Please do not hesitate to call Pastor Jackie

History of the Zoar United Methodist Church at Woollam. The history of the this church dates back to 1862 when the first meetings were held in the Old Bland community in homes. Large gathering were held in a barn of Mr. Werfelmann. In 1868 the first church building was erected about three miles northeast of present day Bland. This was during the time when Rev. John Meyer was the pastor of the church. This edifice remained at the place of its erection from 1868 until 1889, when the congregation divided. Then south side members drew off and built a church about one mile south of present day Bland, the northern part of the congregation built near New Woollam, and the eastern part built in Owensville.
The Zoar congregation built in 1889. This church building still serves the United Methodists of the Woollam area. The ministers of the church who served the church before its division were the Reverends: H. Brune, John Meyer, H. Brinkmeyer, Charles Steinmeyer, Louis Kunz, H. Hankemeyer, F. H. Miller, C. Mardorf, August Koewing, J. M. Rohde, George L. Zocher, F.J. Sternberg, and Henry Miller. It was during Rev. Miller's time that the church was erected at Woollam. In 1889, the twenty acres on which the church now stands was perchased from Frederick Strehlman for $45, by the trustees of the church; Gustav Bock, Wiechmann Boettcher, and Christian Schuenemeyer. The site on a hill and along a main trail was chosen one mile south of (New) Woollam. The members in good standing of the Woollam Methodist in 1889 numbered a total of fifty-three. The Woollam Church has always shared ministers with another church. Bland and Woollam shared pastors from 1889 to 1895; those being Reverends Henry Miller (1889 - 1891) and Gustav Meyer (1891 -1895).
Since 1895 the church has been combined with the Owensville church. The pastors who have served us with the Owensville church have been the Reverends: David Froshly, C, E, Baumgartner, Henry Koewing, W. K. M. Schmidt, G. A. Prietz, Carl Neumeyer, Louis H. Winter, Carl Opp, Harold Dude, J. Clifford, A. W. Darter, W. A. Waters, Homer Steinhardt, R. W. Molette, Daniel Shores, Louis Dodson, Lloyd Tyree, Ben Teague (died in the pulpit during Thanksgiving service held in Christian Church in Owensville), Jesse J. McNeeley, Alfred Daniels, Robert W. Davis, Norman Charter, Kenneth Green, John Maynard, Jimmie Dace, John Bartelson, Thomas Klamert, Julius Ketsenberg, Jesse Norris, Dean Fox, Kenneth Johnson, Frank Husted, and Jackie Asher. Associate pastors serving the church when the charge was combined with Bland, Canaan, Owensville and Woollam were the Reverends: Susan Watson, Jesse A. Slover, Rose Bartelson, Charles E. Baker, Mark Williams, Alan C. Michel, and Charles Pickle.
The original church was built with white clapboard siding, three arched shuttered windows on the north and south sides. This simple tin roofed frame structure was laid on a stone foundation crossed with oak timbers. The rectangular room had a center aisle in which sat a wood burning stove. Two center opening doors opened directly to the outside. Interior lighting was provided by wall mounted oil burning lamps with mirrored reflectors. Simple pews , first painted gray then grain painted an oak color were in use until remodeling in 1975. Furnishing consisted of a single pulpit positioned in the center of the raised part of the sanctuary. Also on this platform were three elegant chairs behind the pulpit, the piano, a parlor table and the single long alter rail.
Additions to the original building were made in 1957, with a small basement, two rooms and an entry with a bell tower. In 1974 furnishing and interior were changed. Pews were replaced by fine new white oak pews. Additional furnishings added were communion table, a baptismal font, new alter with center entry.
In 1980 a basement was dug under the complete church, making a fellowship hall available with running water, and indoor toilets. Air-conditioning and a new central heating furnace for the enlarged area was installed in 1984. In 1990, the addition of two Sunday School rooms behind the alter area were finished.

The United Methodist Church at Woollam continues to serve the community and welcomes any and all to Sunday School at 9 AM and Worship Service at 9:30 each and every Sunday.

Our current presiding Bishop in the Missouri Area is Bishop Robert Schnase who came to us in September of 2004 from Texas, like Bishop Ann Scherer who preceded him and Bishop Robert Goodrich who presided over our conference some 20-30 years ago.  Bishop Schnase is most interested in promoting healthy, vital, congregations and building fruitful disciples for Christ.