Church of Christ
The Marceline Church of Christ was organized in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Clark, March 20, 1960, through the leadership of Albert Hamilton, Jr. The Ozark Bible College of Joplin, Missouri, sent one of its students, Gerald Peterson, to help in the organizing and as minister in the ensuing months. Six families attended the first meeting and comprise the charter membership. For the first year, meetings were held in homes and then in the. American Legion Hall. After Brother Peterson left in September, 1960, Jim Stacy from Central Bible College in Moberly, Missouri, ministered until March 22, 1962, when Glen Mitchell and family also from Moberly came to be with us. The Mitchells have 2 sons and 1 daughter. In August, 1961, a building and 5 lots were purchased on East Howell and Missouri Avenue. The membership has grown to where plans and a foundation for a new and larger building have been laid. Although our Marceline church is young with only a short history, the Church of Christ is over 1900 years old and its history written in the blood of many martyrs, shall go on forever.
Second Baptist Church
Man is by nature a worshipful creature however crude the form of worship might be. He is endowed with attributes which cry out the worthiness of God, hence, man provides a shrine at which to worship. On January 5, 1901, the following baptized believers, Jeff Oliver, Mamie Oliver, J. R. Herndon, W. L. Herndon, and Ella B. Herndon met at the home of Fred Neal for the purpose of effecting the organization of the Second Baptist Church of Marceline, Mo. Rev. J. W. Sears presided at this meeting. The church covenant was read and the 18th chapter of Matthew was adopted as an article of faith, and in keeping with the Apostles Doctrine, the following were chosen as deacons: Jeff Oliver, Fred Neal, W. L. Herndon, J. R. Herndon; deaconess, Ella B. Herndon; Secretary, Mamie Oliver; Assistant Secretary, Ida Neal; Treasurer, Fred Neal. At this time the hand of fellowship was extended and the name which the church now bears was adopted. This organization meeting was the outgrowth of a revival meeting which had been held in the old frame building which had served as the First Baptist Church. The first minister, the Rev. J. W. Sears, was called March 6, 1901, although no regular worship services were held until the following year when the church building was ready for occupancy. During that period of time Sunday School services were held in the Lincoln School building. The present church property was purchased during the tenure of Rev. Sears. A grade school building formerly had occupied the site. The congregation purchased the property and one half of the school building from the Board of Education here. The other half of the school building was moved to West Booker Street and used as a ward school building.Trees were planted in 1903. On August 8,1907, the Missionary Circle was organized by Rev. J. S. Henry, who was then pastor. Mrs. Ella B. Herndon was elected president, Mrs. Susie Johnson, secretary; Mrs. Lizzie Bruce, treasurer. Other charter members were Mrs. Le Anna Banks, Mrs. Eliza Herndon, Mrs. Rosa Maupin. This auxiliary to the church still functions under the name of Women’s Missionary Society. The church was enlarged to its present capacity in 1916 during the pastorate of Rev. L. R. Johnson. The Mt. Zion District Sunday School and B.Y.P.U. Convention was entertained by the church in June, 1918. While there have been many additions through the years, the present resident membership is 24. The pastors through the years in the order of their service are Rev. J. W. Sears, H. W. Botts, J. S. Henry, S. Lewis, C. H. Graham, L. R. Johnson, T. T. Glenn, I. L. Talley, W. A. Crowley, H. J. Herring, W. A. Crowley, R. S. Harris, R. C. Campbell, A. J. Clayton, T. W. Redwood, Albert T. Rowan, and the present pastor, Rev. J. E. Timmons.
The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church in Marceline celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1963, the same year that the city of Marceline observes its 75th anniversary. The Church has chosen as its motto for this celebration, “Forward with Faith.” It was in the spirit of faith that the early Methodist circuit-riders went forth to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was in this same spirit that the early congregation decided to build the first house of worship in Marceline, and it is in this spirit that we present this history, not in the sense of glorifying the achievements of the past, but seeking, through a study of the past, to determine what God’s mission is for those who call themselves Methodists. It is our prayer that God will ever lead us into new avenues of witnessing and serving in the present and in the future. Our watchword must ever be “Forward with Faith.” The first Methodist Sunday-School and congregation was actually organized within the present corporate city limits before the city was built. This congregation was formed in 1870 and met at the little country meeting-house known as Locust Ridge. Locust Ridge was situated on what is now described as Block 12 on West Broadway. Preaching services at Locust Ridge depended on the monthly visits of circuit-riding Preachers. One of the early preachers who continued to hold a close association with this Church was The Rev. J. D. Mendenhall, who preached at Locust Ridge meeting house as a circuit-rider, and who on October 8, 1888, preached a sermon of dedication in The Methodist Church here. 24 years later, on March 24, 1912, the same J. D. Mendenhall, who was then Pastor of the congregation, stood in the present Church building for the dedication of the building which had been completed under his leadership. With the building of Marceline as a division point on the Santa Fe Railway, a Methodist Minister, the Rev. J. E. Rutledge, was appointed on April 2, 1888, to become the first Methodist Minister serving our community after the beginning of the city. His first sermon was preached on April 15, 1888, in the home of Wm. Combs, who lived a short distance north of the Mt. Olive Cemetery. The first prayer meeting was held on the following Thursday night. It was only twenty days after the first sermon, that the Trustees of the Church decided to build, purchasing four lots (25 x 150 feet each) from the Santa Fe Town and Land Company. The building was completed within nine months time. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was also established in 1888 in Marceline, the Rev. W. Toole being appointed the first Preacher in charge. The Church building in which this congregation worshipped has been converted into a residence and still stands at 115 West Santa Fe Street. The North and the South branches of the Church merged in 1908, a harbinger of the union of these branches of Methodism on a national level in 1939. The Rev. J. D. Mendenhall, then Pastor, wrote of this experience which led to plans for building. “After much talking and planning the first year, the second year we sold the old church and grounds and secured a most excellent location on the corner of the two principal streets of the city, built and dedicated the first modern church in Marceline.” The remodeling and refurnishing of the Sanctuary was accomplished during the ministry of The Rev. J. Vernon Wheeler, thus providing a reverent atmosphere for the sacred services of the Church. The newly re-finished Sanctuary was consecrated by Bishop Eugene M. Frank on March 2, 1958. It is with gratitude for the many blessings of God that we here recount the Faith of Our Fathers. And as we remember our history, it is with a prayer that the great faithfulness of our Fathers may be ours also, as we go “Forward with Faith.” Images
Presbyterian Church
September, 1888 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized. The first pastor was Rev. S. A. McPherson until 1898. The church was located on the corner of Santa Fe and Missouri Avenues. Sometime in the early 1890’s several families came to Marceline that were members of the Old School Presbyterian and they organized their church. Services were held in an old store building located on the west side of Kansas Avenue. In the late 1890’s the two churches united and became known as the Presbyterian Church. This newly organized group bought the old Cumberland Presbyterian Church building and moved it to the corners of Kansas and California streets. The church was dissolved in 1920. The members of the church were active In business and civic affairs as well as the religious life of the community. The church was without a pastor during World War I and many members left town at that time. The remaining members decided to disband and give their support to the other churches. Most of the members transferred their letters to the Methodist church. Pastors who have served: Rev. G. W. Bean, Rev. Alfred Hainds, Rev. J. Fisher, Rev. Ned Barnes, Rev. Caldwell, Rev. Doughtery, Rev. John McCoy.
Bethany Baptist Church
The Bethany Baptist Church was begun as a mission known as Faith Mission in January, 1955. The first meeting of the Mission was held at the I.O.O.F. Hall in Marceline with Sunday School and Training Union for all age groups and morning and evening worship services conducted by James L. Farris. In February of that year the Mission was organized into a duly constituted Southern Baptist Church with 105 charter members. The name Bethany which means “Friends of Jesus” was selected for the Church. During April 1955, the Church voted to erect a building at the present site at the corner of Howell and Missouri Streets, and Rev. A. J. Johnson was called as interim pastor and overseer of the building program. Members of Bethany Baptist Church sold bonds in the amount of $55,000 to erect the present building. Work was begun, and in August the Church moved from the I.O.O.F. Hall to the basement which had been partially completed. As the outside structure neared completion, Rev. Johnson resigned as Interim Pastor, and Rev. W. A. Merryman of Auburn, Kentucky, was called as pastor and assumed his duties on November 29, 1955. Work continued on the building, and in February 1956, the first service was held in the sanctuary with the observance of Cub Scout Sunday. On Sunday, June 24, 1956, the Dedication ceremony for the sanctuary was observed with Dr. Walter Pope Binns, then president of William Jewell College, delivering the dedicatory address. The first deacons elected by the church were Earl Thompson, J. B. Epperson, Kenneth VanWye, Cecil Wood, William Twitchell, Ed Schneeflock, Orville Porter, Harold McCullough, Wayne Thompson, Jr., L. W. Hawkins, R. W. Pischel, and Carl Heins. In May 1958, Rev. Merryman accepted a call to the Eastwood Hills Baptist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, and Rev. Wilbur Harbaugh, Bucklin, was called as pastor. Rev. Harbaugh assumed his duties on August 17, 1958. Rev. Harbaugh remained with the Church until November, 1962 when he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church, Doniphan, Missouri. In December 1962, Rev. Pierce Matheney, professor of Old Testament at the Midwestern Theological Seminary, Kansas City, was called as interim pastor. On April 3, 1963, the Church extended a call to Rev. Vernon Westenbrook, Kansas City, who assumed the pastorate of the Church on May 12, 1963. It has been estimated the value of the building now exceeds $80,000. The church building is of colonial design, constructed of red brick masonry. The sanctuary is beautiful in its simplicity with stained glass, arched windows and matching light fixtures. The sanctuary has a seating capacity of 340. The educational unit consists of three stories with the ground floor serving the dual purpose of kitchen, dining, and furnace rooms, and as a Sunday School department and class rooms. The second and third floors are made up entirely of departments and class rooms. Two young men have been licensed to preach by the church: Wayne Thompson, Jr., in 1956, and Richard Adams in 1961. Both men now are ordained ministers. Rev. Thompson is serving a church in Colorado, and Rev. Adams in Missouri. The Church has continued to offer a spiritual program to serve all age groups with Sunday School, Training Union, Sunday morning and evening worship services, Women’s Missionary Union, midweek worship service, graded choirs, Vacation Bible School, and numerous courses of study throughout the year. A preaching point has been established at the King Rest Home where services are conducted on the third Sunday of each month.
First Christian Church
In the oldest record book of the First Christian Church, we find these words: “At a meeting of the members of the Christian Church residing in the city of Marceline, Missouri, held at a vacant house on Santa Fe Avenue on the 3rd Lord’s day in May 1888 for the purpose (sic) of taking into consideration the feasibility of organizing a church. A resolution was unanimously adopted that we proceed organized, which was done in form of electing officers as follows: to wit: J. W. W. Waugh, S. E. Hoge and B. W. Bane, Elders; Marion Washbaugh, and A. C. Yocum, Deacons; J. R. Zimmerman, Clerk. With the number of 53 members enrolled on August 7, Elder J. W. W. Waugh was selected and engaged as pastor for one year, to preach half time for a salary of $300.00.” On October 7, 1888, S. E. Hoge was elected president, J. A. Smith, treasurer and collector; M. Helwig to furnish emblems and take care of communion set. The first Deaconesses were elected November 20, 1892, Elizabeth Day and Julia Dinsmore. On December 11, 1892, Louisa Sherwood‘s name was added to the list. The first baptism of the new church was Julia R. Patrick, on November 4, 1889. The members met each Sunday in this vacant building, until August, 1889, at which time they secured the use of the Baptist Church for a period of six months for the sum of twenty-five dollars, paid in advance. On November 3, 1889, Brother F. W. Cottingham began a 21-day meeting, during which 52 persons were added to the congregation. The board of officers met at the Opera House on December 14, 1889, and appointed a committee to secure funds and erect a church building on Gracia Avenue. The building site had been secured previously. The building committee was composed of L. C. Pendleton, H. C. Kibbler, and I. Jeff Buster, W. S. Atwell, and B. J. Patrick as assistant. W. S. Atwell was to superintend the building of the foundation. The house, when completed, was dedicated by J. H. Harden on September 28, 1890. At this time $458.32 was raised to eliminate all indebtedness. This building was the home of the congregation for 25 years. On December 6, 1914, it was decided that the old building was inadequate to the needs of the Church, and especially the Bible school, and a committee was appointed to rebuild, with the instructions to use the old building in the reconstruction. An entirely new auditorium was erected, the old structure being converted into the Bible School annex. Those comprising this committee were A. L. Kleine, J. A. Nickell, L. E. Shelton, I. Jeff Buster, J. B. Pfister, W. C. Patrick, Rev. David Lyon, W. C. Arnold, B. A. Guyer, Geo. Kunkle, Isaac Howe, T. H. Staats, and A. H. Boltz. A. J. Richardson was the contractor and builder. The Reverend Alfred Munyon assisted the congregation in raising $8,000 to begin building operations. Construction was begun in February 1915, and the new home was dedicated December 19, 1915 at a cost of $16,590. On February 16, 1916, a new Hinner’s two manual organ was dedicated by Prof. Edward Kreiser, of Kansas City. The Church Choir took the initiative in the installation of the organ. It cost $2,000. The committee on securing the organ was J. A. Nickell, A. J. Richardson, A. L. Kleine, Mrs. A. H. Boltz, and Mrs. Sue Staples. In 1953 the pipe organ was found to be in need of extensive repairs. Due to the cost it was decided to purchase an electric organ. The Music Committee, composed of Mrs. Cecil Swinehart, Mrs. Elmer Bealmear, and Mrs. Ross Wootten recommended the present Hammond Organ which was installed in December of that year. The house at 131 West Gracia Street was purchased for the minister’s home in 1943, and in 1961 the congregation sold it and built the present parsonage at 424 South Poplar Street, at a cost of approximately $20,000.