History of Kellerton United Methodist Church

BANNER, GOODELL, WILEY, JOHNSON, THROCKMORTON, MAIN, FAUCET, DUDLEY, PEASLEY, KNOLL, PERKINS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/11/2012 at 12:01:30

OUR CHURCH: KELLERTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

By Camille Jackson, June of 2012

In 1879 the first church services were held in Kellerton by people of the Methodist denomination. The services were held in a schoolhouse east of town, under the ministry of W. W. Banner, a circuit rider. He held services every three weeks.

Sunday School was held every Sunday.

In 1885 the construction of a Methodist Church was started in the southeast part of Kellerton where the present building now stands. The building was 36 feet by 42 feet in size and cost $1200. While the main structure was being completed, church services were held in the schoolhouse just across the street. But the congregation was very anxious to get into their own building, thus they overlooked the inconveniences of uncomfortable seats and no heating. In fact, one member, a Mrs. Anna Goodell, remembers having shivered through services until she was able to purchase her first store bought coat. This she wore buttoned to the neck regardless of how warm the temperature became.

The new building was dedicated in October 1886. The membership was now 30. Rev. E. E. Wiley was the first pastor of the new church which continued to hold services every 3 weeks. J. H. Shotts was Sunday School superintendent at that time.

Other ministers who had served the church up until this time were the Rev. Johnson, one year; Rev. Throckmorton, one year; Rev. Main, one year; and Rev. Faucet, two years.

In April of 1888, the church purchased its first pipe organ, a Chic Cottage organ, from Richardson and Keyes Company. This organ served the church for many years.

In 1894, the United Brethren held services in the Methodist Church until they could erect a building of their own. Also in May of that year, the fence was sold from around the church.

As the church membership continued to grow, more room was needed and in 1900 an addition was built onto the east side of the church. This was called the League room and was used for Sunday School classrooms and a meeting place for the Epworth League, or the Youth Fellowship as it is called today.

Also in 1900, the corner stone of the Methodist Church was laid. An excerpt from the July 12, 1900 edition of the Kellerton Globe Newspaper best describes this ceremony.

CORNER STONE LAID

The corner stone of the M. E. Church was laid with appropriate ceremonies last Thursday. The exercises began in the park at eleven o'clock A. M., Rev. H. P. Dudley, of Mt. Ayr preaching from the text: "This Is None Other Than The House Of God." It had been the intention to have a basket dinner in the park after the sermon, but this part of the program was given up on account of the weather. At two o'clock the people again assembled at the church, where the ceremonies were continued according to the ritual of the M. E. Church. At the conclusion of the exercises in the church the audience went outside, where the corner stone was laid. Mayor Peasley assisted Rev. Dudley and Rev. Knoll in the work. The stone came from Indiana and is 12 inches high, l6 inches wide and 20 inches long. On the north end is engraved, "1900" and on the east side, "M. E. Church". The following articles were placed in the box: Bible, Discipline, Names of the Charter Members, Original Trustees, Letterhead of Kellerton Bank, Roll of Methodist Episcopal Sunday School with Names of Officers, Teachers and Pupils, Names of all Pastors, A copy of Central Christian Advocate, Kellerton Globe, Ringgold Record, Twice-A-Week News, Mt. Ayr Journal, Names of Subscribers, to present addition and amount subscribed, also names of those who donated work, name of carpenter in charge, and a copy of the program of the day's proceedings.

From the Kellerton Globe Newspaper Vol. 1, No. 23, Thursday, July 12, 1900 Kellerton, Iowa H. E. Perkins — Editor

Photograph by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009

Ringgold Documents maintained by Tony Mercer.
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