It is probable, in fact we may say very certain, that the first church organization in Union Township was on Glade Run, and is known as the Lower Glade Methodist Episcopal Church. About 1808-9 several persons met at a log house on the farm now owned by Preston Adair, situated between what is known as the Lower Glade and the Upper Glade, and here, by Rev. Mr. Paves, a class was organized consisting of the following persons: John McDonald, James McDonald, Charles Ewing, Samuel Ewing, John Ewing, Jacob Sidener, John Adair, James Wright, Eliza Wright, William Erwin and his mother, Charles Melvin, John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, and their wives, Isaac Wright, James Wright, William Ragan, Abby Melvin, Schuyler McDonald, Phebe Melvin, Henry Coon and wife and Polly McDonald. While they continued to hold their meetings at this log house, they were administered to by the Revs. Paves, Smith, Bacon, Robert Findley, James Findley, William Sutton and William Simmons. About 1812, by mutual agreement, for the convenience of the members, the class was divided, those who lived in the vicinity of the Upper Glade, forming a class, which was the nucleus of the McDonald Church, or the Upper Glade Methodist Episcopal Church, and those who resided in the vicinity of the Lower Glade constituted a class, and the beginning of the church of which we here give a history. This class consisted of the following: James McDonald, William Erwin and his mother, Schuyler McDonald, Charles Melvin, John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, Henry Coon, and their wives, Abby Melvin, Phebe Melvin, Adam Bennett and wife, Jacob McCuen, Samuel Adair and wife, and John Harrison and wife, numbering twenty-six members in all. They held services in the house of James McDonald, and the houses of others, and in the schoolhouse until about 1831, when they erected the old log meeting house, which at that time was considered a fine structure, and it was probably dedicated the following year by Rev. William Simmons. The people worshiped in this log house for some time without a floor, the minister preaching to the people from a platform of boards laid upon some of the hewed joists. Many years afterward, this log building was weather-boarded and repaired, and made to take on quite an improved appearance. Thus fitted up, this house continued to serve the people till 1881, when arrangements were perfected to erect upon the same site a substantial brick edifice, which was built by Mr. James Self, of London, and is a fine specimen of workmanship. The house is thirty-two by fifty-four feet, with an eight feet square tower projecting in front, making the extreme length sixty-two feet. In the interior, the house is neatly and tastefully furnished; the arrangements for lighting the church are, perhaps, unsurpassed by any church of its size and presents a very pleasing appearance. The seats which are of heavy ash wood, trimmed with walnut, were furnished by the Excelsior School and Church Furniture Company of Cincinnati. Probably, no church in the county is better seated. The whole cost of the building is a little over $2,700. The house was dedicated to service June 11, 1882, by the Presiding Elder of this district, Rev. J. F. King. The sermon was delivered on Sabbath morning at 10 o'clock from the text, "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple (Psalm LXV, 4th verse). There were present two of the former pastors, Rev. A. M. Alexander and Rev. B. Tressenrider, also the Rev. J. W. Peters, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at London, all of whom participated in the services. At the close of the discourse, a financial exhibit was made by the pastor, and the congregation were asked for $625, the amount necessary to liquidate the indebtedness of the church. The response made to the call by the Elder was both generous and general, and in a half hour or so, the membership and friends had contributed about $810. Several friends who were not present had remembered the church, and had sent subscriptions. This liberality had enabled the church to pay all its indebtedness, and to provide itself with a good bell. After the subscription, the church was presented on the part of the Trustees, by Brother J. J. Melvin, and was then formerly [sic] dedicated to God as a house of worship, according to the ritual of the church. The Trustees at the present time (1882) are Thomas Peddicord, J. J. Melvin, Andrew Rupert, Josiah Melvin and David Rupert. The class leader is John J. Melvin. The present pastor is Rev. John W. Waite.
The above is the only church in Union Township, outside of the limits of London, except a German Baptist Church, situated a little north of Roberts Mill, which was recently built, and consequently its history would be but brief, and of which we have few facts or data.