History of First United
Methodist Church
Channahon, Illinois
The early history of religious teaching of the Methodist faith in Will Co. dates back to the first settler in the present bounds of Will County . This was the Rev. Jesse Walker, who came to Plainfield in 1826 and was in charge of the Joliet Circuit.
Rev. Walker and his later helpers preached wherever they could gather together a few followers to listen to them.
Father Beggs a little later also settled in Plainfield and preached throughout the county, later having a regular charge in Channahon.
The Rev. Mr. Perry was the first regular minister in Channahon. He was a Congregational Minister and held services in a house owned by Russell Tryon, which was also used for a schoolhouse during the week, Rev. Perry being the teacher.
Later the house was used by the Methodists also, each denomination using it on alternate Sundays.
The earliest Methodist Minister of Channahon charge we can find in the records is the Rev. Isaac Pool who preached in 1852-53.
Rev. Albert L. Adams was minister in 1853-1855.
At this time, Channahon was listed in the Conference minutes as “Channahon Mission,” which probably meant that some financial help was furnished by the conference.
Rev. Adams had followed the medical profession until he was forty years of age, but because ( he was) so interested in the church, he gave up medicine and began preaching in 1851.
Channahon Mission, which was then a circuit of three Sunday Schools, having a total of 115 pupils, and boasting 48 members of the “Society” and having not “meeting house” on the Circuit, was the third appointment of Rev. Adams.
During the first year of his pastorate, 1854, the original church was built.
On August 8 1854, Edward and Hannah Jessup deeded to the trustees and their successors a lot of ground upon which they “were to erect or build, or cause to be Episcopal Church. The trustees at that time were Joseph Lewis, Iva O. Knapp, John s. Jessup, Geo. B. Davis and Joseph W. Fryer.
The new church was built by E. W. Sage.
Stephen R.. Beggs, who was associated with the early mission work of the country, was appointed at the fall conference of 1855 to succeed Rev. Adams. He served only one year and was then superannuated.
The Rev. T. L. Olmstead, a young man, was sent to Channahon in 1856 and remained two years.
During his second year, 1857, Rev. Adams, broken in health, returned to Channahon to spend his last years. His health gradually failed until he died Sept. 11, 1859 in Channahon.
Rev. Adams was a great help to Rev. Olmstead and during those years, the church membership reached 115.
In Dec. of 1856, the bell in the old church was bought and installed.
A record of this was found in an old letter, written by Mrs. Geo. B. Davis to her sister on Dec. 21, 1856. An extract of the letter concerning the bell reads as follows:
…..”Had fine supper and donation for the bell. Had a splendid time and magnificent supper-everything the season afforded, from two pyramid cakes on down to-I could not tell it all on a whole sheet of paper! Just imagine everything in the way of goodies!
Bro. Olmstead was more than pleased and surprised at the liberality of Channahon-and best of all, they raised enough for the church bell. And, today it was announced that the bell was in Minooka and would probably be hung in the course of the week.
The cost is $239.00 leaving about $40 to be applied on the getting of blinds for the windows. We are going to have a Watch Night Meeting, which will be protracted if all things seem favorable. Elder Gibson is expected! So you see, we shall have the bell to “Ring out the old year and ring in the New!!” no preventing Providence .
You see, Bro. Olmstead has the go-ahead-itiveness that is needed here-as well as everywhere-and I hope and have faith yet for Channahon!”………
Rev. Olmstead was followed by Rev. U. P. Gollady in 58-59, T. C. Young 59-60, C. S. McReading 60-61, R. Wake 61-62. Little of interest could be found concerning these years.
Rev. R. N. Morse was sent to Channahon in 63-64.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees April 13, 1864, means of raising the remainder of the debt on the church were discussed. There were present Bros. Althouse, Lewis, Knapp, Fowler, Beggs and Morey. On a motion by Bro. Lewis, “Bro Knapp was engaged at a charge of $5 per day to canvas the neighborhood for subscriptions to cancel the church debt and to report at the next meeting.
At a meeting held April 25, 1864, Dr. Knapp reported he had succeeded in raising $309 by subscriptions and the trustees assumed the balance of $20 and motion was made “that it be announced in church the following Sabbath tat all indebtedness on the church property was paid.”
Rev. J. S. David came to Channahon charge in 1864 remaining two years.
During his stay, the trustees reported in their minutes, repair work on the church and parsonage which included the refinishing of inside of church and the purchase of a new carpet; about $250 being raised to cover the cost of the work.
Rev. J. O. Cramb became pastor in 1866 and was reappointed in “67.
Rev. Cramb was a large athletic man of very decided opinions and the ability to back them up.
A story the older folks used to like to repeat concerned him and a none too enviable character of the saloon crowd who took offense at something Rev. Crab had said.
He approached Rev. Cramb in “Fowlers” store and said “Cramb, if you weren't a minister I'd invite you outside and give you a licking.” Rev. Cramb took off his coat and, laying it on the counter, remarked: “We'll lay the preacher on the counter with the coat, now you can settle what you want to with just Cramb.” Needless to say, the other fellow beat a hasty retreat.
During Rev. Cramb's pastorate, October 1867, the trustees decided to rent the pews in order to meet the expenses of the church. At this time, the heating of the church was changed. The spaces occupied by stoves were filled with extra pews; the building being the heated by “stoves erected I the basement,” with necessary appendages to carry heat above.”
The cost of this change was about $250.
The Rev. Cramb later gave up preaching and went into business in Nebraska .
Following Rev. Cramb was Rev. R. K. Bibbins in 1868-69; G. L. Wiley 1869-70; F. H. Brown 1870-71; J. Caldwell in 1871 to 1873; Benj. Close 1873-1874.
During these years little could be learned of the activites of the church.
In 1874 to 1876 Rev. G. Libby came to Channahon Charge.
In April 1875 the trustees voted to raise the church six feet and finish the basement for social use. The plans were practically finished and a large part of the necessary funds subscribed when there being considerable objection to a basement, it was decided to build either a separate building or and addition to the old one on the east end 24 x 34 ft.; the latter idea being finally decided upon.
Bickford and Brockway were awarded the contract, the cost was to be $515.
The addition was completed about the middle of July 1875, some changes being made brought the total cost to $535.
The building committee was Joseph Fitch, Wm. Gathany and Allan Carpenter.
Rev. R. K. Bibbins was returned as pastor in 1876 to 1878.
In 1877 a new organ was purchased of Packard make and costing $114. The amount was paid for by a few local subscriptions.
J.R. Gillispie was pastor in 1878 and 1879. He died in Channahon Oct. 1879, and is buried in Channahon Cemetery .
He was succeeded by J. P. Morris in 1879-1880.
At this time the pews were again rented to meet the expenses, $674.50 being the amount raised in this way.
Rev. Morris was followed by Rev. J. R. Allen in 1880-81 and M.F. Minty in '81 to '83. At this time over $300 was spent in repair and purchase of carpet and new lamps.
Rev. F. B. Brayton was pastor during 1883-84. J. f. Kellog in 1984-86; A. H. Kistler 1886-87; W. W. Batcheller from 1887-1890. Rev. Batchellor married Lenore Tryon of Channahon.
Rev. J. S. David was returned to Channahon in 1890-1891, 26 years after his first serving in Channahon..
Rev. A. W. Niell was sent here in 1891 but stayed only until April 1982 when he left to attend school and Rev. J. S. Darwin succeeded him and stayed until Jan. 1894.
He was followed by O. F. Hall in 1894 to 1896.
Rev. B. F. Wilson took charge in 1896-97. A short time ago he was known to be living in California but had given up preaching.
Rev. O.T. Canfield was in charge from 1897-1899. He is still preachin in the Rock River Conference being at Lombard . Rev. George W. B. Snell served from Oct. 1899 to June 1900. The records say “he Left”.
He was succeeded by Rev. Alfred E. Harris who stayed the remainder of 1900 and thru 1901. He later went to Hawaii and died there.
Ardon W. Otis was pastor from Oct. 1901 until April 1903. A Rev. Wythembock served from then until the middle of July 1903 when Rev. J. R. Chenvrant took charge and remained until Oct. 1904.
Rev. A. D. Welsh was here in 1904-05, Fred K. Rich 1905-06, Wm. R. Leslie 1906-07, John E. Rogers 1907-08 and Charles Lyone 1908-09.
Rev. Frank Roy Briggs came in 1901 staying one year.
It was thru his efforts that the new pews were obtained which we were fortunate enough to save from the fire and refinished and are being used in the new church.
Also at this time new colored glass memorial windows were put in, concrete steps instead of the old wooden ones, the outside painted ect. Rev. Briggs is preaching in Valparaiso , Ind.
Rev. Stephen Kiser was minister in 1910-11. He is now living in Africa .
Rev. R. K. Sutton had the charge from 1911 to March 1913. The pulpit was supplied by different students until July when Rev. C. H. Monroe became pastor until June 1914; the remainder of the conference year being again supplied by different students.
In 1914 the Channahon charge was put in the same on as Minooka, Rev. H. A. Snyder being pastor during 1914-15.
Rev. J. W. Lowery was minister during 1915-17. He is now living in Joliet .
In 1917 Channahon was added to the Elwood charge with Rev. R. W. Putnam as pastor during 1917-18 and a Rev. Gillihan in 1918-19.
In Oct. 1919 Rev. Clarence Diercks came to Elwood and Channahon and remained six years. He is now at Amboy, Illinois .
During the last year of his stay, the old church was given some badly needed repairs, a new furnace was put in, auditorium repapered and painted, and the social room remodeled and decorated.
The work, costing about $1000 was finished in the Fall of 1925 about the time Rev. Herbert Chenoweth came to Channahon.
The last social gathering of any kind was a play “Under the Laurels” given March 6 th , two weeks before the church was destroyed, for on March 19, 1926, the old church was struck by lightening and burned to the ground.
Standing on the site of the ruins of the old church which stood for all the years of labor, service and religious teachings of four generations, it seemed as if the task before us was more than we could do.
But, the same spirit that prompted those, 70 odd years ago to build a house of worship was no less lacking in the present generation and by a united effort, we have today, a new church to be dedicated to the Lord's work.
To not one, but all; to not only our own small community but to the many outsiders also, who so generously helped, belongs the praise of bringing it into existence.
As the trustees names were given who were in charge when the old church was built, so not 73 years later, the trustees serving on the board as the new one has been erected should be named.
They are Proman Smith, Chairman; Alla Martens, Treasurer; Grace Kipp, Secretary; Leslie Lewis, Sherman Lewis, Ralph Davis, Roy McCowan and Allen McCowan.
The building committee is C. R. Hulbert, Proman Smith and Grace Kipp.
The finance committee, Ralph Davis, Chairman, Leslie Lewis, Alla Martens, Allen McCowan and B. V. Green.
The cost of the church has been about $10,500.
We are proud of our new building and while missing the old sentiment, and associations connected with the old building, we hope the new one will fill more adequately the needs of the present time and be an inspiration to all to do their part in keeping up and advancing the spiritual welfare of Channahon.
Flora Tryon Davis
January 16, 1927
1954-Parsonage built-104 Sage St.
1959-Education Building added
1975-Mortgage paid off
1993-Miracle Dunday, May 10 th raised $90,000.
June 1 st , closing on new 9.9 acre site.