1854

In 1854 these folks of the Methodist Missionary Society built a church. This was the first church built in Crestline. They started by purchasing a lot, which is now the northwest corner of N. Thoman and West Bucyrus Street. It was bought from Joseph Larwell on April 28, 1854 for a sum of $350. Most all the labor for the building was done with volunteer church labor.

A newspaper account read as follows: During service on Sunday night, Jan. 2, 1872, the sanctuary floor dropped about two inches. Knowing the ground was right under them, and after a brief time to get their breath, they continued to sing. At the Wednesday night prayer meeting on March 19, 1872, a package was given to Rev. and Mrs. W. H. Painter. It contained a paisley shawl and fifty dollars in greenbacks from the congregation. During those early days the ministers were paid a salary of $500 or $600 a year. Through the generosity of concerned members a dressed chicken, a ham, a bushel of potatoes or apples were presented to the parsonage family to help augment the family larder. Another cold and windy, Sunday morning when people arrived a sign was on the door, "No Church Today". Someone had forgotten to order coal. An interesting fact about the congregations was that they bought their own hymnals, (at a cost of 15 cents to 45 cents). That way they could take them home and practice the songs.

The church had no facilities for social activities so the dinners, musicals, youth programs and entertainment was held at Diamond Hall, located on the southwest corner of Bucyrus and Seltzer Streets, across the street from the church.

By the middle of the 1890's the church had grown to over 250 members and over 50 in the youth group which was called the Epworth League. Rev. William Kepler, who was very popular with the youth, organized the Epworth League in 1890. Because the number of members was growing, the church seemed to be getting smaller, so it was decided to build a new church.

On August 14, 1899, the M.E. church trustees sold the old church and property for $1200 to E.C. Winters after the new church was completed.

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