The Methodist Church South
organized in Wilburton in 1895 with 40 members and met in the Wilburton
Opera House on east main Street. The congregation purchased Lot 8,
Block 32 for the sum of $600 in 1903. In 1904, a wooden L-shaped
building was erected on this lot. In 1908, the homemade pews were
discarded and factory pews of golden oak were installed. Amazingly, the
present pews that we sit on each Sunday are those golden pews put here
in 1908., 101 years ago. In 1915, the church bought two lots adjoining
the church on the west and later bought a lot on the east side of the
church and built a new parsonage in 1930. In 1938, the talk was of a
new brick church. The Oklahoma Conference loaned the church $12,000,
with the money to be repaid by 1943.
The brick church provided a large sanctuary, with the old part joined to the new as Sunday School rooms and an office. The new basement provided a gathering place for the congregation dinners and general meetings. The 1950's saw much improvement; in 1956 the brick was sanded, the steeple was repainted and the pews refinished. In 1960 the tornado damaged the front and east side of the building and unroofed the parsonage. Major repairs were made and a new parsonage was built. in the late 1960's a new addition was added providing four classrooms in the basement and four rooms upstairs. Restrooms were provided and air conditioning was installed. In 1973, the pews were padded; carpeting was added; indirect lighting and two rows of chandeliers were installed in the sanctuary. From 1976 to 1980 all of the windows in the sanctuary were replaced with stained glass in honor or in memory of our members.
The basement area was completely remodeled in 2007. The kitchen was updated with new cabinets, appliances, flooring and cooking pans. The dining area and class rooms also received new flooring and closet space.
In 2008, the church acquired the old Community Care Nursing Home on the corner of NE 2nd Street and Ada Avenue. The building was torn down for a new church parking lot. An irrigation system was installed for planting around the parking area.
In 2009, the bus barn was converted to a garage to house the church
van. The church office was completely remodeled with new electrical
wiring, windows cabinets, carpeting, paint, and furnishings. A new
computer was purchased.
The heart of the Methodist church in Wilburton is its members; those who started it; those who kept it going; and those who continue its ministry today.
The brick church provided a large sanctuary, with the old part joined to the new as Sunday School rooms and an office. The new basement provided a gathering place for the congregation dinners and general meetings. The 1950's saw much improvement; in 1956 the brick was sanded, the steeple was repainted and the pews refinished. In 1960 the tornado damaged the front and east side of the building and unroofed the parsonage. Major repairs were made and a new parsonage was built. in the late 1960's a new addition was added providing four classrooms in the basement and four rooms upstairs. Restrooms were provided and air conditioning was installed. In 1973, the pews were padded; carpeting was added; indirect lighting and two rows of chandeliers were installed in the sanctuary. From 1976 to 1980 all of the windows in the sanctuary were replaced with stained glass in honor or in memory of our members.
The basement area was completely remodeled in 2007. The kitchen was updated with new cabinets, appliances, flooring and cooking pans. The dining area and class rooms also received new flooring and closet space.
In 2008, the church acquired the old Community Care Nursing Home on the corner of NE 2nd Street and Ada Avenue. The building was torn down for a new church parking lot. An irrigation system was installed for planting around the parking area.
In 2009, the bus barn was converted to a garage to house the church
van. The church office was completely remodeled with new electrical
wiring, windows cabinets, carpeting, paint, and furnishings. A new
computer was purchased.The heart of the Methodist church in Wilburton is its members; those who started it; those who kept it going; and those who continue its ministry today.