MOUNT PISGAH UAME CHURCH
Reverend Elwood Fews, Pastor
Reverend Dr. Verna Fews, QCA
516 Old Summit Bridge Road, Middletown, DE 19709
Mount Pisgah UAME History
as told and recorded by church elders from historic documentation & records.
Records indicate the first Union church was organized as early as 1813, near an area called Welsh Tract. It was the third Union church located in the Buck Bridge area. It was called the Union African Church of Welsh Tract. This Church was built before the C & D Canal. In fact, some of the men of the church worked digging the canal while their wives prepared and brought them food.
On February 28, 1868, the church's name was changed when it was incorporated in the Union American Methodist Episcopal Conference. It was then know as the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church of Welsh Tract. With the new name came a new church, one that was built in 1870 and remodeled in 1914. On December 27, 1933, the church's name was changed again... Mount Pisgah UAME Church arrived.
The federal government purchased the old site on the northern side of the canal , because they needed to expand the canal waterway. With the assistance of the Bishop P.A. Boulden, the pastor and the church officials negotiated with the government. When both sides were satisfied, the arrangement for the purchase of the church and the property was completed. A new site was acquired on the southern side of the canal, a short distance from the old Buck Bridge.
When the new church was built, the cemetery of the old church was moved. With loving care and the utmost respect, the remains of those long departed loved ones were placed in a new cemetery located at the rear of the new church. The 'new' Mount Pisgah Church was said to be one of the most beautiful rural churches in the state with a serene and peaceful atmosphere. It is one of the oldest Black churches in the State of Delaware. Mount Pisgah's family will celebrate the church's 200th birthday in the year 2013. HALLELUJAH!
Ministers who have served as pastors at Mt. Pisgah UAME (alphabetically listed):
Rev. S. H. Elam
Rev. M. Jackson
Rev. W.B. Pennington
Rev. B.H. Barkley
Rev. R. Jackson
Rev. C. Randolph
Rev. C.R. Bayard
Rev. L. Johnson
Rev. L. Rideout, III
Rev. W.H. Billingsley
Rev. H. Lewis
Rev. C.E. Ringgold
Rev. A. Brown
Rev. C. Llyons
Rev. Dr. H.J. Robbins, Jr.
Rev. F. Cephous
Rev. J.S. Matthews
Rev. B.T. Ruley
Rev. S. Frisby
Rev. H.B. McIntyre
Rev. A. Smith
Rev. G. Goodwin
Rev. G. Murphy
Rev. B. Truxton
Rev. F. Dickerson
Rev. A.E. Miller
Rev. I. Watson
Rev. Tyrone Gilliams, Jr.
Rev. C. Nicholas
Rev. T. Henry (Associate)
Rev. W. Hackett
Rev. P.L. Neal
Rev. M. Young (Associate)
Rev. K. Harrigan
Rev. J.J. Parker
Presiding: Rev. E.V. Fews
