ENGADINE AREA
CHURCH HISTORY
The first church services
were held in the homes of families living in Engadine area
around 1900. In 1910 a Methodist Missionary, Rev. McPritchard,
held services in the Presbyterian Church. Soon he moved
the church to a building on Main St. which is now being
used by the DeWyse Construction Co.
In 1914 a group of 12 families
moved to Engadine from Rockville, Ky. Mr Ephriam Elliott
brought them here to start the cooperage mill. Most of the
people had been baptized Methodist in Ky and wanted to build
a church. Mr. Elliott took the responsibility of raising
the money for the church; He took pledges form the men and
deducted the money from their wages. Mr. Elliott then contacted
Sears and asked them for a donation, indicating that many
of the families bought from their catalog. Sears donated
enough paint for the first coat on the new church.
The church was completed
and dedicated on January 24, 1915. The dedication sermon
was given by District Superintendent, Reverend J. Dystant,
Ph.D. This church was to be known as the Elsigood Memorial
Episcopal Church as requested by the Board of Home Missions
& Church Extension. Reverend H. Bennett was the first
pastor of the new church.
The Ladies Aid Society was
soon organized & took an active part in the welfare
of the church. In 1940, capitalize Women's Society of Christian
Service took the place of the Ladies Aid Society. All Methodist
churches throughout the country made the same change.
In 1959 they decided that
a new addition was needed. With $103.00 in the
building fund, they put in a 20'X40' foundation. The Iabor
and materials were donated. The addition provided a fellowship
hall, kitchen, bathroom and furnace room. The addition was
dedicated on July 15,1961 by Bishop Reed, Rev. Gonser, District
Superintendent and Rev. Chapko.
In 1965 we had our 50th Anniversary.
In 1973 a new parsonage was
consecrated by Rev. Vernon Wyllys. He and his family were
the first occupants.
On July 15, 1979 a church
library was established by Marjorie Cousino. She was assisted
by Leona Smith, Beth Bennett, Mary Bricker and Ruth Foote.
In 1982 a new main entry was built. A new altar area was
added and the entire interior of the church was refurbished.
New carpeting and exterior white siding were added. This
first phase was started by Rev. Audrey Dunlap.
In 1985 the second phase
of the building program was underway. Rev. Audrey Dunlap
was pastor as this time also. This project included a 16'X40'
addition which was added to the 1961 addition. A new roof
was installed over the entire addition and siding. This
addition gave us 6 class rooms, a new kitchen, a new storage
room and two barrier-free bathrooms.
In 1986 Engadine joined the
other six churches to form the Co-operative Parish. The
Co-Operative Parish includes Germfask, Paradise, Hulbert,
Grand Marais, Newberry, McMillan, and Engadine, We would
eventually be called God's Country Cooperative Parish.
June 1,1987 thru September
30, 1987 we were without a pastor. Mr. James Gribbell, a
Lay Speaker took over until our new pastor Rev. Philip Voss
arrived on October 1, 1987.
Since our building project
in 1986 we have added an office and new entry way in the
back of the church which makes our church handicap accessible.
Pastors who have served the
church since 1948 are: John Brodne,1948-1951, Konstantine
Wipp, 1951-1953, Vernon D. Wyllys, 1953-1955, Helen Royce,
1955-1957, Mrs. J. Bruce Brown, 1957-1958, G.E. Moran, 1958-1961,
Stephen Chapko, 1961-1965, Carl Shamblen, 1965-1969, Vernon
C. Wyllys, 1969-1975, James Lumsden, 1975-1976, Audrey Dunlap,
1976-1985, Ramona Cowling, 1985-1987, Phillip D. Voss, 1987-1991.
Since Pastor Voss we have had pastor Bo Lange, Pastor Ron
Piette, Pastor Max Weeks. At the present time we have Pastor
Saundra Clark.
Leatha Legault was the adult
Sunday school teacher and organist for many years. She is
still our organist.
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