The first church organized in Range Township was probably the Methodist Episcopal Church of Midway. The first preaching-point was at the house of William M. Linton, where it appears a class was early formed, probably about 1812-14, consisting of the following persons: David Dye and wife, Joseph Pancake and wife, Lockhart Biggs and wife, Elizabeth Counts and Septimus Stuthard and wife. These nine persons, it is believed, formed the first class, with David Dye and Joseph Pancake as Class-leaders. But soon after, the following persons were added: Thomas Hughs and wife, William Chappell and wife, Andrew Johnson and wife, Zachariah Adams and wife, Thomas Bethard and wife, Lemuel Bethard and wife, and Isaac Fisher and wife. Mr. Linton's house continued to be a preaching-point until the building of the David Dye Schoolhouse, after which that was used for church purposes until about 1844; a frame building was erected at Midway, which was occupied for church purposes till the erection of the present church edifice. Among the first ministers who preached at this point were Rev. Nation, Rev. William Sutton, Rev. Young, Rev. Morrow and Rev. John Stewart. The present membership is ninety-seven, with William bonham and J. H. Asher as Class-Leaders; A. B. Core and R. F. Williams, Stewards; A. B. Core, R. F. Williams, Daniel Greenich, Dr. A. Ogan, William Bonham, Jacob Heavner and Jacob McDaniel as Trustees; and Rev. Isaac Mackey, Pastor. The parsonage for this circuit is located here. A lot adjoining the church property on the north was purchased, and in the summer of 1868 a large, two-story frame house was erected, by Thomas Hughs, at a cost of about $2,000. The house contains seven rooms, with a porch and kitchen; is well-finished and pleasantly located. J. S. Pancake, Washington Withrow and A. B. Core constituted the Building Committee.
The Concord M. E. Church. — In 1816-17, a class was organized at the house of Richard Gosslee, consisting of the following persons: Richard Gosslee and wife, Charles Holland and wife, Thomas Dawson and wife, and a few others whose names could not be ascertained, with Richard Gosslee as Class-Leader. The house of Mr. Gosslee continued as a preaching-place till in 1837, when the present church building was completed, and, in due form, dedicated to service. In 1860, this church was remodeled and repaired, and rededicated to service by a sermon preached by Rev. A. B. See. some of the early preachers who held services at the house of Mr. Gosslee were Rev. Jacob Hooper, James B. Findley, William Findley and William Westlake. The present membership is thirty-eight, with Samuel Gillespie as Class-Leader; Stewards, Joseph Gillespie and John Shepherd; Trustees, Joseph Gillespie, Andrew Shepherd, John Shepherd, John Emory, Isaiah Gillespie, Milton Shepherd and Samuel Gillespie.
Bethel M. E. Church. — This society was organized at the house of John Fisher, by Rev. Mr. Maley, in the year 1820 or 1821. The class consisted of the following persons: John Fisher and wife, Elizabeth Fisher, John Morris, Elizabeth Morris, Robert Farrar, Isabel Cox, James Fisher, Sarah Fisher and Prudence Steel. It is believed this first class consisted of ten members. They continued to have preaching at the house of Mr. Fisher, and in summer in the groves of the neighborhood, till the erection of the church, which is believed was about 1847-48. These facts of the early organization of the church have been kindly furnished by Mrs. Lydia Brown, the oldest member of Bethel society, adn the only surviving daughter of John Fisher now residing in this county. She resides on the old homestead place of her father, and has been a member of Bethel Church nearly all her life. Present membership of the church is eighty-five, with fourteen probationers. Class-Leaders, James S. Pancake, Joseph S. Martin and Christian Wissler; Stewards, James S. Pancake and J. B. Chenoweth; Trustees, J. B. Chenoweth, J. S. Pancake, Allison Grim, Christian Wissler, william A. Johnston, J. S. Martin, J. P. Foster and S. W. Brown.
These three churches whose history is given above, with the Newport Church, whose history is given in the history of Paint Township, and the society formed which holds its services at the Foster Schoolhouse, constitute the Midway Circuit, embracing five societies, with five preaching stations. The membership at the Foster Schoolhouse, Oak Run Township, is at present writing seventeen, with D. B. Foster as Class-Leader; total membership of the circuit, 320, and twenty-five probationers. This circuit is embraced in the Ohio Conference.
Presbyterian Church, Midway. — This society was organized by Rev. C. W. Finley, --------, with the following persons: Scott Robinson and wife, Margaret Robinson, Mrs. Charlotte Withrow and Mrs. Sarah Corbitt; and soon after, under the preaching of Rev. James Dunlap, the following names were aded as members: Louisa Counts, George Byers, Samuel Withrow, Barney Evans and wife and his father, Catharine Evans, Rebecca Linson and Nancy Dye, with Samuel Withrow as the first Elder.
Services were held in the Methodist Church, then for some time they were held in the schoolhouse, and then again in the Methodist Church. Rev. C. W. Finley was their first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. James Dunlap. Then came Rev. James McIntire, Rev. Jones, Rev. David Kerr, Rev. George Brown and Rev. S. S. Garmo. Under the ministry of Rev. James McIntire, the church edifice was erected in 1863. The present condition is good, with Dr. Findley Kirkpatrick, Maxwell Murray and Robert Harper as Elders. In the erection of this church, a serious accident occurred. The girder gave way, precipitating several workmen to the ground, by which William Swank was instantly killed, and John Wonderland had his thigh broken in two places, and others more or less injured. The wounded were attended by Dr. Seaton, of Midway. This church, when first built, was erected with a steeple seventy feet high. In March, 1866, the tall spire was struck by lightning, and the whole building was much damaged. Two corner-stones of the church were thrown out from under the building to quite a distance. In repairing the house, the steeple was built in its present form.