Thursday, April 19, 2012

A Look at Ed Teal - Lancaster First UMC Bicentennial History


Thanks to a man by the name of Ed Teal, Methodism took root in Lancaster (New Lancaster), Ohio in 1799.  Ed Teal and his wife, along with eight other residents, formed a Methodist class which officially became known as the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lancaster in 1812.  This class met regularly in his log cabin and he also hosted Methodist circuit rider preachers on a regular basis.

On Sunday, May 20th at Lancaster First UMC, we will continue to celebrate our church's bicentennial by experiencing what a typical Methodist class meeting would have been like during those early formative years of our church's long history.  We will also hear about Ed Teal in our bell dedication service this Sunday, April 22nd.  Without Ed Teal who had moved from Baltimore, MD to this area of Lancaster back in 1799, who knows when a Methodist class meeting would have been started?

Below is some information about Ed Teal from Bud Wilkinson on the ancestry.com website.  This ceremony which honored Ed Teal was held in 2002 here in Fairfield County.  This is interesting information about the man who we call the founding leader of First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Ohio.


At 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 18, 2002, there will be a dedication ceremony to honor Captain Edward Teal who served in the First Maryland Regiment during the American Revolution. The dedication will take place at the Stevenson  Campground Cemetery on Snake Run Rd. in Richland Twp, Fairfield County, Ohio.

Edward Teal and his family were among the first settlers in Fairfield County, having come to the area in 1799. Edward was a class leader in the Methodist Movement, and the first Methodist services in the area were held in his two  room log cabin in the autumn of 1799.

I would like to invite any who are in the area to attend the ceremony on May 18. The Sons of the American Revolution will provide a Color Guard and the Ceremonial Unit of American Legion Post #11 from Lancaster, OH will also be a main  participant in the ceremony.


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