Barts Church History

Barts Center has been standing in a grove of trees in Union Township since 1907, but the congregation had its beginning in the early 1800's.

Prior to 1846 inhabitants of the area gathered at the home of John Jones, just over the Maryland line, to attend preaching services. This was the outgrowth of a protracted meeting on the camp ground of John Jones, which according to the Adams County Historical Society, which featured Bart's Church in its March Newsletter, became known as "Jones' Appointment" of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference, Frederick Circuit.

In 1846, Jones Appointment became part of the Westminster Mission, U.B. in Christ, Virgina Conference. The congregation remained in Maryland for two years. In 1848 , the Pennsylvania Conference accepted its transfer and the Jones' Appointment was added to the Littlestown Circuit.

The congregation is worshiping in the house of John Barts by 1853. On February 28 of that year, Bart conveyed to the trustees of the U.B. in Christ congregation, a lot for the site of a church in the neighborhood of his house. An open and free road, sufficiently wide for carriages and wagons to pass to and from the lot with little or no hindrance, is assured. Free use of water from a certain spring is also assured.

The first church served the congregation until May 9, 1907 when the members gave a farewell service in preparation to moving into a new building. An account in the Adams County Independent said, "Many friends of this old established church came to give a final farewell to the old building, in which they had so often enjoyed themselves."

A cornerstone was laid for the new (present) church in June of 1907. A box contained within holds copies of a Bible, a Book of Discipline, copies of different periodicals of the U.B. Church and copies of the Hanover Record and the Adams County Independent of Gettysburg. This new edifice was formally dedicated on January 12, 1908. The cost of this new building was $3,557.

In 1946 the United Brethren in Christ and Evangelical denominations merged, and the church becomes known as Bart's Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1957, E.U.B. Church and the Methodist Church begin talks and eventually merge (1968), and the church becomes Bart's United Methodist Church.

In the early 1990's Barts and Centenary of Littlestown are blended into one congregation known as Barts~Centenary United Methodist Church. The church building in Union Township becomes Bart's Center and the Church in Littlestown becomes Centenary Center.

In the summer of 1997 a renovation project began at both centers. Bart's has had the stained glass windows restored and protected. They have had the bell loft redone. The parking lot has been expanded and a pair of steps and walk added.