Following worship services held on Sun., Nov. 6, Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market St., observed its 200th anniversary.
      The church was first known as the Methodist Episcopal Church and in its early days, services were presided over by ‘circuit’ preachers, who would travel (by horseback) to communities of the Western Reserve, where they most often gave their services in homes of members of the church.
      According to a history of Boardman Township, one of the earliest members of the church was Thomas Agnew, whose family founded Agnew Farm Equipment in 1826,
      The congregation’s first church building was erected in 1844 (at a cost of $803), about a quarter mile south of Boardman Centre, along Market St., just across the street from St. James Episcopal Church.
      Almost a century later, Boardman Methodist moved to its present location on Market St., at Buena Vista Ave. on land donated by noted philanthropist Leon A. Beeghly. (Mr. Beeghly resided on a large plot of land in Boardman that is now the site of Akron Childrens Hospital).
      At that time, Frank Agnew contacted Beeghly, hoping to buy three lots from him on which to build the new church. Although, it is said, Beeghly adamantly refused to ‘sell,’ he quickly offered to ‘exchange’ his property with the church for three gallons of maple syrup, that Agnew had to provide from his own farms. At the suggestion of Mrs. Beeghly, a gift of $5,000 soon followed to spearhead the church building campaign toward its goal of $40,000.
      The first service at that location was held on May 17, 1940.
      Since that time, two additions have been constructed to augment the original construction--an educational building in 1957, and in 1967, the present sanctuary was constructed under the leadership of Rev. Norman Crewson and lay leader Clarence R. Smith.
      Current pastor at Boardman Methodist is Rev. Jerry Krueger. Membership is 400 persons.
      Members of the 200th anniversary committee are Rev. Krueger, Bonnie Babyak, Paula Barrett, Edie Davidson, Kathy Longmuir, Lee Monit and Bill Russell.