Warren County Iowa Genealogical Society

Spring Hill Methodist Church

Spring Hill Methodist Church, Spring Hill, IA., named Andrew Chapel, was built in 1873, rebuilt in 1900.

The Methodist Church of Spring Hill, written by Mrs. J. Raye BREWBAKER and Mrs. Duane HANSELL, copied from the History of Warren County, Iowa , by Gerard SCHULTZ and Don L. BERRY, The Record and Tribune Company, Indianola, Iowa, 1953, pages 119-151

The Methodist church of Spring Hill was built in 1873 at a cost of $1,463. The site where the church stands was purchased for $100. It was named Andrew chapel and dedicated by Bishop ANDREW December 22, 1873. In 1900 the church was remodeled and dedicated by L. B. WICKERSHAM on September 22. The Rev. C. W. PROCTOR was pastor at that time.

The Sunday school was organized March 29, 1874, by the Rev. A. D. FIELD, a Methodist minister who had retired because of a throat ailment and located in the Mt. Hope community where he operated a small nursery. The Rev. Mr. FIELD served as superintendent most of the first ten years. In July, 1874, the Sunday schools being held in Greenbush and Mt. Hope schoolhouses united with the Spring Hill church. Records show that the average attendance of the school was 75 to 80 in 1875; 90 to 125 in 1882 and 1883, and 125 in 1884. At present it is about forty.

The Women's Foreign Missionary society organized in 1886 and supported a scholarship in India from 1898 to 1940. The Ladies Aid group, along with the missionary group, is now known as the Woman's Society of Christian Service. The young people's organization, first known as Epworth League, is now called the Methodist Youth Fellowship.

Pastors serving during the years are: E. KENDALL, W. J. BECK, A. J. BARTON, C. C. MABEE, R. HARNED, William PATTERSON, A. J. HECKATHORN, J. I. FARLEY, J. D. DeTAR, C. W. PROCTOR, R. W. SUMAN, W. C. SMITH, B. R. VAN DYKE, E. J. LAIRD, Robert GRIGSBY, E. J. BOREMAN, A. A. SEIFERT, Bennett JORDAN, H. C. ADAMS, William G. HARDING, James WALLS, E. J. ZUMSTEG, H. M. DUDLEY, Roy BAIR, Dwight CART, H. C. McELDOWNEY, C. C. COOPER, Raymond SYLVANUS, Mr. STEFFANSON, N. P. ORCUTT, Ira ALLEN, Paul HABLISTON, J. Rolland CRANDALL, Howard FIELDER, Gene CARTER, Richard McMULLIN, C. D. PINKARD, Ivan C. BYS, Clyde CARTER and Thomas HICKS.

Sunday school superintendents are: Frank EGGLESTON, A. D. FIELD, J. F. LOUGH, Walter RISTE, George EICHER, George HANSELL, M. T. NUNAMAKER, T. R. HANSELL, D. D. HUGHES, Grant W. JOY, J. M. DILLARD, J. Roye BREWBAKER, I. F. SALISBURY, Eugene ALEXANDER, Ralph HENRY, Roscoe HUNGET, Harold POOL, A. P. BRAND, Duane HANSELL, David BALLANTINE, Mrs. Glen MILLER, Merrill ANDREW, Arthur ADAMS, Howard ADAMS, Mrs. Duane HANSELL, Miss Helen EVANS and Gerald ANDREW.

History of the Spring Hill Methodist Church, copied from The Warren County, Iowa, compiled by the Warren County Genealogical Society, Curtis Media Corp., Dallas, Texas, 1987

Organization for the church began September 16, 1873, when a certificate of association was drawn up. It was known as the First Methodist Church of Spring Hill. The deed was given by William and Serena ASHWORTH conveying the property in Spring Hill to trustees of the church for the sum of $100.00. The church, built for about $1,500.00. was dedicated on December 22, 1873. Trustees named for the first year were Edward STEPHENS, William ASHWORTH, M. T. NUNAMAKER, John S. HANSELL, A. J. MITCHELL, Joseph RISTE, Jeremiah CRESS, A. A. WEBB, Frank EGGLESTON.

The Sunday School was organized March 28, 1874 by the Rev. A. D. FIELD, a former circuit rider and Methodist minister, who lived in Mt. Hope community. In July of that year, the Sunday Schools, which were held in the Greenbush and Mount Hope schoolhouses, united with the Spring Hill Church. The first organist was A. D. FIELD, who had a portable organ which he brought to services in a buckboard sort of spring wagon, a one horse affair. Without song books at first the singing was a big part of the Sunday School. Among the names of the first ten years we find Carrie PERLEY, George PERLEY, Fannie GLASCOCK, Ida NUNAMAKER, John SAYERS, Charles and Andrew ROBERTS.

A number of pastors served the church. As the years went by, and the church could not support a full time minister, the church joined with other Methodist Churches in the area for pastoral leadership. The local church was one of the charter members of the Warren County Group of Ministry. The first director was the Rev. Gene CARTER who had previously served this church as a student minister. Several of the ministerial students from Simpson College who served this church, went on to become ordained ministers, district superintendents, and to serve the Methodist Church in other capacities. From 1969, the church was a part of the Norwalk-Linn Grove charge, and served by the Rev. James LUSHER until the church closed its doors December 18, 1977.

Contents of the building were sold at auction January 14, 1978. Its was a sad day.  Many came who had a memory of a span in life at this church. Marilyn ADAMS GRIEF bought the pew that her father, Arthur ADAMS, sat in Sunday after Sunday for years. Kenneth WOOD, formerly of Spring Hill, helped in the acquisition of the bell in the tower for the West Des Moines Church. They have placed it in a bell tower there, with a plaque stating that the bell came from the Spring Hill United Methodist Church. The following spring the church was razed and the property leveled. The lot was deeded to the town of Spring Hill and it became a park. A large stone, with a bronze plaque, was placed there to commemorate where the church once stood.