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A History of the Salem Ridge Wesleyan Church - Part 1

(formerly known as the Salem Ridge Pilgrim Holiness Church)

Written by Wilma Turner McClanahan

In September, 1935, a little, Jew-like Holiness preacher and his dear wife and baby heard the voice of God calling and obeyed. They started out in an old Model T Ford going where they didn’t know. They only knew they were following the Lord’s leading, as the wise men followed the star that never-forgettable night. They had no star to guide them, but they had the voice of God. Only He knew that down through the years many souls would be won to Christ through the efforts of this dear preacher. This man was Reverend Frank May. After inquiring for a place to where a revival meeting could be held, he was sent to our home.

Although I was but a little girl, I well remember that meeting with Reverend May, his wife, and son. I remember we all knelt in prayer and tears coursed down my cheeks as I heard him pray the very fire down from heaven.

My father Roy Turner and Reverend May saw the trustees of the old Salem Ridge School Building, and thus the revival started. God poured His blessings out upon us and such a revival it was. We had to sit in school desks and use old-fashioned lamps, but we had the Light of the World in our midst. Nothing else mattered.

On Sunday afternoon, September 23, 1935, we all went down to the Ohio River and fourteen people were baptized. The same day, Reverend E. E. Leadingham, District Superintendent of the Pilgrim Holiness Church, came and helped us organize the “Salem Ridge Pilgrim Holiness Church. We had fourteen members and in one week took in another one. What a happy band of pilgrims we were.

Brother May’s support was amazing. Some weeks he got only 40 and 50 cents, and other weeks up in the dollars, but he never once complained. He came to prayer meeting lots of times in high top shoes and work clothes.

During his pastorate, we had miracles to happen which amazed the public. Brother May’s little boy had been given up to die, but was suddenly healed. That little band of pilgrims was blazing a trail for God, and was leaving its marks.

Then they went into a home and prayed with a lady who had not spoken in three years above a whisper. When we left, she was talking. Thank the Lord.

Meanwhile, we got benches made, cleaned the church, and got some gasoline lamps which helped a lot.

On May 5, 1937, we bought the church building from Mr. Lossen Meyers for $245. We paid him $145 cash and gave a note for the remainder. One month later, in a tent meeting with Reverend E. C. Tarvin, we raised the rest of the money for the church building. Reverend E. E. Leadingham, District Superintendent, dedicated it to God on May 30, 1937; free of debt.

Brother May left us in 1937 and the church called Reverend C. J. Prather as pastor.

The church had two good years with Brother Prather as our pastor. Some members dropped out and new ones came in. The congregation brought Brother Prather a car and Salem was still sailing on. We also had the church wired for electric that year. Brother Prather left us in 1939, and Reverend M. F. Leadingham was called as pastor.

Brother Leadingham came and met discouragement as a true soldier of God. He and his dear wife took hardships with a smile. He had to move into a little four room house with his large family. He later referred to it as “Gobbler’s Knob.”

This was when the church felt its need of a parsonage. We prayed and put legs to our prayers. So, in February of 1940, those prayers were answered. Brother Houston, our new District Superintendent, came to help us with a building program. He advised us what to do, and through his untiring efforts we were able to accomplish what we had started out to do.

Brother Houston put on work clothes, staying for almost a week, and worked side-by-side with the carpenters. On July 21, 1940, the parsonage was dedicated to God. Brother Houston came back to preach for the service and we all had a wonderful time.

We had some wonderful revivals during Brother and Sister Leadingham’s stay with us, and we came to love them very much. They left in 1942, thus ending their three-year stay.

Reverend William Marksbury was called in the Leadingham’s place. He was a fiery preacher and Salem was helped through his efforts. During that year we lost one of our very oldest members: Mrs. Rilla Thompson. She was in her 80s, and the church felt her loss.

During Brother Marksbury’s stay with us, we built a small back porch on the parsonage and we bought him a car. He left us in 1944, and Brother J. N. Walker followed as our next pastor. He is on the other side receiving his reward for what he did at Salem.

During his stay, we paid off the parsonage debt. On Sunday afternoon, October 15, 1944, we burned the mortgage. It was a special day and each of our former pastors was present to help set fire to the mortgage. Brother Houston was able to attend, also.

Brother Walker also wired the parsonage for electricity and worked in the church cleaning.

We moved our services to the Berlin Tabernacle for one year. God helped us, but the freedom we felt at Salem was not there.

Brother Walker left us in 1946, and Reverend Ervin Patrick took his place. We moved our services back to Salem, and what a rejoicing to be back home.

The church suffered financially that year. Brother Patrick sacrificed and the people loved him very much. God kept all of us true through those hard times.

Brother Patrick only stayed one year and in 1947 Reverend and Sister Hulett came to us.

We covered the church with asbestos shingles, put in new windows, papered, and painted the inside of the church. It improved the church so much. We were all grateful for what God had allowed us to accomplish.

Brother Hulett and family left us in 1950, and Brother Roy Turner, my wonderful Father, was elected pastor. By this time, my sisters and I had all married and left home, so my Father and mother had their own house trailer and didn’t occupy the parsonage. We had Sunday school classes in there. We papered the interior of the church and cleaned a lot that year.

Reverend Turner left in 1951, and Reverend Earnest Florence came and stayed until 1953. The church progressed under their leading.

Reverend Hickerson and his wife were called next and they pastored until Reverend Hickerson’s health failed him in 1955.

The church then called Reverend William Marksbury back for their second call. They answered the call and followed God’s leading until 1962.

In 1962, Reverend and Sister Baynaum were the next to accept Salem’s call. The church was continuing God’s work through all conditions.

Then in 1966, the Baynaums left us. Reverend Garland came to pastor in the midst of struggling times. He stayed until 1969, and got the church back on its feet again.

In 1970, Reverend Herbert Smith, an old-time pilgrim himself, was called to be our next pastor. He was right at home with family and friends. He pastored for six years, and the church proceeded in God’s leading.

Then, in 1976, my Father, Reverend Roy Turner, was called back once again to pastor our church. He pastored for five years, and the church loved him and my Mother Grace very much. They started a tradition which the church still continues to this day [as of Wilma writing this], that of an “Old-Time Gospel Sing”. Once a year, every Fall, Gospel groups from the area were called in, and a wonderful day of fellowship and praise always took place. Dad and Mother stayed faithful to the call until he reached his retirement age, then they stepped aside for Reverend Robert Kelley to fulfill the call.

Another year has begun and I can go no further. But Salem has not stopped its work for God. It will never stop until Jesus comes.

Promising years are ahead of Salem, for the Salem Pilgrims love God. Someday, when the gates of Heaven open, the angels will stand back in reverence as the Salem Pilgrims go marching in.

A History of the Salem Ridge Wesleyan Church - Part 2

Written by Pastor Jonathan Rogers

The Salem Ridge Wesleyan Church is a small, personable, country church which continues to proclaim Christ's message of full salvation (complete deliverance from sin).

In these days of uncertainty, we never know what is about to happen next. Tragedy, loss, and destruction have come to many homes both in the United States and around the world. Almost weekly we hear of some new catastrophe which turns the lives of hundreds and even thousands of people upside down. In times like these, how do you cope? Where do you turn? To whom do you look?

Though it rains on the just and on the unjust, the difference between the two is the foundation upon which they chose to build. Jesus himself explained that times of tremendous tragedy and anguish would come and that it would take a sure and firm foundation in order to remain standing after the storm.

The wise man built his house upon the rock, but the foolish man built his house upon the sand. When the rains came, and when the flood waters rose, the wise man's house stood firm; however, the foolish man's house fell flat, "...and great was the fall of it."

Jesus said, "He who hears my words and lives by them is like the wise man,...but he who hears my words and does not live by them is like the foolish man." - Luke 6:47-49

Jesus is the Rock. His words are steadfast and true. building your life on Him will make all the difference - both now and in eternity.

What are you building your life upon? Are you able to withstand the storms of life? What about eternity? Are you ready to meet God?

Pastor Jonathan B. Rogers -