(Portions published in the Parsons Sun story in November, 1971, as the 100th anniversary of Methodism in Parsons was celebrated.)

Early Methodism began in the Parsons vicinity actually before the incorporation of the city. 

A number of church leaders settled in what is now Labette County and began conducting services as early as 1867, the city of Oswego the only point where a class was formed. 

Church information is scattered, but other earlier dates are recorded. 

A conference in 1868 created the Oswego circuit embracing all of Labette County.  In 1870, the Oswego District was formed, but was later changed in 1873 and included in the Humboldt District. 

Parsons was placed in the Fort Scott District in 1875. 

According to The History of Labette County published by Nelson Case in 1902, Methodism in Parsons does not know its date of birth. 

What was then the United Brethren in Christ Church (now Faith UMC), dates to 1868 when a class of 10 members met in the home of James Beaver several miles from the present site of Parsons.  The group, though, formally organized in Parsons in February 1875. 

Other class meetings, later to be organized as the First Methodist Church were held, one such gathering recorded to have taken place south of Parsons. 

Mrs. Helen Noyes Daily wrote from California in 1941 at the age of 94 concerning meetings conducted in Parsons in 1869 by a Methodist missionary on his way to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).  About 20 persons attended, she related. 

In the summer and fall of 1870, meetings were held every two to three weeks in the log cabin of Abraham Carey, in the area which is now the city of Parsons.  Carey was active in the city's early-day history and in the organization of other churches here. 

In mid-December of the same year, the Rev. A.W. King preached the first Methodist sermon in or over Hazard's saloon. 

At the next annual conference, in March 1871, the Rev. G.W. Pye was appointed to New Chicago (now Chanute), with Parsons in the circuit.  It is recorded he preached in halls on Forrest Avenue (now Broadway), first in Hewe's Hall near Central and later in what was known as Carey's Hall, which stood where the present Parsonian Hotel stands. 

The upper floor of that building was used by both the Methodists and Presbyterians for church purposes which included a combined Sunday School. 

Classes and other Methodist work were organized with the Rev. Pye coming to Parsons every two weeks. 

The town company had offered each church group city lots on which to construct buildings, but the Methodist groups did not accept the land and, instead, secured a location at 18th and Belmont.  Subscriptions totaling $3,500 were received to erect the facilities. 

A quarterly conference was held in early 1872 at which time a building committee was appointed.  Bids were received a month later and a contract for $4,753 was awarded. 

However, pressing financial needs and a dispute over title to the lots forced postponement of the building project. 

Later that year, a small tabernacle was erected at a cost of $700.  Dedication of the structure was held on Nov. 3, 1873. 

Services the following year were held irregularly because of the inability of church members to support a pastor. 

Finally, the church trustees were forced to sell the tabernacle.  It was purchased by the United Brethren congregation and moved to a location on South 21st Street. 

With the building gone, services again were held in halls, vacant store rooms and other such places as could be secured. 

In November, 1877, the cornerstone was laid for the first brick edifice.  The foundation was completed and covered during the winter of 1878, with work resuming in the spring. 

The church was host to the annual conference in 1886.  During the conference session, a nationwide railroad strike occurred, having disastrous effects on the community and church interests. 

On April 29, 1909, disaster struck when the church was one of several buildings destroyed by fire in the adjacent block. 

It was replaced in 1910 at a cost of $40,000.  A week-long celebration was held with the dedication conducted by Bishop W.A. Quayle.  The church again entertained the annual conference that same year. 

Originally organized as a United Brethren in Christ Church, the first building for what is now Faith United Methodist Church was located at 213 South 21st, the building purchased from the Methodists. 

It was the scene of the 1878 session of the Osage Conference.  Large crowds were in attendance and the Sunday meetings were moved to the Congregational Church. 

In 1896, the United Brethren Church was moved to the corner of 24th and Crawford and 10 years later, a parsonage was erected just north of the church. 
In 1909, the conference approved plans for a new church edifice and dedication was held the following year.  The new church, described as "pride of the conference," hosted the 1910 conference session. 

The national church organization became the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1946 and in 1968 merged with the Methodist Church. 

Now located on land formerly owned by the Katy Hospital Association, the church was first constructed there in 1968 with educational facilities and fellowship hall which was also used for worship services. 

That structure was heavily damaged in a fire in mid-1980.  The congregation immediately began a rebuilding program which included much of the damaged structure and the addition of a sanctuary to the east. 

With the growth of the city at the turn of the century, it became necessary to provide safety precautions for church and older persons crossing the railroad to attend church functions. 

A meeting was held in January 1902 at which time a committee was appointed to ascertain the sentiment for a new church on the west side of Parsons. 

Agreement was reached after some time, that if 35 members and about $3,500 could be secured, the Rev. I.B. Pulliam would come here to organize the group and make a request to the annual conference for a pastor. 

That action came and the Rev. C.L. Hovgard was appointed first pastor of the Washington Avenue Methodist Church. 

Official organization of the new congregation came in 1904.  Services were held in the YMCA auditorium until a building could be erected.  The site was 23rd and Washington. 

A second and larger structure was built in 1926, the congregation first meeting for a period of time in the basement portion of the building. 

The Hamilton Chapel United Methodist congregation was organized in October 1925.  Its name honors the first pastor, the Rev. Wade H. Hamilton.  Formerly located on 12th Street between Appleton and Morton, its building was moved to the present site at 14th and Clark.  An addition was made with the purchase of a church building at Ladore in 1953.  Another major addition was completed in the late 1980's. 

As the Methodist Church took steps to eradicate segregation, the Parsons church and other black churches in the area became a part of the Kansas Conference. 

Formation of the Wesley United Methodist Church came in 1979 with the merger of two of the churches - First Methodist Church and Washington Avenue Methodist Church. 

Two attempts at merging the congregations in the late '60s had failed, but with that came a determination to provide combined and expanded ministries to the community.  A program for youth, summer Vacation Church Schools and women's groups was established. 

The naming of a youth director for the two congregations came in 1971 with the appointment made by the Kansas East Annual Conference.  Although the youth program lasted only two years, other activities continued. 

Celebration of the Methodist Centennial in Parsons was held in 1971 with a combined service held in early November culminating a year-long observance by First United Methodist Church.  In addition to Washington Avenue, congregations of Faith and Hamilton Chapel churches took part. 

Then, early on the morning of March 5, 1978, fire again struck--this time destroying the Washington Avenue building.  Emergency plans were set in place and the congregation met the following day for regular Sunday worship in the all-purpose room at Lincoln Elementary School. 

Office space was acquired the following week at the Parsonian Hotel and was maintained there for several weeks while services were continued at the Lincoln School. 

Program planning as well as efforts to acquire a more permanent location for worship services began immediately.  The Council on Ministries met for a lengthy session on Monday night in the home of Charles and Ellen Thiebaud. 

After several weeks, the congregation accepted an invitation from First United Methodist Church to use its facilities--first with separate worship services but combining the Sunday School hour.  A decision to combined the worship services was made at a later date and by winter, discussion on merging the two congregations was well underway. 

The Administrative Board decided early not to do major repairs, an indication of things to come.  The long process of a building program thus started. 

Those named to the building committee were Oren Crane and Eugene Harper from the former Washington Avenue congregation and Harriett Rench and Merrill Christy from First Church with Marvin Cinotto, also from First Church, as chairman. 

A representative from the national agency of the United Methodist Church conducted a fund-raising campaign, money which was to be combined with proceeds from the sale of property owned by both churches. 

Land at 23rd and Washington, including a major portion of the block on Main was sold as was the church parsonage at 3110 Briggs. 

The church secretary at the time, the wife of the Lutheran minister, became interested in the First Church at 18th and Belmont.  That congregation eventually purchased the building at a cost of $60,000 even though plans were well underway to remove stained glass windows from the structure. 

Acquisition of a site for the new facility also became a major factor.  Although Washington Avenue had purchased land surrounding its building for possible expansion, it could not be used for a new structure because it did not meet building codes for providing adequate parking as well as construction of a ground-level building large enough to accommodate the new congregation. 

A number of locations were considered, but to no avail.  It was then that the church received a huge boost--the gift of a 12-acre tract of land on the northeast corner of the city given by Ray and Kay Taylor in memory of Ray and Edith Taylor, John Taylor and James Taylor. 

Thus the site off Leawood was approved for a new facility and planning intensified for what was to become a 23,000 square foot structure. 

Construction started in mid-June, 1981, the day after the Administrative Board had given its final approval.  Deill Construction Company of Pittsburg was general contractor.  That firm's bid was for $1.2 million. 

The building began to rise, first with much of the educational wing on the north side enclosed.  The fellowship hall followed with the sanctuary last. 

Floor construction in the sanctuary came late to facilitate use of heavy equipment for placement of beams for the high peak sanctuary roof.  Installation of a stained glass window to illuminate the chancel area with natural light was completed. 

Stained glass windows from the downtown church were installed in the parlor and library.  A round window taken from the chancel depicting Jesus' ascension was installed in the small chapel.  Window pictures of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, and his brother, Charles, were placed at the front entrance. 
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Cornerstones from the First and Washington Avenue buildings were placed on the tower at ground level as was a new stone for Wesley Church in ceremonies held in late February. 

The congregation met for the first time in the new building on July 4, 1982.  Con-secration services were held the following Sunday, July 11.  Former ministers from both churches participated. 

With the building virtually completed and placed in use, a prediction was made by building committee member Oren Crane that with current interest rates, the new church could be paid off by Valentine's Day, 1983, less than nine months after it was opened.  That prediction came true. 

It was described as an "economic quirk" --interest rates approaching 10 to 17 per cent working for rather than against the church members.  About 90 per cent of the cost was paid for without borrowing a dime. 

Dedication of the building was held exactly one year after it was opened, on July 3, 1983.  The service was conducted by Bishop Ben Oliphant of the Kansas Area. 

Church planners had started with a large sum to begin with, receiving $330,000 in insurance after the Washington Avenue Church was destroyed by fire.  Coupled with this were property sales totaling $246,000 as well as campaign pledges of $265,600.  Other funds were collected in memorials and fund-raising events. 

Interest obtained through investing church funds approached $175,000 leaving the congregation only $75,000 short of paying for the new facility.  The remainder was borrowed, though, with the church paying $11,350 in interest .

Almost from the beginning the need for more classrooms existed. Some efforts to start a building fund were made, but with no official action.