The Methodist Church has been in existence in Malvern since shortly after the settling of the community in 1869. One hundred and thirty two years ago, in 1870, the church was organized as a part of the Mt. Olive Circuit of the Council Bluffs District. However, at that time it was known as the Methodist Episcopal Church Society.

The name changed to the Methodist Church in 1939. Another change, in 1947, brought a merger between the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Church giving us our present designation as the United Methodist Church. Rev. F. Plumb delivered the first sermon preached in this community in the dining room of the hotel known as the Malvern House, on April 10, 1870. Three other pastors also delivered sermons in various buildings around Malvern.

The first actual church structure was built and dedicated in 1872. It was located at 507 2nd Avenue, where it still stands today, serving as a duplex apartment building. That building served the Methodist congregation for twenty-two years and saw 14 pastors serve there.

The first parsonage was built in 1881, on the lot just north of the church. In 1966, a new parsonage was purchased at 706 Kearney Avenue.

      The present building has had 34 pastors through the decades, including our present pastor, David Kwangki Kim who just arrived in Malvern this year from Chicago. He and his family are originally from Korea and the Malvern church is Pastor Kim’s first English-speaking congregation. The Malvern church also had the privilege of having Pastor Jun Caole serve here, he is from the Philippines. There have been a total of 52 pastors in all who have served Methodist congregations here.

            On December 17, 1893, the building in which we now worship was dedicated. The original cost for the structure was $6,128.00. When the cornerstone for this building was laid, the items placed in the cavity included: a Bible, hymnal, Methodist Discipline, lists of members of the church and subscribers to the building fund, a magazine and historical records. And the dark cubbyhole behind the choir loft was designated as a library for solitary study, since only one person could fit in there comfortably.

Another major change for the church came in 1969 when the Presbyterian Church members decided to merge with the Methodist Church. Memorial gifts resulting from that merger include the cross which hangs above the choir loft, in memory of Marilyn Campbell, hymnals and a Hammond organ in memory of J. R. Hurst.

      The United Methodist Women have served the community and the congregation continuously since the charter meeting on September 5, 1940. Youth groups have always played an important part in the deve1opment of young people in our church.

Adapted from “History of Mills County Iowa, 1985” ~ transcribed by Cay Merryman

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The Methodist Church was built in 1873, the first photo was probably taken shortly thereafter.
The second photo was probably circa the early 1900's.
The color photo was taken in 2014
~ Photos compliments of Mary Beth Costello