Methodist Epsicopal Church, Diagonal

EDMONDSON, TALLEY, SHERWOOD, KELLER, KING, WALKER, SMITH, STAHL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/22/2009 at 22:12:03

Methodist Epsicopal Church

Diagonal, IOWA, circa 1915

The cornerstone of the Diagonal Methodist Epsicopal Church was laid on Sunday, July 2, 1911, Reverend Charles M. EDMONDSON, pastor.

The First Methodist Church of Diagonal celebrated its 100th anniversary on September 30, 1956. In observance of the occasion, Reverend M. R. TALLEY of Des Moines noted in an article he wrote for the Diagonal Vindicator:

In 1856 Reverend Jesse SHERWOOD preached in the TALLEY log cabin. That was the first sermon given in this part of the county. The TALLEYS started a membership which later became the Bethel class. This class evolved into the Goshen Methodist Espicopal Church. The Goshen M.E. Church later became the Methodist Church of Diagonal, then, the United Church of Diagonal. Benjamin KELLER and Isacc TALLEY went to serve in the Civil War, returning with plans to build a church for the TALLEY class. They built the Bethel Church on Isaac's farm in 1868. The first pastor was E. H. KING, then Rev. WALKER. 15 years later the town of Goshen was established and the church was used as a schoolhouse. A new, larger church was built in town with an 8'x 12' entrance, tower, and bell. In 1890, under the leadership of Rev. W. C. SMITH, the church was split into parts and transported to Diagonal where it was re-built and used until 1911 when the new brick church was built.

Seven charter members when the church was built in 1911 were present for the 1956 centennial celebration. They were as follows: B. F. TALLEY and his wife Sarah (KELLER) TALLEY, I. A. TALLEY and his wife Nancy (KELLER) TALLEY, Benjamin KELLER, Michael STAHL, and Mary KELLER. I.A. TALLEY was the president of the Board of Trustees for the church in 1911.

United Church of Diagonal
 

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