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| Indiana church is progressing beyond 150 years of worship |
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ST. PAUL, Ind. — With the coming of the railroad to the small town of St. Paul, located on the Decatur-Shelby counties’ line, churches were established, meeting in small groups in informal locations.
The year 1857 saw the first organized class of the Methodist Episcopal Church meeting in the upper room of a buggy factory. About 1858, a union church was built and used jointly by the Methodists and Lutherans. During the Civil War, Methodists built a frame building which burned in early 1892 after Sunday morning services.
The present brick building was erected within the year on a lot purchased for $80. Then, 1924 saw major changes made in the sanctuary, along with added Sunday School rooms; in 1969, the name was changed to St. Paul United Methodist Church.
A written history collection has been printed describing the various events in the life of the church. In 1992, a special service celebrated the centennial event of the construction of the building, attended by the bishop and district superintendent as well as many former residents and members. The written history and the pictorial album was displayed.
The year 2007 saw the church celebrating its 150th year of the organized congregation. For three months, changing pictorial histories were displayed.
The church has been active within the community, serving as a school location in the very early years along with Sunday morning, evening and revival services with “hellfire and brimstone” preaching. Community choirs were conducted for 43 continuous years for Easter and Christmas combined services.
Controversy surrounded the use of musical instruments in the early church. The old pitch pipe was acceptable, and finally a manually pumped organ was used. But a piano and any stringed instrument was considered a tool of the devil. Violins were prohibited, being considered a “fiddle” used at dances. Today, it does have a piano and an electronic organ.
Church records show that major repairs were contracted to repair and rebuild nine of the stained glass windows in 1956. The work was completed for $216. Within the last 10 years, two front side windows were removed and rebuilt for $1,500 each.
The early 1980s saw a major renovation of the building, indoors and out. Since that time, a new roof has been applied, the steeple renovated and re-roofed and new flooring laid in a Sunday School room.
Today, we are a struggling congregation, but proud of our history and representation of God’s presence in the community.
-Estelle Hargitt |
| 6/9/2010 |
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