From the time of the very first settlers until the present day the need for church services has been recognized. Long before any log church was built, the settlers held churches in their homes and at camp grounds when the weather was it. Several itinerant preachers traveled hundreds of miles across prairies and through the woods to preach "the word" in whatsoever places people gathered to hear them. Among the early preachers in this region were William McKendree, Bishop Asbury, and Peter Cartwright. All those traveled across southern Illinois preaching to Methodists congregations. Minutes show that a regularly appointed preacher was made to this region in 1812 and maintained until this day. It is not too much to say that one or all of those mentioned preachers preached here at a camp ground or in one of the homes.

There was an old buffalo trail leading westward, from the Bompas region across the Little Wabash; that later became a stage coach trail. Naturally man followed the path through the wilderness. West of the old Wamborough settlement the trail divided. The north fork went past the place where Ellery later was settled. That went past the Virdin cabin, where, the Brushy Methodist church was organized later. At that cabin a guest stayed who later became a national figure, Abraham Lincoln. Near that cabin was an old camp ground. ‘The lower trail led directly to the old Iron Bridge crossing, the stage coach trail, and beside that trail a quarter west of Scottsville was the second camp ground, the so-called Ewing camp ground because the Ewings lived near.

Those camp grounds were clearings, the trees and brush forming a circle about them. A crude platform was built for the preacher. The benches were made of puncheon ( a log split lengthwise, the flat side up) and the ends rested on blocks of wood. The services were long, two to four hours. People came long distances in wagons and on horseback, sometimes driving oxen. Those who came long distances stayed all night at some home in the neighborhood so that they could attend services the next day. Sometimes there was a mound of dirt thrown up around the camp ground to keep out the wind.

In 1849 at one of those camp meetings the men decided it was time to have a regular church house in which to meet. Legend says that Leander Melrose was the one to voice the need. Rheuben Michels offered to donate the ground. Their enthusiasm was so great that they met the next morning with their axes to begin cutting trees to build a church. It was built on the site of the new church at Bethel which is this year being built and will be dedicated this year, August 29. That first church was a small log structure, round logs, with clay used as mortar to stop the cracks. It faced the south. Long benches extended from the center aisle to the wall on both sides. A bench or shelf was in the back of the room on which the people piled their umbrellas, heavy shoes or heavy coats. The women always sat on the right, the men on the left. The pulpit consisted of a partition o the platform in front of the preacher so high that he could not be seen when seated, except from the amen corner.

Back as far as 1830, however, a small group had organized a Methodist church in the Virdin cabin north of the church. The place was partly prairie, but there was brush scattered over it. The name brush prairie was an appropriate one; the name was applied to the church, or Brushy.

The Illinois circuit was first created at the western Kentucky conference in 1803; it then included a part of Indiana. In 1812 the Illinois circuit was attached to the Tennessee conference; the Wabash district and the Little Wabash circuit were formed, Peter Cartwright being the presiding elder. Since this organization was formed in
1830, it is almost a certainty to say that Peter Cartwright preached here. In 1816 the Illinois conference was changed again, that year becoming a part of the Missouri conference and remained so until the Illinois conference was formed in 1824. When the Brushy church was formed in 1830 it was a part of the Wabash district of the Illinois conference. Brushy was at first a part of Wabash circuit but later became a part of the Browns circuit, and of the Albion circuit in 1851.  In 1898 the Golden Gate circuit was formed and Bethel has ever since been a part of it. in 1886 a large frame white church was built just east of the old log church and a new name was selected, Bethel.

The high white frame building faced the south and had deep comfortable long benches. A full basement was made in the summer of 1942. The rededication was held August 23, 1942. The old custom of the women on the right and the men on the left still prevailed throughout the days of the white frame building.

L. Harry Knodell of Chicago in his reminiscences of old Brushy gave a vivid picture of those early days. "Near the church was a grove of elm, oak, and hickory, and in their shade horses were tied, some with saddles for the men, some with saddles for the ladies, for in those days the people came to church on horseback. If the weather was warm, the men and boys would loiter outside until the preacher began talking over things that would be of interest to them, a crop, a squirrel hunt, or maybe a new acquaintance A barber shop was never thought of out there. The men wore their hair to the collars of their coats. Those who cared to shave had their own razor, but full beards and chin beards were the custom. Among the first to arrive at church were Christopher, Ezra, and Rheuben Michels and their families. . . Grandfather Knodell came wearing his beegym hat and blue jeans. . .  How well I remember my grandmother's fan. Its beautiful tint was a delicate bronze, a brown softly blended with gray. She carried it to church, but at home she laid it away. It was built on a generous plan; the pride of the forest was slaughtered to make my grandmother's turkey tail fan. . . Rev. B. B. Leach was
never forgotten by anyone who heard his heavy bass voice, and especially if they got as tired as I did during one of his prayers while he recited two or three chapters of Scripture. We did not  stand in those days during one of his prayer.”   With the exception of the first two years, here are the ministers which have served this church:
 
 

1851  A. Campbell	1876  ----------	1901  A. Carlin	1926  ----------
1852  J. Shepherd	1877  ----------	1902  Wm. Michels	1927  B. H. Cravins
1853  J. N. Haley	1878  C. W. Sabine	1903  W. L. Terhune	1928  ----------
1854  J. Glaze	1879  ----------	1904  ----------	1929  J. P. Tucker
1855  ----------	1880  J. B. Ravenscroft	1905  F. n. Aten	1930  ----------
1856  A. B. Morrision	1881  ----------	1906  W. C. Harns	1931  E. E. Stage
1857  ----------	1882  L. C. English and J. W. Britto	1907  Far Mariott	1932  ----------
1858  H. Manifold	1883  L. C. English	1908  C. C. Cullison	1933  ----------
1859  ----------	1884  C. A. Bracket	1909  ----------	1934  W. R. Richardson
1860  L. g. English	1885  Silas Green and G. B. Schafer	1910  O. O. Maxfiled	1935  ----------
1861  ----------	1886  ----------	1911  ----------	1936  ----------
1862  J. Glaze	1887  R. E. Pierce and G. L. Schafer	1912  I. N. Johnson	1937  W. G. Hanks
1863  D. Chitman	1888  G. L. Schafer	1913  T. B. McClain	1938  Raymond Clodfelter
1864  W. L. Grans	1889  J. C. Harmon	1914  ----------	1939  ----------
1865  V. D. Lingenfelter	1890  ----------	1915  ----------	1940  D. B. Kazee
1866  ----------	1891  ----------	1916  E. C. Reed	1941  ----------
1867  J. C. Green	1892  W. Carson	1917  F. B. Prichard	1942  ----------
1868  ----------	1893  W. Wenston	1918  G. L. Murray	1943  A. B. Gill
1869  J. B. Bavenscroft	1894  A. W. James	1919  I. G. Flick	1944 - 1946  ----------
1870  ----------	1895  ----------	1920  ----------	1947  Floyd Chastain-
1871  ----------	1896  H. C. Hiser	1921  H. M. Galbraith	1948  ----------
1872  T. A. Eaten	1897  ----------	1922  ----------	1949  Ezekiel Haley
1873  J. W. Lowe	1898  E. M. Barringer	1923  W. C. Brumit	1950  Roger Collison
1874  S. Brooks	1899  ----------	1924  ----------	1951 - 1953  ----------
1875  W. Tilroe	1900  ----------	1925  James McNabb	1954  Cameron Harmon

A reprint of the news of the Christmas celebration at Bethel, published in Wayne County Press, December 27, 1895, gives an index to the type of celebration that was held then. This was the first Christmas tree in the neighborhood.

"Christmas is over. It is just as we predicted about the Christmas tree at Brush Prairie, a grand and complete success. The tree was an evergreen. Presents numerous.  A. M. Elliott spoke of the origin of holidays in the IJnited States, and William Knodell on the Savior. Mr. Ashby 's whistling won for him great applause. Mr. Ashby's whistling surpasses all the whistling ever heard in the whistling line. The distribution of presents by a pair of Santa Clauses (Henry Johnson and K. P. Merrit) made all hearts glad, especially the children who were delighted."

The fact that it was necessary to mention the tree was an evergreen signifies that Christmas trees were rare then. This church never had a color line. The whistler referred to was a colored man.

This church began a celebration August 27, 1914, which has persisted until the present. Then began an annual celebration, a picnic dinner, an address, and an informal program. The event was on the last Thursday in August for several years and was called Old Folks' Day. Later it was changed to the last Sunday in August and was called Homecoming Day. In 1921, Mrs. Mary Scott was quite ill at the end of August and there was no celebration; that is the only year that has been missed. The change to Sunday was made in 1937. On that first celebration the Rev. J. B. Ravenscroft of Albion delivered the address. His text was Proverbs 16-31.
On August 29, this year (1954) on the annual Homecoming Day the new church will be dedicated.

John and Minnie Wiles are now the oldest people who are now active members of the church.

Many people besides those already mentioned have given devoted service. Elias Clark and William Gill served many years as superintendent. Mrs. Elizabeth Melrose (Aunt Elizabeth), a greatly beloved old lady, took charge of a small children's Sunday School class shortly after she joined the church, and she taught the children's class for more than seventy-two years. Her service extended throughout all the years of the old log church and through twenty-nine years in the white frame building. She was so filled with goodness herself that she never saw anything but goodness in others.

In the autumn of 1953 a new Bedford stone church was begun just west of the white frame building on the site of the first church. It faces the west instead of the south. The benches and everything in the new building are new so that it is truly a memorial to all those who have contributed to its construction.

It is well that on this site where there are man beautiful influences there should be a Garden of Remembrance, remembrance to personalities, yes, but even more, a remembrance of their good deeds and influence a garden in the sense that this site will be made as beautiful as possible, for such beauty and inspiration are in perfect harmony, but also a garden, for each influence stored here is a fragrant influence, sweet and exhilarating, a garden where we remember the good influence of the past, the beautiful erection of the present, and ti possibilities of the future.

When this stone is unveiled, this church will be solid token in stone, but also a token of many though and deep reverence felt by many people, which cannot be rooted and fixed, but which will be the unseen flowers laid invisibly in all the kind thoughts which this building represents." ** Written by Lelah Allison and read by her in church in the last days the frame building was used.

Wherever there were settlers there were camp meetings. The first camp meeting in Wayne County, perhaps, was in 1818 at Merritt Springs in Leech Township at the S. E. quarter of the S. W. quarter of section 7, T3S, R9E. That is near the Simpson cemetery. That was a Methodist camp meeting, a camp ground in a cleared place with crude benches made of logs. The MethodIst, however, did not build a church in that section of Leech, unless they did have a church there a short while.  In some Winzenburger papers there is a diagram of a section of the farm showing location of springs and a cross with the name church. Whether that was merely a camp ground or whether a church was built there is not known. That was in 1830. Ministers were Charles Slocumb and Zadac Casey. But whether church building or camp ground, the people in that section of the township, section 18, did hold religious services. Nathan Merrit later owned that far a.

The Missionary Baptist were active in southern Leech. On Mars Hill the Antioch Missionary Baptist was built in section 1 7, T3S, R9E, on the east border of tile northwest quarter. The church and tile school house have set there side by side for many years. The large white frame church building faces the east and sets high on the hill back a little distance from the road. It had the usual stove in tile center and the long benches extending from the center aisle almost to the wall, 0. N. Locke was one of the Missionary Baptist preachers who did much work in Leech. (He has three surviving children, Josephine Bell and Paul of Fairfield and Grace Corneal of Merriam.  Her husband is also a Missionary Baptist minister.)

Elder Lemuel Potter, a regular Baptist preacher of this area, was born October 28, 1841, at Samsville in
Edwards County and died December 8, 1897 at Fort Brand Ind.

Elder Thomas Jones of Enfield and Elder Charlie Jones of Centerville, brothers, and descendants of the Jones family that settled in eastern Leech in 1816, and two more men who have given their services in Leech.

In the Liberty items of the Wayne County Record for May 19, 1881, there is a note about the organization of the Sunday School of the Antioch Church.

"The Sabbath School shortly organized at Antioch Church seems to be in prosperous condition with Job
Johnson, Superintendent; Adam Johnson, Secretary; and  Calvin Odell, Treasurer."  From that we may assume
the Sunday School was organized in the spring of 1881.

Cherry Grove Church was built near the western line of Leech about forty years ago. It functioned for twenty years or more but the building has now been unused for many years. It still stands near the western line. It was so-called because a large grove of wild cherry trees was around the church.

Golden Gate was settled later than Scottsville and so its church has a later beginning than some other  churches. It is a Methodist Church, stands near 11 south edge of town on a high point of the ridge. It is white frame building and faces the east.

George Leach gave the ground for the church and also paid part of the building expenses. He also got the lot for the parsonage and then paid part of the building expense of that building. He was ardently interested in having an active church in Golden Gate from its beginning, and it is to his credit that the church was organized there so shortly after the town was settled.  He was superintendent of the Sunday School there as  long as he lived in that community.

The Rev. B. B. Leach always preached the Thankgiving sermon in the church and he liked to have all 11
children and grandchildren there. It was named the Leach Chapel. Other than a special service, this church  has the same minister as Bethel. They are listed under The Bethel report.

The class of the Leach Chapel was organized March 22, 1880, with the following members: the Rev.  B. B. Leach by letter from Bone Gap, Maria Leach, Eleanor Leach, A. D. Leach, 0. H. Leach, all by letter from Bone Gap;  Rachel Leach by letter from Maud, Harriet McCleary by letter from Mt. Erie, Lucretia Martin, Golden Gate.  ** Ethel Fitch gave this information.

The present church was dedicated September 8, 1895 by Bishop Earl Cranston. Rev. Loy was the presiding elder. Rev. James was minister. The first funeral  in the church was for Mrs. John Keeling, conducted by Rev. B. B. Leach. That was on Sunday following the dedication.

Later a basement was added to the church. It was dedicated September 21, 1941. Rev. B. B. Kazee was the pastor. Rev. T. E. Harper, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, gave the dedication address.

In the north end of the township is a Christian Church, Oakwood. The first old log church was in Massilon, not Leech, It did not have regular benches, just boards on blocks for the people to sit on. When the second church was built, a frame building, it was built across the border in Leech, the place where the church now stands. It was a frame building, but, unfortunately, it was struck by lightning, July 20, 1948. The third building was dedicated  there on the same site, April 17, 1949 by M. H. Wright of Hume, Ill. It is now a thriving organization.
** Mrs. Mary Shillings and Alice Shillings gave this information,