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Memorial United Methodist Church was the result of a merger between the Otterbein Evangelical Brethren Church and the Montrose Methodist Church.

In 1870 a group of Methodists banded together to form what was known as the Montrose Society. They met every two weeks in the Montrose School. The group later built a church in 1875. Since the church was not self-supporting it was associated with the St. Agnes Mission and later with the Asbury Methodist Church. In 1880 the church was destroyed by fire. The church was not rebuilt until 1892. In 1907 and 1908 a new brick building was erected to house the expanding congregation. By 1968 the Montrose congregation had once again outgrown its building. The current congregation (2001) has renamed the church Victory Temple.

The Otterbein United Brethren Church was organized as a "Home Mission" by the Reverend William Todd in October 1922. A permanent large tabernacle was built in 1924 to house the expanding congregation. Later, in 1927, a newer building was constructed (see photograph right). In conjunction with merger of the Methodist Church and the United Brethren churches, the Otterbein Evangelical United Brethren congregation merged with the Montrose Methodist Church congregation in 1968. Currently (2001), the church is operating as Cavalry Temple Church.

The new church, built at 2701 Poplar Street, was named Memorial United Methodist Church.

Less than five years after Memorial United Methodist Church was built, a fire on January 28, 1973, destroyed all of the church building except the sanctuary. The congregation immediately made plans to rebuild and on February 24, 1974 a reconstruction service was held with Bishop Ralph Alton in attendance. On Sunday evening, October 10, 1976, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale presented Memorial United Methodist Church the Guidepost Church Award. Guidepost Magazine in its November 1976 issue said that Memorial church had earned and won the Guidepost Church Award for its courage and dedication after the tragic fire. Memorial United Methodist Church was called "the church that rose from the ashes."

The chapel was built in 1981, while Dr. W. T. Murphy was pastor. He had received a special gift from Esten Fuson, and planned and executed the plan on the chapel before he left as pastor. On 1 November 1981 Dr. Murphy left Memorial to beome the Director of Development at the Franklin United Methodist Home.

The place where the Chapel now occupies was the storage room, before and after the fire. There was a door to the Chapel from the Narthex and another from the kitchen, and in this storage area the chairs, tables, etc. were stored. It was constructed as a storage area, and not used as a Chapel until 1981.

The Parlor, and offices were there before the fire, and there was an outside door to the Pastor's Study that opened on the sidewalk west of the Study (if you go outside you can see where it was closed off after the fire). The outside door was bricked up because the pastor, the Reverend Willard Doyle thought it was unnecessary.

The years since the fire have been exciting and eventful in the life of Memorial. A special Heritage Sunday was held in connection with the 200th Anniversary of our nation; Dr. Wm. T. Murphy and Rev. Joe Easley came to church as Circuit Riders. There is an outstanding Christian Education Department with many dedicated teachers, a strong Youth program including a nursery school for two through four year olds, Bible studies Disciple I, II and III; a church van extending service to the colleges as well as to senior members. Memorials' Music Department is complete with three choirs as well as two hand-bell choirs. A pipe organ was installed in the church, made possible by a bequest from the Gladys L. Dawson estate. The Mission emphasis continues to be strong as we participate in Operation Classrooms, adults and youth participating in mission work at Four-Corners area, Henderson Settlement, and local mission areas.

As a result of a 12-Keys workshop, decisions were made to open our doors to students from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in a Latchkey program each Tuesday after school. Also, an enlarged parking area was paved, a new playground installed for pre-school and a new entrance on Poplar Street and driveway to the parking lot were completed.

Memorial members continue to look forward to the future life of the church as a place to worship God and nourish the growth of our Christian faith.

• 1875 - First Building at 17th and College, Terre Haute, IN
• 1892 - Second Building
• 1908 - Third Building
• 1920 (late) - Educational Facility added
• 1955 - Fellowship Hall and Educational Facility added

• 1922 - Began as a mission in a store at 27th and Washington,
  Terre Haute, IN
• 1922 - Became a part of the conference
• 1924 - First Building - A Tabernacle - at 25th and Deming,
  Terre Haute, IN
• 1927 - Second Building

• 1966 May - Merger of Montrose and Otterbein
• 1967-1968 - New Structure erected at 2701 Poplar Street,
  Terre Haute, IN
• 1968 October 17 - Building Consecrated with Bishop Reuben Muellet
  presiding
• 1973 January - Entire Educational Facility burned
• 1974 February - Consecration of rebuilt Facility by Bishop Ralph A. Alton
  (church property, including parsonages, debt free)
• 1989 October - Service of Dedication and Mortgage Burning by Bishop
  Ralph A. Alton

Memorial Methodist Church

Tbis brief bistory is dedicated to the Glory of God and to tbe congregations, officials and pastors of Montrose, Otterbein and Memorlal, who over tbe years with God's belp, made possible and belped consecrate Memorial United Metbodist Cburcb with prayer, hard work and love.

Memorial United Methodist Church marked its 25th Anniversary September 19, 1993. The church has heritage totalling more than 164 years, including Montrose - with more than 93 years; Otterbein - with more than 46 years, and Memorial - with 25 years.

Memorial became the first church in Terre Haute under the merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren Churches. Montrose Methodist and Otterbein EUB members, during meetings in 1964 and 1965, made plans to build a new church at 2701 Poplar Street. The four and one-half acres cost $60,000.00.

The first service in the new $575,000.00 sanctuary and educational unit was conducted on September 15, 1968 and the new structure was consecrated October 27, 1968. In 1971, the first church organ was paid for in full. In May 1973 the parsonage at 273 Terre Vista Drive was purchased.

In 1969, the recorded membership of the new church was 969. Although the church was built on the then growing east side of Terre Haute, the new modem facility was drawing people from all over the community. Church attendance and membership began to grow as well as child and youth attendance.

Memorial's outreach became greater for the Glory of God. The church annual budget grew from $73,613.00 in 1970 to $103,449.00.

A devastating fire on January 29, 1973, when the church was nearly 5 years old, destroyed all of the building except the Sanctuary and the Narthex. All educational facilities, fellowship hall, office equipment, records, books, and supplies were destroyed by fire. With God's help and excellent leadership, the membership brushed back their tears and went to work cleaning, salvaging, drying water-soaked music, planning and working toward rebuilding. So determined were the members and leaders, services were held in the damaged, heatless sanctuary the following Sunday. The Sanctuary was packed. There was an outpouring of help and aid from other churches, businesses, individuals, the school corporation and the United Methodist Church.

Church rebuilding cost was set at $436,282.00. An enlarged and improved structure was rebuilt and then reconsecrated February 24, 1974. A parsonage on Miller Drive for the Associate Pastor was board-approved November 1974.

Two Sunday morning services were initiated in March 1976 to accommodate more members and visitors.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale, co-publishers of Guideposts Magazine came to Terre Haute in October 1976 to award Memorial's congregation the Guideposts Magazine Church Award for 1976.

Mr. Van Varner, Senior Editor of Guideposts, visited the church and its membership, and afterwards wrote the stirring story "The Church'That Rose From The Ashes" about Memorial's fire and rebuilding. The story appeared in the November 1976 issue of the magazine. In addition to church hierarchy and former ministers, distinguished guests included federal, state, local and school officials.

Memorial reached out to its members and to the community and the world in many ways: aid to area families, a food pantry for the needy, support of various missions and Methodist Homes, a Nursery School, Ministry to Glenn Home Children, World Services and good Christian fellowship.

In 1988, a Mortgage Burning service was conducted that marked the payoff of not only the church mortgage, but also mortgages on both parsonages.

Memorial and its members have been blessed with beautiful music. Services during the years have been enhanced by Sermons in Song, excellent Music Directors, Organists, the Chancel, Bell, Youth, Carol and Cherub Choirs. A new $200,000.00 Holtkamp tracker pipe organ was built especially for Memorial and dedicated in 1990.

A new parsonage at 27 Monroe Boulevard was purchased in 1991 for the Associate Pastor.

Fund raising projects as well as fun and fellowship have been provided by Style Shows, Ice Cream Socials, a "This is Your Life" Program, Circuit Riders Sunday, Mother Daughter and Father/Son Banquets, Sweetheart Dinners, Class Parties, Chili Suppers and many other worthy projects.

Dedicated leaders, teachers, Youth Programs, Bible Studies, School of Christian Life, Rally Days, Holiday Pageants and Vacation Church School helped spread Christian Education. United Methodist Women (earlier WSCS); Men's and Youth Groups were major contributors to the successful outreach of the church.

Outstanding, dedicated clergy inspired and led the congregations. The sick were comforted by the presence and prayers of their pastors and survivors were helped in the of family member loss.

Other improvements to the church include a chapel, new carpet in the Sanctuary in 1984; a new $34,000.00 Van in 1991, and a new P.A. system in the Sanctuary, with speakers in the narthex, nursery, and fellowship hall and other improvements too numerous to list.

Memorial United Methodist Church over the years grew from a budget of $73,000.00 in 1970 to one of $387,629.00 in 1993. This growth has helped increase the church's ability and responsibility to spread God's Love and Goodness to many more individuals and groups, and to help increase understanding of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.

Memorial Pastors and Associate Pastors include:

Pastors
• 1966 - 1968 Leland L. Brett
• 1967 - 1969 William E. Hughes
• 1969 - 1975 Willard J. Doyle
• 1975 - 1981 William T. Murphy
• 1982 - 1983 Lloyd M. Wright
• 1983 - 1994 Charles W. Ballard

Associates
• 1972 - 1976 Robert P. Coleman
• 1976 - 1979 Joseph N. Easley
• 1979 - 1984 C. Archibald Hawkins
• 1984 - 1986 Barton F. Peterson
• 1986 - 1990 Michael J. Seaney
• 1990 - 1991 Bret S. Myers
• 1991 - 1994 Larry E. Dimmick

Student Assistant
• 1968 - 1972 John E. Aleshire

Since the above presentation by Jesse Williams (09/19/93)
Memorial Pastors and Associate Pastors include:

Pastors
• 1994 - 1997 Paul Kern
• 1997 - 2002 Bruce A. Buckley
• 2002 - 2005 Cyndi Alte
• 2005 - James E. Gentry

Associate Pastors
• 1994 - 2001 Sue Cartee
• 2001 - 2003 Steven Bahrt
• 2003 - 2005 Christopher Millay