Shared on January 5, 2025
Five years after the town of Sidney was platted, in the fall of 1825, Joel Frankenberger heard that a Methodist preacher was staying in Sidney overnight at Hinkle’s tavern. He hurried home, shared the joyful news with his wife, changed into clothing more suitable to greet such an important person as a preacher, and went to the tavern.
There he found Levi White, a Methodist Circuit Rider, who was on his way to a conference in Columbus. Joel welcomed him warmly, invited him to spend the night at his home, and while there, to preach a sermon. Reverend White agreed and he was conducted to the Frankenberger home on North Ohio Street.
Joel ran excitedly from house to house in the small community of Sidney, urging all to come to his home to hear the Reverend White’s message. It isn’t known how many attended to hear Levi White preach, but it is known that a class of eight was organized that night, the first Methodist congregation in Sidney.
By 1826, the group had grown to thirty-two. With no meeting place, Joel offered his home during the winter months and during the summer, they would meet under a large Elm tree on the west bank of the Great Miami River.
The Northwest Territory was established in 1787 and was the nation’s first post-colonial organized incorporated territory. From this territory, Ohio became a state in March of 1803. Twenty-two years later, the Sidney First Methodist Episcopal Church was birthed.
During the late 1700(s) and early 1800(s), the Methodist Episcopal Church circuits were supported and discipled by appointed Circuit Riders. These traveling preachers were also known as Horse Preachers. The Methodist Conference in 1804 limited the time the circuit rider could travel a specific area to no more than two years. Levi White, a Methodist Circuit Rider just passing through Sidney, was asked to preach to a gathering of people by Joel Frankenberger. Levi agreed and preached at what became the birth-day of the Sidney First Methodist Episcopal Church in the fall of 1825.
Shared on February 9, 2025
200 Hundred Years of Methodism in Sidney- celebrating throughout the year. During our existence as a Methodist church, we have had 75 Lead Pastors. We have a record of most of the dates of service for these clergy. Many of our early clergy were circuit riders who may have only preached here once, or maybe a limited number of times.
Levi White was the first Pastor. He stopped for the night at Hinkle’s Tavern in Sidney and Joel Frankenberger found him and invited him to preach the first sermon in Sidney in 1825. In winter, the new Methodist church met at Frankenberger’s home and in the summer, by the Great Miami River. No matter how idyllic the River bank, or how convenient the Frankenberger home, the Methodists were well aware their congregation could not prosper or grow unless a more suitable place of worship was provided.
In November of 1827 (two years after the first service), Frankenberger, along with several others, were appointed to investigate a possible meeting house in Sidney. Early in 1829, it was announced that a lot had been purchased on the southeast corner of North Street and Miami Street. Each of the four committee members that found the property contributed $4 for a total purchase price of $16. In 1831, a small meeting house was built. Years later, this church was sold to the newly organized Baptist congregation, and that congregation remains there today.
In 1867, Rev. Wells began urging a new church be built on Poplar Street. Seven years later in 1874, the Poplar Street Sidney Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated with Rev. Wykes as the pastor. In 1890, Rev. William Lance served for 2 years – interestingly, he had been a drummer boy in the civil war. Rev. J. W. Jones served for 2 months in 1917-but he died soon after arriving in Sidney and had only shared 3 sermons with the congregation.
Dr. Ross Wilhide, the founder of Tar Hollow Christian Adventure Camp, served here for the longest amount of time at 14 years. A close second was Dr. David Chivington serving for 13.5 years.
In 1992, when Dr. Carl Wiley left Sidney First, a detailed plan was in place for a new education/administrative wing, and by 1994 the new addition was constructed and dedicated.
