Giffin Park Church, OH

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Early History

According to an obituary in 1993-9 of Interest magazine, James Hyslop's "ministry of the Word began in his local assembly during his teens. He conducted Bible studies that developed into a fellowship of believers known as Giffin Park Church which broke bread first in 1948." It was located at 280 E. Main St., St. Clairsville, Ohio. Other founders included James D. Reilly, and Wendell E. Bearce, who incorporated it in 1955.

Hyslop family

James was born on Nov. 7, 1903, in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland, to Andrew (1882-1969) and Jeanie P. Welsh Hyslop (1881-1967). Both his parents were active at Giffin Park Church, as was his sister Mary.

His father, Andrew Hyslop, Sr., was born in Ayrshire, Mar. 2, 1882, a son of James & Margaret Duncan Hyslop and had emigrated to the U.S. in 1908. Andrew's sibings were Mrs. Harriett Gibson (Linton, IN), Jeanie Saladin (Princeton, IN) and William D. Hyslop (Bedford, IN). Andrew died April 30, 1969.

James' mother Jeanie was born in Lugar, Ayrshire, Scotland to James & Mary McComb Welsh. Her siblings were, as of the time of her death: John Welsh (Akron, OH), Mrs. Tom McCrindle (Akron, OH) & Mrs. Sam Robertson (Boca Raton, FL).

Other siblings of James included:

  • Daisy Clarkson married to Phil Clarkson of Moody Bible Institute radio ministry, and an elder at Woodside Bible Chapel, IL in Chicago.
  • Florence Hyslop married Charles Hoeseltine of Chicago, then a Clarquist.
  • Andrew Hyslop, Jr. (1908-2001) retired chief engineer @ Consul; chairman @ National Mining Safety Council; Elder @ Calvary United Presbyterian Church, and later involved with Northwest Presbyterian (Dublin, OH). Andrew married Ruth Mae Nessel; Her siblings included: Bonnie Gibson & Paul Nessel. Children:
    • Dr. Carol Lebeiko (Dublin, OH), Bruce Hyslop (Hillard, OH), Dr. Grace Christ (NYC, NY), Ronald Hyslop (Bethel Park, PA), Cynthia Tinapple (Worthington, OH), Joy Harbert (St. Clairsville, OH) and Cheryl Picha (Elmhurst, IL).
  • Mary Hyslop (1906-2009) was also a member of Giffin Park Church, as well as the assembly at Park of the Palms in Florida. Dwight McMahon officiated her funeral.

He married Elsie Messal (1909-1997) who was born in Alpena, MI to Alexander & Augusta Schultz Messal. They had two daughters, Elsie Lewis Eastman and Rosemary Hyslop, both of St. Clairsville. Grandchildren include James Lewis and Mary Watkins, and a great-grandson David Watkins.

Coal Mining

James began his career in the coal industry at the age of thirteen, loading coal with his father, in an Indiana underground mine. He moved to St. Clairsville with his wife and two daughters in 1940 to work for Hanna Coal, becoming its president in 1949. This became, in 1950, a division of Consolidated Coal Company (aka Consol Energy), then retired in 1964 as vice-president of government relations, in order to pastor the Giffin Church. Soon afterwards, Consol was acquired by Conoco, and is now the largest underground coal mining company in the U.S. (as of 2010).

He is credited with writing "the 1952 Federal Coal Mining Safety Act which resulted in greatly reducing the number of fatalities from major mine disasters... (He also served as) Regional Coordinating Council Member of Ohio University for many years, involved with campus development. As co-chairman of the Belmont County Joint Vocational High School Steering Committee, during the 1960's, he worked with the community towards establishing both vocational and technical education for the area."

Notable Alumni

Charter Members

  • Alma Lorraine "Sherry" Sherman Bryen (1921-2006) was born to Howard Channel Sherman (d. 1952) & Edith Lorraine Brackenbury Sherman (1901-1997) in Brantford, Ontario. Retired from the East Muskingum schools as a teacher. Served as an elder at Giffin Park Church, and later of the Unity Presbyterian Church of Cambridge. Trustee @ Guernsey County Historical Society and many other community organizations. Married George James Bryen III in 1942. No children. Siblings: Richard D. Sherman (Cambridge, OH).
  • Alice Lucresia Hankins Reilly (1910-2007) was born to James S. Hankins & Mary Ainsley Hankins in Fontanet, OH. She was raised in Terre Haute, and moved in 1941 to St. Clairsville with her husband Jim, where she was "known as 'Aunt Alice' to everyone she met", and owned St. Clair Travel for many years. No children. Husband preceded her in death. Surviving family included: nieces Margaret Dietz (St. Clairsville), Kathryn Rose Zeabart (Vincennes, OH) and nephew Bill J. Hankins (Terre Haute). Close friends included Margaret Mysona, Jennie Menoski & Pauline Brestle.
  • Ruth E. Sherman (1925-2013) was born to Samuel C. Warner & Mary Catherine Lenhart Warner in Zanesville, OH. Schoolteacher @ Pleasant City, St. Clairsville & Cambridge City, teaching over 30 years; She was a granddaughter of Dr. Charles M. Lenhart, who practiced medicine and surgery in Zanesville. Her great-grandfather was T.J. Frazier, a civil engineer for the B&O Railroad, and a cofounder of the Mosaic Tile Company. Married Richard D. Sherman in 1944. One child: Rick D. Sherman of Cambridge, OH. Bill Yavelak officiated funeral.

Others

  • Martha Groton Martin (1920-2014) was born in Douglas, AZ to Carroll & Eileen Groton, her early years were spent in copper mining towns in Mexico where her father managed general stores. Graduated high school in Hot Springs, NM (aka Truth Or Consequences) where her father managed a grocery store and meat market. B.S. Education in 1941 from U. of N.M., married fellow student Lewis McNeely Martin (d. 1995) in Albuquerque in 1942. Family moved to St. Clairsville, OH in 1944, initially active at Thorburn Memorial Methodist Church, then Giffin Park Church during which in 1966 was baptized with her husband while on a trip to the Holy Land. Children: Maggie Gisenhagen (Highlands Ranch, CO). Martha died in Denver, CO where she was involved with Crosspoint Community Church, and a supporter of the Malpai Borderlands Group.

Later Years of Giffin Park Church

It is unknown whether the Giffin Park Church still exists. It has, in recent years, coincided with the headquarters for the Mark Statler Evangelistic Association. Mark L. Statler resides in Jewett, OH, and with longtime friend Roger Hoard has performed musical concerts at Giffin Park Church. The most recent activity at Giffin Park Church was a wedding of Lindsay Skiba & Jared Bailey, officiated by Mark Zelewicz, who with his wife Diane, owns Wellsburg Flower & Gift Shop. Mark pastors a church in St. Clairsville called the Relevant Worship Center.

Sources

Misc

Obits

Hyslop

Other Alumni

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