CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1809 – First pastor appointed to the Vincennes Methodist Church
1828 – Congregation met in court house while work was performed on church building. Property was purchased from William Henry Harrison for $50
1829 – Brick building constructed at Third and Buntin streets
1894 – Property was purchased at corner of Fourth and Perry streets for a large church building
April 17, 1899 – Cornerstone laid for new building at Fourth and Perry streets
April 1, 1900 – New building dedicated
May 3, 1917 – Fire destroys building – decision to rebuild
May 4, 1919 – Rebuilt facility dedicated
1901-1934 – First Methodist Episcopal Church met at Fourth and Perry streets
1939-1968 – Name changed to First Methodist Church
November 16, 1958 – Whitman Center Building cornerstone laid
1968 – Name changed to First United Methodist Church
September 20, 2009 – Congregation celebrated 200th year of mission and ministry to the community of Vincennes
FOUNDATION – FIRST METHODISTS
The Second Circuit formed in Indiana was the Vincennes Circuit. Peter Cartwright, the great Methodist Circuit Rider, came into our area in 1808, thus he brought Methodism to Vincennes in 1808.
He encountered, near a settlement called Busroe, emigrants who were Methodists, Baptists, and Cumberland Presbyterians. However, there were also Shakers. Cartwright recalls that there was an older brother named Collins who withstood these Shakers well in private, but who had no eloquence in public debate. Hence, Cartwright notes, the Shaker Priests overcame Collins and by scores swept members of the churches from their steadfastness into the muddy pool of Shakerism.
Cartwright himself resolved to conform the Shakers.
The debate was held and Cartwright was successful in defeating the Shakers. As a result of the debate, 47 came forward and denounced their dreadful decision to affiliate with the Shakers.
Cartwright writes: “perhaps this victory may be considered the first fruits of Methodism in that part of the new country.”
As a result of this meeting, Cartwright made a plan for a circuit, took it to the Western Conference meeting in Cincinnati September 30, 1809. Rev. William Winans was appointed to the Vincennes Circuit and began his work in October 1809.
William Winans was the first American Methodist minister upon which the Degree of Doctor and Divinity was conferred in 1821.
Winans notes: The people were much more intelligent than the pioneer settlers of new countries usually are. There was but one town in the Circuit. This was Vincennes, directly on the Wabash River, a French Town.
In that first year his membership grew from 47 to 125.
FOUNDATIONS – 1809-1900
In 1809, The Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. (ME) In the early years of Methodism in Vincennes there was no building. Methodists from 1809 to 1829 worshipped in homes and public buildings. While meeting at the Court House, there arose a need for a Church home.
On April 18, 1828, the Trustees of the church purchased from William Henry Harrison a tract of land at Third and Buntin streets for the sum of $50.00. Work began on the building in September 1828. The first sermon preached in The Old Brick Church, as it was called, was July 18, 1829.
In 1849 the congregation decided to replace the frame building at the same location with a brick church building. Around 1869, a general overhauling was done, including carpeting, cushioning seats, papering, etc. A 750 pound bell was installed in the steeple.
In 1891, it became apparent that the building had been outgrown. On April 20, 1894, a lot was purchased at the corner of Fourth and Perry streets for their new building. Plans for the new structure were finalized on March 16, 1898. It was estimated the new structure would cost $20,000.
Finally on April 17, 1899, the cornerstone was laid.
On April 1, 1900, the new building was dedicated and used for worship that Sunday.
REBUILDING
At 2:30 a.m. on May 3, 1917, the odor of smoke was noticed in the air of downtown Vincennes. An hour later an alarm came in. First Methodist Church was ablaze. Flames raged through the 17-year-old structure. A few hours later only the limestone walls stood. The parsonage next door on Perry Street was saved. (The furnace was blamed for the fire.)
All that was left, according to Reverend L.C. Bentley, was a half dozen Bibles and a small carpet sweeper. That afternoon, while flames were still smoldering, the church board met at the YMCA. By the time the board met, Schuler McCormick, Jasper McCormick and Attorney Unger had formed a $100 club and already had 26 signers. The board canvassed the membership and added another several thousand dollars. The decision was made that afternoon to rebuild the building.
For two years while the church was being rebuilt, the Junior High School was home to the First Methodist Church members. The dedication of the new church building came just two years after the destructive fire. On the ashes of the earlier structure, a larger and greater church building was erected. The completion of the church building called for an entire week of thanksgiving, celebration and dedication.
First on the program on Saturday, May 3, 1919, was a great organ concert played by Professor Arthur Davis of St. Louis, Missouri. The beautiful Reuter-Schwartz pipe organ had been installed by the Reuter-Schwartz Company of Trenton, Illinois, at a cost of around $6,750.00. Later the name was changed to Reuter Organ Company with the factory in Lawrence, Kansas. (The same organ we have in our sanctuary to this day. It was practically rebuilt in 1940 and changed by C.E. Redman. Again in 1967, by Mr. Glen Underhill, rebuilt it and cared for it until he passed away. Various persons have cared for it since Mr. Underhill’s passing. We were recently told, it is in need of a major overhaul and repairs. Today to restore it, it will cost far more than the original price.)
THE MINISTRY CONTINUES
In the Fall of 1928, Dr. Charles W. Whitman came to Vincennes First Methodist Church. He was minister to this congregation for a total of 18 years. In 1944, he retired to become our pastor emeritus. In 1958, an education building was built, named the Whitman Memorial Building, which is used to this day for our Sunday School classes and offices.
On Sunday morning, December 20, 1959, Bishop Richard C. Raines consecrated Whitman Center to the Worship of God, the Work of the Church School, the Broadening of Mental Horizons, the Deepening of Knowledge, and to Christian Fellowship and Recreation of Mind and Body.
Hal Whitman unveiled a beautiful portrait of his grandfather, Dr. Whitman, which continues to hang on the wall near the church office in Whitman Center.
In 1967, the sanctuary was remodeled. In 1968, the Methodists and Evangelical United Brethren Church unified to become First United Methodist Church, continuing to this day.
In January 1973, a new church parking lot was constructed on 4th Street. In March 1973, the newly formed United Methodist Women had a service of celebration. The new organization hoped to unite all women of the church into one group working together in a common cause. In April 1982, the Administrative Board accepted a recommendation from the Board of Trustees to remodel the windows in Fellowship Hall and to paint the sanctuary.
On September 26, 1982, a dedication concert for the new grand piano was held. In October, two more octaves of the hand bells were donated.
In November 1982, the property next to the parking lot was purchased in order to add additional parking.
In September 1983, the First Helen Green Memorial Convocation was held with Bishop James Armstrong as speaker.
In 1984, First Church celebrated its 175th anniversary, and throughout the year six former senior pastors visited. They included: Dr. Merlin Schwein, Rev. Paul Kern, Dr. Robert Baldridge, Dr. Clarence Collins, Rev. Charles Johnson, and Dr. Gerald Clappsaddle.
In 1987, construction began on a new elevator to connect all floors of the church buildings.
In 1989, the construction of the elevator was completed, providing all persons accessibility to every floor of both the Church and Whitman Center…..
