In Dundee, a group of Methodists began meeting in class sessions in small log cabins in 1835. The first preachers that served the community came on horseback once every four weeks. Later that year, these class sessions formed the first church group, which found its first home in the “Sons of Temperance Hall” in East Dundee.
25 years later, in 1859, this group built a small frame church on Van Buren Street in the block where the Immanuel Lutheran School stands today. This church was eventually moved to the north side of Main Street and still is used as a business site in East Dundee today.
The next two decades saw a growth in the Methodist congregation, until 1882, when a new church was completed, standing on the south side of Main Street just west of the town hall. The congregation called the location home for the next 40 years, when the structure was sold to the American Legion in 1922.
That year, the Cape Cod colonial church on the corner of Fourth and Main streets was purchased from the Baptists who had built this structure in 1865. Because of declining membership, the Baptist congregation that previously called the building home closed its doors 5 years earlier, in 1917. Upon purchasing the building, the Methodist congregation offered to let the remnants of the Baptist congregation worship with them, which they readily accepted.
Over the past 90 years, the United Methodists have done extensive remodeling, redecoration, and additions to incorporate an educational wing, a variety of offices, a full kitchen, dining room, and a youth room into the historic structure. We look back at the past and stand amazed at how far we've come in over 170 years, to our present building and our growing church family.
25 years later, in 1859, this group built a small frame church on Van Buren Street in the block where the Immanuel Lutheran School stands today. This church was eventually moved to the north side of Main Street and still is used as a business site in East Dundee today.
The next two decades saw a growth in the Methodist congregation, until 1882, when a new church was completed, standing on the south side of Main Street just west of the town hall. The congregation called the location home for the next 40 years, when the structure was sold to the American Legion in 1922.
That year, the Cape Cod colonial church on the corner of Fourth and Main streets was purchased from the Baptists who had built this structure in 1865. Because of declining membership, the Baptist congregation that previously called the building home closed its doors 5 years earlier, in 1917. Upon purchasing the building, the Methodist congregation offered to let the remnants of the Baptist congregation worship with them, which they readily accepted.
Over the past 90 years, the United Methodists have done extensive remodeling, redecoration, and additions to incorporate an educational wing, a variety of offices, a full kitchen, dining room, and a youth room into the historic structure. We look back at the past and stand amazed at how far we've come in over 170 years, to our present building and our growing church family.