| 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, Virginia
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
with hand railing..
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