Short Creek United Methodist Church: 240 Years of Faith, Resilience, and Enduring Community

December 02, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Short Creek United Methodist Church, founded in 1785 amid America’s frontier, is on the National Historic Register, is the oldest Methodist congregation in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle and among the earliest Methodist churches in the Nation and one of the earliest west of the Alleghenies. From secret gatherings and a stone “fort church” to today’s ministry, it embodies 240 years of faith, resilience, and enduring community.
Presenter Pastor Heather E. Rogers serves as pastor of Short Creek United Methodist Church and Warwood United Methodist Church in Wheeling, West Virginia. A native of the state’s Eastern Panhandle, she brings deep roots and a lifelong love of faith to her ministry. Pastor Heather has completed theological studies at Methodist Theological School and Candler School of Theology, equipping her for leadership and service. Married for 35 years, she and her husband have raised two sons and now delight in two grandsons. Outside the pulpit, she enjoys reading, exploring new ideas, and woodworking.