The following article, a brief history of the Abingdon United Methodist Church, recently appeared in the online edition of the ABINGDON ARGUS. (http://www.eaglepublications.com/abingdon.html) The editor of the ABINGDON ARGUS has given permission to post the article in its entirety. Newspaper: Abingdon Argus Knox County, IL United Methodist Church to Celebrate 100 years September 17 1998 On Sunday, September 20, the congregation of the ABINGDON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the church building. Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher will be bringing the message in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. All former pastors and their wives along with the District Superintendent, Rev. Terry Clark of Galesburg, have been invited as special guests. A potluck dinner will be served at noon. Following the dinner, former pastors will be sharing memories as will be those of the congregation. Methodist began meeting in 1832, when a local preacher named HIRAM PALMER began visiting the log cabins of families in the Abingdon area. By 1833 an organized society of seven members were meeting at the log cabin of A.D. SWARTS. The first quarterly meeting was held in 1834 with PETER CARTWRIGHT the presiding elder. The meeting was held in the log cabin of JACOB and BETHSHEBA WEST. In 1839 the congregation moved to the newly built frame schoolhouse on the northwest corner of Jefferson and Pearl Streets, worshiping there until about 1847-48. At that time a comfortable church was built on the northeast corner of Washington and Jackson street. But by 1869, the congregation had outgrown its building and began worshiping in the chapel of Hedding College where it worshipped for seven years. During the pastorate of D.H. GRAY in 1867-68, the congregation built a two story frame building which was considered a handsome edifice. The building stood on the northeast corner of Latimer and Washington Streets and was built at a cost of $6,000. S.T. MOSSER, the church's choir director, raised funds in 1898 for the purchase of a Lyon and Healy pipe organ. Because of the architecture of the building, members decided to build a new building instead of remodeling the old one. Had they put the pipe organ in the old building there would be no room for the pulpit. Had they moved the pulpit, there would be no room for the worshipers. A contract was let to HOOKER and HUGHEY, local contractors, on March 7, 1898, for a new building at a cost of $8,170 plus the old building. Much of the old building was used in the new structure. The new pink granite building and equipment were valued at $20,000. Members paid $492 for art glass windows; $600 for pews; $873 for steam heat and radiators; $200 for decorating; $910 for 26,300 Sioux Falls pink granite stones, sills, caps, and corner stones. The pulpit and pulpit chairs were donated by W.C. HALL and the pulpit Bible by F. O. CHESNEY. The new building was dedicated December 25, 1898. The bell in the steeple was hung in 1899. Tie rods were added for support on the belfry in 1917. The great weight of the bell became a problem for the structure of the church and the bell was placed on the flooring of the bell tower. A set of electronic carillons were installed to play from the tower in December 1986. To accommodate all worshipers, a ramp was constructed outside the northwest entrance to the sanctuary in 1985. A handicap accessible restroom was installed in 1994. Over the years repairs and enhancements have been required to maintain the church that we know today. At present the church is valued at approximately $2,000,000. The congregation has become stewards of the beautiful edifice now and they must remain as examples for the generations that will worship in the building in the future. Rev. Gene Ramsey, pastor, and the members of the church invite the public to join them in the celebration of this centennial anniversary of the church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Permission to post: We would be happy to allow you to post the article. Please attribute it to the Abingdon Argus. Tom Hutson Publisher eaglepub@macomb.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. --------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Connie Lovitt Bates