This file and photo submitted to USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Betty Lavy Krieg, 15 October 1998.  Link change or update: 4 Dec 1999

Church services began in the Snowhill area (later named Brussels) of Lincoln County in the home of Littleton DRYDEN. These services were led by Methodist circuit riders, who paid regular visits to small settlements who had no church or preacher.

The first Asbury Chapel, as it was called then, was built about 1853 on land donated by Littleton DRYDEN. The church was located behind the present church where the old cemetery now stands. He also donated the land for that cemetery, stipulating that his slaves could bury their people there also. The first church was built by Nathan and Enos TRESCOTT. Lumber for the first church was donated by Mr. Dryden and sawed at his mill on Bob’s Creek.

The area continued to grow and a new church was built about 1893. This new church was built in the manner of most churches of that time, with a division down the center. The men and boys sat on one side, and the women and girls on the other.

During World War II attendance declined, but services were never discontinued. Church finances also suffered, and in the fall of 1951, the first annual Lord’s Acre Sale was held. Livestock, farm crops, garden vegetables, home baked goods, and beautiful quilts made by the women of the church were donated and sold at auction. Asbury also became well known for their applebutter, made in open kettles at the Raymond Graves farm.

During the years, many improvements and additions were made to the church. A remodeling project had just been completed when the church was destroyed by fire on the morning of March 13, 1969. Through many gifts of time, skills and money, a new church was completed and dedicated on May 24, 1970.

In the west wing of the sanctuary of the present church is a bracket holding a small, brass trimmed coal oil lamp. Below the lamp is a small frame with these words: "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119, Verse 105. This lamp was one of several that helped to light the old Asbury Chapel in its early days. It was found in the attic of the old church when the church was being remodeled in the spring of 1969. After the Quarterly Conference on the night of March 12, 1969, one of the women of the congregation took the lamp home to clean and polish it. Early the next morning the church and all its contents were destroyed by fire. This old lamp still remains, perhaps as a symbol for this church at the Junction of Highways W and Y.

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This file and photo submitted to USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Betty Lavy Krieg, 15 October 1998.  Link change or update: 4 Dec 1999

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