Ministering In The Community for Over 150 Years

The recorded history and founding of the Methodist Church in Yorktown, Virginia, later to be known as Crooks Memorial

United Methodist Church, can be traced to the minutes of the Third Quarterly Conference held in Providence Church on

July 14, 1855. The minutes of the Quarterly Conference in 1870 states, " There is a very feeble Sunday School in

Yorktown." At the First Quarterly Conference on February 9, 1891 the Reverent Robert Nelson Crooks was elected

Superintendent at Yorktown.

The Rev. R.N. Crooks, who had been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1855, was commissioned

a First Lieutenant in the Confederate Army and became a Chaplain the following June. In 1865 he joined the Virginia

Annual Conference and his first appointment was the rebuilding the York County Charge, which had ceased to operate

during the war. He served two appointments: 1865-1868 and 1871-1875. Crippled by rheumatism and an injury, the

Rev. Crooks retired in the late 1800's in Yorktown. Rev. Crooks held Sunday night services in the homes of the people

in the community. Also, about that time the Sunday School was held in the Old School House.  He died in 916 and was

buried in the Providence Church Cemetery.

The first efforts to erect a church building was started by the women of the church in 1908 when contributions were raised

from embroidered squares of a patchwork quilt and the selling of meals at the Court House on court days, about $200 was

raised. Thomas and Viola Chandler gave a lot for a church on York Hampton Road.  The church was a simple one-room

building about 28 X36 feet. The seats were carpenter-made benches discarded by the Old Yorktown School.

The belfry, metal ceiling and pulpit area were added in 1919.  The pulpit and pulpit chairs were given to the church by the

Queen Street Methodist Church in Hampton, through the efforts of Mrs. Lucie Ann Winder. At a later date the Communion

Table was donated from the same church through the efforts of Mrs. Margaret P.C. Smith, the daughter of Rev. Crooks.

The church bell hanging in the belfry was purchased through the efforts of the Ladies Aid Society.

By the end of 1921, Yorktown boasted a church membership of 25 members.  The Quarterly Conference in July 1922

officially recognized their latest addition to the charge as Crooks Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of its late

superintendent, Rev. Robert Nelson Crooks, and they were assessed $150 as part of the preacher's salary.

In 1938 three Sunday School classrooms were added.  After having shared a charge with Zion and Providences Church,

an application was made to the Conference in 1951 for a Lay Preacher in order to have services every Sunday.  The

church parsonage was constructed in 1959 when Rev. Harry Copley was our pastor. Rev. Jeremy Q. Galloway replaced

Rev. Copley in 1963 and during his time at Crooks Memorial the church was relocated.  On October 25, 1964 the

congregation voted to sell the old church property and purchase 3.1 acres on Cook Road.  On May 29, 1966 the ground

was broken for a new colonial brick and block structure with a sanctuary seating 200 people, a pastor's study, church

office and kitchen.  A bazaar was held in October 1966 sponsored by the Women's Society of Christian Service to raise

money for the new kitchen. The work on the kitchen was completed in 1980.

Needing more room to grow, the lot and house adjoining the church property was purchased and the house was used for

Sunday School until 1994. The house was moved in August of 1994 to made way for parking space and a new sanctuary

to be built in front of the current sanctuary.  The ground was broken in October 1994, and in October 1995 the new

sanctuary was consecrated and major renovations of the old church building were completed. A stained glass window was

added to the new sanctuary and another to the narthex in 2002.

The bell that hung in the old church had been removed because the timbers were not safe.  The bell was found in Virginia

Beach and purchased by the United Methodist Women.  It was cleaned and installed in an encasement in front to the

fellowship hall.  The dedication of the bell was held in November 1998.

On September 16th and 17th, 2005, through the efforts of a hard-working committee, we were proud to have celebrated

the 150th Anniversary of the church. On Saturday we assembled at the site of the old church in Yorktown for a great day

of services, songs, fellowship and lunch.  Sunday one service of celebration was held at the church with a large crowd

including former ministers, former members, and other visitors. After the service a reception was held in the social hall.

                                                                                     Crooks United Methodist Church

                                                                                                     204 Cook Road

                                                                                                 Yorktown, VA 23690

                                                                                    e-mail:  crooksumc.org@verizon.net

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