Granite City
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Nameoki United Methodist Church
History:
We are All Children of God We Belong to God's Family We Care and Support Each Other We Reach Out to Embrace Others
Another meeting was held and a report was made that most of the money had either been donated or pledged. At this meeting the idea of starting a Sunday School and organizing the church was considered.
On October 24, 1949, the temporary trustees were given the authority to buy the land. A charter membership period was planned to start on November 18, 1949, and continue through February, 1950. By the end of this period, there was a total of 108 charter members. The Odd Fellows Lodge Hall on Nameoki Road was made available for Sunday School. The first Sunday School meeting took place on November 20, 1949, with Ralph Bailey as Sunday School Superintendent. Eighty people were in attendance. In addition to the Sunday School, Friday evening worship services were led by Rev. Dycus.
Charter Membership night was held on February 17, 1950, at the Nameoki City Hall building. One hundred and eight members were received into the new church; seventy transferring from the Niedringhaus congregation. The official board was organized and "Nameokl Methodist" was chosen as the name for this new congregation.
The Women's Society of Christian Service was organized on March 23, 1950.
The first One Hundred-Week Building Fund Crusade was started in May of 1950. With the encouraging progress being made to this point, efforts were then made to arrange for a pastor for the church. Unable to provide for a full-time pastor, an arrangement was made to share a pastor with the Venice Methodist Church. Rev. Stephen Phillips, who was just finishing his seminary studies, was appointed to the Venice-Nameoki Charge. Rev. Frank Wilson, a retired pastor, filled the pulpits of the two churches until Rev. Phillips graduated from Seminary. On August 27, 1950, Rev. Phillips assumed his duties as pastor. During this period of time, the members of the church carried out numerous fund-raising projects to raise money for the building fund. One of the key projects was an extended series of snack suppers. These were first held in the Odd Fellows Hall. But they expanded to the point that more room was needed. Arrangements were made to use the cafeteria of the Nameoki Grade School. In addition to these suppers, there were ice-cream socials, rummage sales, etc.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the Educational Building was held on October 18, 1950. This structure would serve as the place of worship until a new sanctuary could be built. On December 23, 1951, a formal opening service was held. Rev. Phillips pastored the Venice-Nameoki Charge until 1952. The Rev. Billy Hahs and his wife Elouise were appointed to succeed Rev. Phillips.
When they arrived here they had one son, Billy. A second son, Jame, was born during their pastorate here. On the first night when Rev. Hahs and his family arrived at the parsonage in Venice they found the house locked. For some reason they were net yet expected, so no one was there to receive them, and they did net yet have a key to the house. They went in through the coal chute. They had to sleep on the floor since their furniture had not yet arrived.
When Rev. Hahs came, the Nameoki and Venice Churches were still together as one charge. At the Annual Conference of June, 1953, the two churches became independent. Rev. Hahs was re-appointed to the Nameoki Church. At this time the church rented a parsonage at 2202 Woodlawn. In 1955, the first parsonage was purchased at 2031 Amos Avenue. The Hahs family was the first family to occupy the parsonage. Rev. Hahs served this church until 1956.
In 1956 Rev. LeRoy Pittman, his wife, Vera, and their two sons, Stephen and Michael, succeeded Rev. Hahs. During the next three years, the debt on the Educational Building was paid off and the dedication service was held on April 26, 1959. After this building had been dedicated, a building committee was appointed to start the planning process for a sanctuary. During the six years of Rev. Pittman's ministry, the church grew steadily and progressed in its development.
In 1962 Rev. Frank Pierce, his wife, Irene, daughter, Patricia, and son, Howard, were appointed to the Nameoki Church. The building committee for the new sanctuary was still hard at work.
On October 3, 1963, the ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction. The M. H. Wolfe Company was engaged to build the sanctuary. It was decided to have them handle all the major work, rather than the members work, as they had done on the Educational Building.
On Sunday October 11, 1964, a formal opening service for the new sanctuary was held. There was an open house from 2:00-5:00 p.m. with the youth serving as guides.
The church, at this point, entered a period of heavy financial struggle due to the comparatively small size of the congregation in proportion to the $243,000 cost of the new sanctuary. With the leadership of Rev. Pierce, the congregation worked on numerous projects to raise funds. One of the most notable of these projects was the making and selling of apple butter. The Fidelity Sunday School class was the leader of this project with many other people from the church taking part. It required lots of hands. The kettles were made ready and the fire started before daybreak. This project was carried out at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Canham.
In 1965 Roger Russell answered the call to ministry. In 1969 Jim Rucker answered the call and was assigned to his first charge.
On December 10, 1967, the organ, piano, and new hymnals were presented to the church in a dedication service conducted by Rev. Pierce. This was one of the last services presided over by Rev. Pierce, since in this same month of December, he was appointed to another charge.
We are All Children of God We Belong to God's Family We Care and Support Each Other We Reach Out to Embrace Others
Another meeting was held and a report was made that most of the money had either been donated or pledged. At this meeting the idea of starting a Sunday School and organizing the church was considered.
On October 24, 1949, the temporary trustees were given the authority to buy the land. A charter membership period was planned to start on November 18, 1949, and continue through February, 1950. By the end of this period, there was a total of 108 charter members. The Odd Fellows Lodge Hall on Nameoki Road was made available for Sunday School. The first Sunday School meeting took place on November 20, 1949, with Ralph Bailey as Sunday School Superintendent. Eighty people were in attendance. In addition to the Sunday School, Friday evening worship services were led by Rev. Dycus.
Charter Membership night was held on February 17, 1950, at the Nameoki City Hall building. One hundred and eight members were received into the new church; seventy transferring from the Niedringhaus congregation. The official board was organized and "Nameokl Methodist" was chosen as the name for this new congregation.
The Women's Society of Christian Service was organized on March 23, 1950.
The first One Hundred-Week Building Fund Crusade was started in May of 1950. With the encouraging progress being made to this point, efforts were then made to arrange for a pastor for the church. Unable to provide for a full-time pastor, an arrangement was made to share a pastor with the Venice Methodist Church. Rev. Stephen Phillips, who was just finishing his seminary studies, was appointed to the Venice-Nameoki Charge. Rev. Frank Wilson, a retired pastor, filled the pulpits of the two churches until Rev. Phillips graduated from Seminary. On August 27, 1950, Rev. Phillips assumed his duties as pastor. During this period of time, the members of the church carried out numerous fund-raising projects to raise money for the building fund. One of the key projects was an extended series of snack suppers. These were first held in the Odd Fellows Hall. But they expanded to the point that more room was needed. Arrangements were made to use the cafeteria of the Nameoki Grade School. In addition to these suppers, there were ice-cream socials, rummage sales, etc.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the Educational Building was held on October 18, 1950. This structure would serve as the place of worship until a new sanctuary could be built. On December 23, 1951, a formal opening service was held. Rev. Phillips pastored the Venice-Nameoki Charge until 1952. The Rev. Billy Hahs and his wife Elouise were appointed to succeed Rev. Phillips.
When they arrived here they had one son, Billy. A second son, Jame, was born during their pastorate here. On the first night when Rev. Hahs and his family arrived at the parsonage in Venice they found the house locked. For some reason they were net yet expected, so no one was there to receive them, and they did net yet have a key to the house. They went in through the coal chute. They had to sleep on the floor since their furniture had not yet arrived.
When Rev. Hahs came, the Nameoki and Venice Churches were still together as one charge. At the Annual Conference of June, 1953, the two churches became independent. Rev. Hahs was re-appointed to the Nameoki Church. At this time the church rented a parsonage at 2202 Woodlawn. In 1955, the first parsonage was purchased at 2031 Amos Avenue. The Hahs family was the first family to occupy the parsonage. Rev. Hahs served this church until 1956.
In 1956 Rev. LeRoy Pittman, his wife, Vera, and their two sons, Stephen and Michael, succeeded Rev. Hahs. During the next three years, the debt on the Educational Building was paid off and the dedication service was held on April 26, 1959. After this building had been dedicated, a building committee was appointed to start the planning process for a sanctuary. During the six years of Rev. Pittman's ministry, the church grew steadily and progressed in its development.
In 1962 Rev. Frank Pierce, his wife, Irene, daughter, Patricia, and son, Howard, were appointed to the Nameoki Church. The building committee for the new sanctuary was still hard at work.
On October 3, 1963, the ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction. The M. H. Wolfe Company was engaged to build the sanctuary. It was decided to have them handle all the major work, rather than the members work, as they had done on the Educational Building.
On Sunday October 11, 1964, a formal opening service for the new sanctuary was held. There was an open house from 2:00-5:00 p.m. with the youth serving as guides.
The church, at this point, entered a period of heavy financial struggle due to the comparatively small size of the congregation in proportion to the $243,000 cost of the new sanctuary. With the leadership of Rev. Pierce, the congregation worked on numerous projects to raise funds. One of the most notable of these projects was the making and selling of apple butter. The Fidelity Sunday School class was the leader of this project with many other people from the church taking part. It required lots of hands. The kettles were made ready and the fire started before daybreak. This project was carried out at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Canham.
In 1965 Roger Russell answered the call to ministry. In 1969 Jim Rucker answered the call and was assigned to his first charge.
On December 10, 1967, the organ, piano, and new hymnals were presented to the church in a dedication service conducted by Rev. Pierce. This was one of the last services presided over by Rev. Pierce, since in this same month of December, he was appointed to another charge.