History of the Trumbull United Methodist Church

 

 

The Trumbull United Methodist Church was organized in March of 1879 with Reverend Realm holding services in a rural school house. With many conversions and baptisms, the Church soon outgrew the school house and needed a building of its own. In the summer of 1886, the first building to be used as a church was moved into Trumbull; it was located across the street south of the present site. The first written records list two families whose descendants still maintain membership in the Trumbull United Methodist Church. Sleeth, whose one-in-law was J.C. Wilson, has a great great grandson with membership in the present church. Pine’s son-in-law was E.M. Rader, and today there is a great great great grandson who is a church member.

As the membership continued to grow, this building then became over-crowded. In 1889 the Methodists decided to build another church building, which was dedicated in October, 1889. The influx of families moving into the area again caused the need for a larger facility. Several additions to the church building still did not offer enough room for the growing congregation. It was decided to construct a new, larger church—the present building. It was dedicated in October, 1907, with membership recorded at 264.

Major remodeling of this building occurred from 1947 to 1949. Some of the changes were excavation of the remainder of the basement, a new foundation, and a new entrance. In 1951, carpet was laid over the bare wood in the narthex and the sanctuary. In late 1951, St. Stephens Episcopal Church of Grand Island sold to the Trumbull United Methodist Church its old electrically powered “tracker organ,” thus enabling use of both piano and organ during worship services. A small room was added to the west side of the sanctuary to house the organ pipes and this addition also provided a back stairway from the basement to the sanctuary. An electronic organ was purchased in 1971, when the tracker organ was sold to a Bible college at Axtell. Comfort was added to the services when the wooden pews were upholstered curing the 1980’s.

The church’s beautiful stained-glass windows were cleaned and repaired a number of times through the years. In 2000 a clear glass-like exterior cover was installed on each window. Although these windows have survived many wind and hail storms since 1907, it is hoped that the coverage will extend and protect their beauty for many more years.

In the 1980’s, a new church parsonage was constructed just north of the present church building. Just as in previous constructions, many members contributed much time and labor toward the project. Church membership remained quite constant through the years until the 1950’s, when irrigation and other agricultural interventions caused a decline in the rural population. The church then began to suffer a corresponding decline in membership. Today, membership stands at fifty.

Many fine pastors and their families have ministered to the Trumbull United Methodist Church. They have ranged in age from retired ministers to young pre-ministerial students supplied by nearby Hastings College. Although small in membership, Trumbull United Methodist Church continues to offer a nurturing fellowship, fine mission outreach, and excellent opportunities for worship.