The below document is in the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society Church Records Collection.
The Church was organized in 1849 as the Brokensword German Methodist Episcopal Church, and meetings were held in a school house. The first church was built in 1852 north of the Brokensword creek at the end of Ridgeton Road on present State Route 4 north of Bucyrus. In 1855 Brokensword, Bucyrus (now Bucyrus Epworth) and Plains congregations were formed into a circuit.
In 1862 Methodist Churches were very much opposed to slavery. The church building was partially destroyed by a mob opposed to draft and angered by the preaching, and the next year completely destroyed by fire. The second Church was built in 1865 at the present location a half mile south of the first Church. Enemies were still active an on one occasion shots were fired at the preacher during the service.
The present brick structure was built in 1892, and the previous church was moved to the farm north of the Church.
The Brokensword-Epworth Charge ended in 1936. The congregation was served by retired ministers for 23 years. A major project in 1956 had the basement area enlarged to include a large fellowship hall, Sunday School class rooms, a new furnace room, rest rooms, and a kitchen. July 1959 linked New Washington Methodist and Brokensword as a charge for 21 years.
The April 1968 merger had two Brokensword United Methodist Churches close together. The former Brokensword Evangelical United Brethren Church was near the village of Brokensword and across the road from Brokensword cemetery. Our congregation voted to become the Scioto United Methodist Church on March 9, 1969. State Route 4 had been known as the Scioto Trail.
In 1968-69 the sanctuary was remodeled and a large first floor Sunday School Room made into smaller class rooms and storage closet.
On June 28, 1980 ended the New Washington-Scioto charge. Scioto and Harmony Churches are now working together as a charge.
