Lees Creek Church
Ice Cream Socials
Historic Lees Creek Church Ice Cream Social - photo perhaps in 1980's. Seated in Front Row: Glenn Bentley, Richard Brackney, Vaughn Bentley, Mitch Gullett. Pastor Robert Fisher, Bill Leslie, Tom Sharp, Virgil Bentley Standing in Back Row: Wendell Compton, Jim Larrick, Roy Adams, Everett Larrick, Roger McFadden, Russell Terel, Dave Bentley, Vaughn Garber, unknown, Jim Mandrell, Max Sharp, Larry Wilson, Roy Brandenburg, unknown, Noel Garber
Election Day Lunches and Dinners
Reverend Ed Culver
Reverend John Selvey and Wife.
The Reverend John Selvey died April 13, 2014 at home at the age of 97.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Virginia (Gini) Fisher Selvey.
Survived by his children; Suzanne Andrews, Jack Selvey, and LinDee; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
He served as minister of Lees Creek Congregational Church for 6 years, then Gahanna Community Church for 27 years.
Upon retirement served as chaplain of Mifflin Township Fire Department for 8 years.
Formed in 1830, the Lees Creek Church is now nearly 200 years old.
For its first 117 years, there was no full-time minister until church member and local farmer, Leonard Yochum, and others led an ambitious, seemingly impossible program to buy land, build a parsonage, and support a full time, resident minister. The community was broadly motivated to strengthen the church as another part of its commitment to support and guide its growing population of children.
Fund raising for buying the land began in 1946. It was a plan where you could buy 1/8 acre ($25) - 1 full acre ($185) of the 19-acre tract. The original owner of the land, Mrs. Adina Judkins, donated the first acre, and the ensuing community solicitation was very successful. The new farm was purchased and then planted with sweet corn with all labor and seed donated by the community, both church members and non-members.
The first sweet corn crop was harvested in one day and yielded about 3 1/2 tons per acre. It took 36 volunteer men, 3 trucks, and 12 tractors. The listing of the names all of farmers who worked on this first harvest follows below in the newspaper article dated 1947 and includes many names of people well-known for their commitment in supporting the community’s young people in multiple ways.
A second fund raising effort began, and the people of the community again gave generously. That money plus the money from harvesting that first corn crop was more than enough to build a modern new parsonage.
Twenty-five-year-old Rev. Robert Young was the first full time, resident pastor, arriving at Lees Creek Church from Connecticut in October 1947.
The tradition of farmers gathering and volunteering to plant and harvest the church farm continued. With profits from the crops going to support the church and a full time, resident minister, the church was able to add extensive Sunday School and Junior Church programs, the Sunshine Class, and a very active, well-attended Youth Fellowship.
Church Members, Approximately 1945. Front Row (three kneeling kids): Marvin Bond, ?, Wand Bond. Second Row: Shirley Yochum, Miriam Grimsley, Delbert Bond, Ervin Garber, ?, Ralph Holmes, Leonard Yochum (holding Philip Myers), John Myers. Third Row: Od Bean, Erma Dean Bean, Mary Bond, Freida Yochum, Bill Myers, Cecil Rice, Bertha Myers, David Myers. Back Row: ?, Dean Garber, Evalyn Bentley, ?, Sylvia Bond, Lena Rhude, Alva Henry, ?, Vaughn Bentley.