists. One of these was a son of Rev. Philip Gatch. The Hills of the original class were brothers of the grandfather of Ephraim and George H. Hill. In the congregation today are many who are either directly descended from or related to the families listed in the classes of 1797 and 1798.

The early church was criticized as "singing and shouting" Methodists. The shouting gradually disappeared while the singing increased and developed. This vital feature of worship is now fully appreciated and given an important place in the church. Our modern church music is a remarkable evolution from the time when our circuit riders "lined" the psalms and hymns for the congregation. Milford has been greatly favored with many good singers and trained leaders. Philip Hill was not only class leader but the music leader of the early congregation.

"Faith of Our Fathers Living Still"

Enduring handicaps such as we have never known, surmounting all obstacles, our forefathers built the first meeting house in this vicinity two hundred years ago!

As the need arose in succeeding years, a new place of worship was built, and then enlarged. Our forefathers, with the inspiration of prayer and thanksgiving in their hearts--sang as they walked. Their songs were paeans of praise to Him who guided their steps.

Since 1938

The Sunday School area was renovated in 1938 which provided a large fellowship room with a stage at one end and a modern kitchen at the other immediately behind the sanctuary and two floors of Sunday School rooms. Another renovation in 1960 converted the large room into chapel and added a two-story addition down the side of the building which provided more class rooms and a new fellowship hall on the second floor. This made it necessary to eliminate the old parsonage. A new one was built on Oakcrest Drive. The sanctuary was modified and reseated with new pews and a center aisle.

The last major renovation of the church was completed in 1970. A balcony, narthex, and choir rooms were added, the floors refinished, and new lighting installed.

Other acquisitions of property have been the parking area and custodian's home (now demolished for additional parking) and a second parsonage purchased in 1987 on Forest Avenue.

In 2003, a new addition, the Family Life Center, was completed.  It was built on church property directly north of the existing buildings, closing the public street that separated the parking lot from the rear entrance.  This new building provides a large, multi-purpose auditorium and stage, a new kitchen, an additional elevator, and more class and meeting space.  The old fellowship hall and kitchen on the second floor were refabricated into classrooms, and many of the older classrooms and hallways were updated with new ceilings and lighting.

In 2004, the sanctuary was refurbished as well, with new carpet, new painting, and a change to the orientation of the choir loft, which now faces directly toward the congregation.  The sound system was also updated.

We have come a long way since McCormick called his first class to a log cabin in the wilderness that was neither Milford or Clermont County. Today we occupy this beautiful structure with a membership of 1200 worshippers in the City of Milford.