McConnell United Methodist Church

McConnell United Methodist Church - May, 1997 In 1865 a small group of people chose to start a Methodist worship organization. Because of their small number and a lack of money to build a church, these people met in their homes for services. In 1867 when the Salem Lutheran Church was built on the east edge of McConnell's Grove an agreement was made to use that building for their services. The two faiths would alternate service times, with one week being in the morning and the next being in the evening. This continued until 1921 when internal differences in the Lutheran faith caused the closure of the Salem Lutheran Church. The Methodist's sent their Sunday School to the United Bretheren Church in town while their church services were held in members homes as in its beginning.

In 1923 an arrangement was made with the Woodsman organization to hold meetings on the second floor of their hall. This continued until 1928 when the present church was built. The site is in the same block, 1 ½ blocks north of Main Street on the east side of Hulbert Road.

In the 1890's the Winslow Methodists quit the Nora circuit and joined the McConnell church. Christian Hollow Church was closed in the 1920's and McConnell received money from that church to help build their church in 1928. Basswood joined McConnell in 1935 and stayed until 1972 when it disbanded.

The McConnell church has a women's group that has a fund raising dinner held twice a year. The entire organization participates in helping with the area's famous "Ham Supper". One supper is held the last Saturday in April and another is held the last Saturday in October. In June they hold a luncheon for the group and close to Mother's Day they hold a mother-daughter salad supper. Area churches are invited to participate in the mother-daughter supper.

The upkeep of the building is accomplished by donations and volunteers supply the skill and manpower.

Current Trustees are:

Early history of the church is vague due to the fact that its records are held in escrow by the state. It is known that William Diveley, (Mrs. Myrtle Shippy's grandfather), was one of the first trustees of the church in 1865.

(Excerpt from the McConnell Sesquicentennial History Album. Written by Steven W. Kohn . 1988)

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