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History of
The First United Methodist Church
Bedford, Indiana

        The Methodist presence has spanned nearly two centuries in Lawrence County, Indiana. This church was the first Methodist church in the county. It was founded in the days of pioneer circuit riders. John Quincy Adams was president of the United States and the state of Indiana was barely 10 years old.

     The town of Bedford was chosen as the county seat of Lawrence County in 1825. One year later on May 6, 1826, a group of 40 brave pioneers came together for worship and organized the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bedford. Most lived within a radius of 10 miles. They traveled to the services on pathways which were often so narrow that only a horse or a person on foot could pass.

     On the charter roll were names that are revered among Lawrence County's pioneers. Many have descendants currently active in the church - names such as McKnight, Rawlins, Glover, Brown, Campbell, Butler, Johnson, Stipp, Newland, Pitman, Whitted and Farmer.
 

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     For the first nine years, the congregation held meetings in the homes of church members.  The first meeting was reportedly at the Robert Dougherty home south of Bedford.  Meetings were also held in the Lawrence County courthouse at times. 

     The first pastor was John Hogan.  Pastor Hogan's circuit included Bloomington, Indian Creek, Leatherwood, Shiloh, Hopewell and Shiloh Camp Ground, as well as Bedford.  The first presiding elder was John Armstrong and the charge was known as the Bloomington Circuit.

     In September 1835, land was purchased from John J. Barnett on High Street (now 18th & I Streets, present location of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church).  A brick meeting house was built on this site.  The trustees were M.D. Knight, Alexander Butler and John Edmondson.  The High Street building was used until 1867, a period of 32 years.

     This first structure was lighted with tall tallow candles, which were home-made and placed in sockets on posts arranged around the room.  $1.25 per month was paid to the Housand boys to see that the candles were kept in trim and snuffed out after services.

     The first bell to ring out over Bedford was from the steeple of that building. For more that 30 years it pealed to summon the congregation to worship and to mark the occasion of a member's death prior to the funeral hour.
 

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     The present church site at 14th & K Streets was purchased in 1867 from the Presbyterian Church.  A brick, two-story structure was already on the lot.  The floor in the upper story of that building, which had been a school room, was removed to make the building a one story structure.  This building was used by the Methodists for over 30 years. (right)

     In 1899, under the leadership of Reverend Charles E. Asbury, the first unit of the present church building was erected. This consisted of what is now used as the present sanctuary.  The cost of the structure, $35,000, was made possible by the legacy of Alfred Grayson and his wife.

     The church annex and parsonage were built in 1903.  Constructed of Bedford limestone, they were later con-verted into Sunday school classrooms and a chapel. 

     In 1921 the basement of the church was excavated and converted into a recreation room (now the fellowship hall) and a spacious kitchen.  That gave the church property its present exterior appearance.(above left)
 

 

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     When the local Methodists celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1926, there was no indebtedness on the church plant. The membership totaled nearly 1,300 persons, compared to 225 members on the church rolls in 1884.

     A total renovation of the church building was begun in 1965.  The project included a remodeled sanctuary, new educational facilities, and an enlarged parking area.  Members of the building committee were Keith Peterson, David Thomas, Sonja Eldridge, Gene Kenworthy, Iris Robb, Mary Richardson, George McCune, Ruth Fountaine, Dr. Dan Schafer, and the church pastor, Reverend Elijah T. Perkins.

     The renovation was completed in 1967 and the consecration service for the reconstructed building took place in October that year.  Cost of the project was approximately $300,000.

     In 1968, the First Methodist Church of Bedford merged with the United Brethren Church, creating the First United Methodist Church.  That same year the church purchased the current parsonage at 417 Sycamore Drive in Bedford from Reverend Perkins.
 

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     Improvements since that time include the purchase of a new organ in 1975 for approximately $75,000.  In 1979 a classroom on the main floor was converted into a library and conference room.  The library and conference rooms were named "The Pitman Center" in honor of Fred and Roy Pitman, whose bequests made the improvements possible.

     In 1981 an addition to the parsonage was completed. In 1983 the original mortgage was retired, leaving the church debt-free.  The pastor at that time was Reverend Robert T. Sharp.  In 1984, church membership was 610.

     Capital improvements begun in 1998 included restoration of some stained glass windows, roof replacements, a handicap entrance, tuck pointing of the exterior limestone, new carpet, and pew cushions.

     Reverend Tim Ahlemeyer began his term as pastor on June 1, 2006.

 

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