Our History in a Nutshell
First United Methodist Church 1938 to present
First United Methodist Church was founded in 1849 and came from out of a group of Protestants who had begun to worship in 1845 under the leadership of Reverend O.P. Clinton, a Congregationalist Pastor with the American Home Missionary Society. Beginning with a group of just 12 individuals, which included Territorial Governor James Doty and Harrison Reed who owned most of what is now Neenah and Menasha, Clinton began to hold worship services in his home and it was out of this group that the Congregational Church was born in 1847, the Presbyterian Church in 1848, and the Methodist Church in 1848.
For the first fifteen years, the Methodist Church worshiped in the Yale Building on Wisconsin Avenue while saving money to build a church of their own. In 1864, this became a reality when with $700 and 54 members they bought the Congregationalist church's building at the corner of Oak and Doty Streets. The church continued to grow and in 1874, now with 175 members, they moved again to the Presbyterian church's building in the 300 block of Wisconsin Avenue. As Neenah prospered so too did the church and in 1903 land was purchased at the corner of Doty Avenue and Commercial Street. The new facility was completed three years later in 1906.
For the first fifteen years, the Methodist Church worshiped in the Yale Building on Wisconsin Avenue while saving money to build a church of their own. In 1864, this became a reality when with $700 and 54 members they bought the Congregationalist church's building at the corner of Oak and Doty Streets. The church continued to grow and in 1874, now with 175 members, they moved again to the Presbyterian church's building in the 300 block of Wisconsin Avenue. As Neenah prospered so too did the church and in 1903 land was purchased at the corner of Doty Avenue and Commercial Street. The new facility was completed three years later in 1906.
First Methodist Church 1906 to 1937
The new church facility was a blessing to the growing congregation. The sanctuary could seat 350 people and the semi-circle shape allowed worship in the round. Completed for the cost of $25,000, it was truly a wonderful place to worship and from out of which to do ministry. In 1922, the Wesley Hall Gymnasium was added to complete the building described as one of the "finest structures of its kind in the valley."
But in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 17, 1937 disaster struck as a fire started and swept through the building in a matter of minutes. Within three hours, despite the best efforts of fire fighters from Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton, it had burned to the ground. By noon of that day all that was left was smoldering pile of bricks.
Losses from the fire totaled $75,000 with only part of the loss covered by insurance. The church leaders decided to rebuild as soon as possible on the same site but due to the lack of insurance proceeds to not include the gymnasium. The cost of rebuilding was $63,000 of which insurance paid $36,000. The new building was dedicated on February 19, 1939 and the mortgage on it was burned on April 15, 1943.
Since that time two additions have been added. The first, the Sunday School addition, which included ten classroom on three levels, was dedicated on January 31, 1965. The second was undertaken to make the church fully accessible to all and brought with it an elevator, a handicap accessible restroom, and our Commons which is used for many purposes but especially for fellowship times. This addition was dedicated on March 24, 1991.
But in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 17, 1937 disaster struck as a fire started and swept through the building in a matter of minutes. Within three hours, despite the best efforts of fire fighters from Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton, it had burned to the ground. By noon of that day all that was left was smoldering pile of bricks.
Losses from the fire totaled $75,000 with only part of the loss covered by insurance. The church leaders decided to rebuild as soon as possible on the same site but due to the lack of insurance proceeds to not include the gymnasium. The cost of rebuilding was $63,000 of which insurance paid $36,000. The new building was dedicated on February 19, 1939 and the mortgage on it was burned on April 15, 1943.
Since that time two additions have been added. The first, the Sunday School addition, which included ten classroom on three levels, was dedicated on January 31, 1965. The second was undertaken to make the church fully accessible to all and brought with it an elevator, a handicap accessible restroom, and our Commons which is used for many purposes but especially for fellowship times. This addition was dedicated on March 24, 1991.
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Our Senior Pastors
2017- - Rebecca Henry 2012-2017 - Mark Geisthardt 2011-2012 - Grace Imathiu 2007-2011 - Bob Hays 1999-2007 - Gordon Lind 1993-1999 - Lynn Kollath 1991-1993 - James Reutler 1985-1991 - Welsey Falk 1984-1985 - Harold Riebe 1984-1984 - Perry Saito 1976-1984 - Robert Firary 1971-1976 - Donald Stannard 1964-1971 - David Hinshaw 1962-1964 - Guy Nelson 1958-1962 - Clarence Kelley 1953-1958 - Norman Ream 1948-1953 - Roy B. Steen 1939-1948 - W.A. Riggs 1935-1939 - Henry Johnson 1934-1935 - Wesley Perry 1932-1934 - Earnest Matthews 1927-1932 - T. Reykdahl 1922-1927 - Ira Schlagenhauf 1914-1922 - Charles Heywood 1909-1914 - Fred Turner 1906-1909 - Mark A. Drew |
1901-1906 - E. Garrett 1897-1901 - John D. Cole 1895-1987 - John Schneider 1893-1895 - J.H. Tippet 1890-1893 - S. Joliffe 1887-1890 - J.S. Lean 1884-1887 - T.C. Wilson 1883-1884 - C.M. Heard 1881-1883 - G.W. Horton 1879-1881 - L.F. Cole 1877-1879 - J.J. APlin 1875-1877 - J.T. Woodhead 1874-1875 - W.J. Olmstead 1873-1874 - M.G. Bristol 1871-1873 - J.H. Waldron 1869-1871 - Thomas Walker 1868-1869 - L.L. Knox 1866-1868 - T.C. Wilson 1863-1863 - C.W. Brooks 1861-1863 - A. Foster 1860-1861 - Samuel Lugg 1859-1860 - C.G. Lathrup 1856-1859 - Albert Baker 1850-1856 – Circuit Riders 1849-1850 – William Sampson |
Our Associate Pastors
2008-2019 Tony Fuller 2005-2008 - Paola Benecchi 2008-2009 - Kevin Dembinski 2003-2009 - Evelyn Mingle 2000-2004 - Amber Woolover 1998-2000 - Patricia Knutson 1993-1998 - Nancy Twitchell 1988-1993 - Mark Klaisner 1978-1979 - David Mangun 1972-1978 - Bob Hays 1968-1972 - Paul Francis 1965-1968 - Tom White 1963-1965 - Carol Smith 1961-1963 - James Scott 1959-1961 - Donald McClain 1956-1959 - Ira Schlagenhauf |
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The three cornerstones representing the three building programs that gave First Church the facility that it has today. We thank all those who over the course of our 160+ year history have been part of making us who we are today!