About Us

A minister was then appointed in 1882 to establish a Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington. The church existed until 1885. Then for "unknown reasons" it was discontinued.

An effort to establish a Methodist congregation was made in 1913, but its effort was short-lived, for the new church was closed in 1920, and the small group of Methodists was merged with a community church under the leadership of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1924 more than 100 Methodists in Wilmington began a series of meetings with the desire to form a Methodist Church. Two families of the group that met in 1913 were part of this new and bigger group.

A retired Methodist pastor came to help and lead them in having worship services and holding Sunday schools. They met in a business store room for a few months. By 1925, this group grew into a great and strong congregation that decided to purchase a lot on the corner of Lagoon and J streets (J street later on became Opp Street). A building was erected on this lot. In 1926 this building became inadequate and so another church structure was added later to fit the needs of the congregation. The project was completed and dedicated on July 31, 1927.

So as you can see, our church has had a long pilgrimage, first meeting in a store room, then in a business room, and finally, in a church building; having been merged along the way with the Presbyterians, and with the German Methodists; and having worshipped in an Episcopal Church and a Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Throughout its history of being discontinued, closed, and merged, the church has also experienced being reopened, revived, and resurrected.

In one of the early church meetings in 1916, it was reported that the church once had twenty-two members. Today we have a membership of over two hundred, and a worship attendance of about one hundred and fifty people. Our history continues.

Pastors Who Have Served the Church

        1882 J.D. Smith
        1883 Supplied
        1884 V.A. Henry
        1885 -1913 Church Discontinued
        1913 Rev. Gillingham
        1914 Maurice Brown
        1915 H.J. Harrington
        1916 -1920 J.C. Kelsey
                           David Bridge
                           Rev. Planette
                           Rev. Walker
                           Maurice Brown
                           W.C. Schmutzler
        1920 Church Closed and Sold
        1924 J. Walter Morris
        1925 George Edward Carey
        1926 Grove C. Ralston
        1927 J.W. Taylor
        1930 Robert A. Blume
        1938 A.A. Heist
        1941 Edwin E. Reeves
        1947 Carl Allen
        1950 (Feb.) Lawrence V. Lucas
        1958 (Oct.) Robert L. Cannon
        1960 (Feb.) Robert Forsyth
        1963 (Sept.) David Pasamonte
        1969 (July) F.H. Argelander
        1977 Earl Isbell
        1978 Melanio L. Loresco, Jr.
        2002-present A. Neil Platon (from Iowa Annual Conference, UMC)