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Howardville Wesleyan Church to host last service

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

After more than 160 years serving surrounding communities, Howardville Wesleyan Church is closing doors with a final service on July 31.

“It will be difficult for everyone,” said retired Rev. Martin Miller, who served as the church’s pastor between 1992 to 2002.

Former ministers and members will return for the final service at 10 a.m., and a catered lunch will follow the service.

“Some folks whose parents were members 100 years ago will be coming,” Miller said. “There’ll be some old friends from days gone by there.”

The church, located five miles north of Floyd, was established in 1856 and survived longer than the area settlement of Howardville. It has about a dozen members, mostly from Charles City, Miller said.

The building was built in 1900 when the congregation moved out of a former Howardville school building.

The current congregation began talking about closing this past winter as driving got to be harder on senior members of the church, Miller said. Once the current pastor announced his retirement, Miller said, the church decided not to go on.

Interested buyers are already contacting the Wesleyan Church denomination about the building, Miller said.

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