Wishard Chapel celebrates centennial, 1987
WISHARD, AMES, JACKSON, BENNETT, PADGITT, KENDALL, IMUS, COTTON, MCCREARY
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/4/2012 at 23:33:21
Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 13, 1987Centennial celebrated by Wishard Chapel
Wishard Chapel, a historic Methodist rural church located at the junction of county road J25 and Highway 169 north of Mount Ayr, celebrated its centennial Aug. 8 and 9.
The church was founded in 1887 as the result of enthusiasm developed by the evangelistic services conducted in the Side Hill Rural School (still standing) in January of that year.
The minister of the Mount Ayr Methodist church and 86-year-old Rev. James B. WISHARD, a farmer and rural religious leader, cooperated in the effort. Rev. WISHARD assisted in raising funds for the building and it was given the name of Wishard Chapel out of high regard for him.
Since that time it has served the area not only as a church but as a rural community center, hosting innumerable Farm Bureau and extension services, 4-H club activities, celebrations, and a host of other activities common to an active and progressive rural community.
Although organized as a Methodist church, it was sponsored by both Methodist and Presbyterian denominations and had pastoral leadership from both groups for several years after 1887.
The centennial services began Saturday evening, Aug. 8, with an informal luncheon, visiting and fellowship. At 7 p.m. the Ames Family Band, a musical group developed by the Kenny AMES family, took over. Mrs. AMES is a former member of the church and she and Mr. AMES were married in the church 25 years ago.
They and their son and daughter, Scott and Melissa, gave an indoor and an outdoor concert of gospel and contry music, which was very well received.
People attended from at least five states and various locations in Iowa. Total attendance for Saturday evening was 144 and on Sunday, Aug. 9, there were 166 present. The church school was held with the superintendent, Mrs. Wanda BENNETT, in charge. Special music was a solo by Tiffany PADGITT.
The morning worship was led by Pastor Jack KENDALL delivering the message on "Victory at Sea" in which he went back to his memories of events during his service as a seaman of the U.S. Navy in WW II.
A special occasion of the morning was holy communion from the origianl communion set which was purchased by Mrs. L. O. IMUS for the church in 1887. The set is owned by the Ringgold County Historical Society and is kept on display in the Cornwall Home section of the Ringgold County Pioneer Center.
After a covered dish dinner the group reassembled for the centennial service with the District Superintendent, William Cotton as guest speaker.
Special music was provided by the Ringgold Singers mixed quartet of Mr. and Mrs. Richard JACKSON and Mr. and Mrs. Jim McCREARY and a solo by Barbie McCREARY.
Pastor Jack KENDALL conducted a "Stroll Down Memory Lane" with several former members sharing their memories.
The final part of the celebration was the rededication of the chapel and its congregation to the challenges of the next century.
A history of the church and a church comemorative plate were developed and are available.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2012
Photograph by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2009
Ringgold Documents maintained by Tony Mercer.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen