It is March of 1891. Snow is giving way to mud, in some places ankle-deep, but this does not hinder the group of men laying the foundation for the new church at Cross Roads. The hill-top site was cleared and made ready several weeks ago; then came the snow and the work was delayed. The lumber is being brought from town by horse and wagon. The church is going up quickly under the direction of Reverend Elmer Davis and Tom Newman and anyone else who can drive a nail.
This was a church born of cottage prayer meetings. Houses were scattered and the people walked or road, most often by lantern light, to meet together.
Charter members included the Gallahers, Turners, Richardsons, Joplins, Robys, LeGrands, and many others who now are know only to God. For these we are most grateful.
Georgia Hall would begin shouting as she came up the walk to the church. Uncle Ed Gallaher and Uncle Alph Spurlock hung the bell, and Tom LeGrand rang it for many years, as it pealed out its invitation to worship.
Ministers in those days received very little pay and had to do lots of walking, as many could not afford even a horse to ride. Cross Roads was one of several churches on a circuit, and their preaching was an unending task. Reverend J.A. Earl recalls the day in 1917 when he got off a trolley car at the Huntington State Hospital and walked across the hill to Cross Roads to preach his first sermon. At that time he rented the parsonage for $6.00 a month. Cross Roads was the first charge for several ministers who served here.
Great revivals were prayed down from heaven. Reverend Heller served Cross Roads from 1910 to 1912 and held many revival services. After leaving Cross Roads, he organized the Walnut Hills Methodist church, now known as Beverly Hills United Methodist Church
At one outstanding revival in the early 1920?s many found the Lord. Among them was Anthony May, a Polish Catholic, who never tired of telling about the ?year that was?. In 1935 more than fifty young people were saved at the altar in a revival.
?Class leaders?, as they were called, held the church steady while the minister was serving his other churches. Without their strong support, the church might have failed.
American Miller served a term in India as a missionary, then returned and married Rev. A.M. Grimes, our minister. Rev. Grimes served the early part of the century and passed away in 1964 at the age of 100. Four young men entered the Methodist ministry from Cross Roads: Jack Hensley, Paul Doran Houston, Herman Hayes and Richard Hamilton.
In 1947 Cross Roads became a station church with Reverend L.M. Barnette, Pastor.
The interior of the original frame structure was remodeled in the 1940?s, and the building stood until the spring of 1956 when it was razed to make place for a new brick edifice. We met for several months in the second floor of Adkins Hardware Store, then moved into the basement of the new church that fall, while work continued on the sanctuary. The first wedding in the new church joined in marriage Joyce Sullivan and Carroll Ray. It is believed that the first funeral held was that of Barry Adkins, 11 years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Adkins.
We are especially thankful for ministers like John Henry Shadburn, Frank Young and Denver Dickens, who labored to complete the new church and make it the lovely sanctuary of God that it is today. These men worked with their hands along with many of our laymen.
In 1960 our Kindergarten Program was established for four and five year olds. In 1961 more teachers were added for this active Kindergarten which had exceptionally high standards and was well respected in the community and public schools. This eventually became a preschool and continued until the end of the school year in 1990. A latch-key ministry had begun in 1989 and it was fell there was a greater need for this, so the preschool was closed.
In early 1964 under the ministry of Rev. Denver Dickens a ?Church Completion Campaign? to add stained glass window, paved parking areas and the steeple was begun and completed.
In 1975 Cross Roads had a good church school attendance, an active group of your people and an active United Methodist Women?s Group. The United Methodist Women of the church now has three circles. In the early 1980?s the United Methodist men began having breakfast meetings once a month. This continues today.
The sustained effort of the United Methodist Women made possible the Before and After School Enrichment Program of Cross Roads, designed to serve school children of the area.
With a grant from the West Virginia United Methodist Conference the program was begun to serve children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The first students were received in September 1989. Today the B.A.S.E. Program operates from 6:30 am until 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and has an enrollment of 100 children. The May Chapel was converted to accommodate the B.A.S.E. Program and was renamed the May Learning Center. The program was expanded in 1995 to include the Teen After School Connection Program now serving Middle School students from 3:00 till 6:00 daily.
A summer program was added in 1994 and served 25 children that year. Today the summer program serves 60 children.
The Boy Shouts of America was rechartered in 1994 with Cub Scout Pack #25 serving Tigers, Bears, Wolves and Webelos.
In 1994, at the recommendation of the Trustees, 24 helical piers were installed under the foundation of the sanctuary to stabilize its settlement. The cost of this work was over $30,000.00 and was made possible by a grant of $20,000.00 from the West Virginia conference and the generous giving of the congregation.
The 1993, ?The Myrtle Spurlock Tape Ministry? was established. The sound system was upgraded at the same time.
1998 was a pivotal year as the Baker property next door was purchased. After the hours was demolished a 53 space blacktop parking lot was poured over ½ of the lot and still left room at the rear for a play area.
In 1999 the church was given a new look with the addition of a beautiful portico and columns at the front entrance.
At the beginning of a new millennium in the year 2000, the Adkins property on the south side of the church was bought and the house converted into a building suitable for an Infant-Toddler Day Car Center, our newest ministry.
Of the 37 ministers who have served Cross Roads, 9 are still living. Reverend Timothy W. Halloran, our pastor today, came to Cross Roads in 1992 and has served longer than any other minister to date. We are thankful for all of our ministers, and we are grateful for our heritage. We trust that our purpose shall always be the mission Christ has given us.