Our History

Mount Horeb United Methodist Church History

The First Methodist Episcopal class was founded in Mount Horeb on November 7, 1854 as an extension of the Black Earth Methodist Episcopal Church circuit. The first pastor was a circuit-riding preacher named J. T. Prior. Services were held in private homes of the original class members: Benjamin and Mary Blackwell, William and Rosa Bordman, and Elisha, Charles and Elizabeth Carver. Following is a high level history bringing us to current day.

1861

George Wright was a Methodist Licensed Deacon from Melton, England, and highly regarded in the community. In 1861, he was given the honor of naming Mount Horeb. He established a post office in his farm home, served as postmaster, town treasurer and a lay preacher. He was one of the Trustees who purchased land and built the first Methodist Episcopal Church building in Mount Horeb. 

1866

Our first church building was built in 1866 on 2.5 acres of land that is now part of Union Cemetery. It became the social center of Mount Horeb, hosting Sunday services and Sunday school, church suppers, socials, lectures and a weekly singing school. This building building was located in “Old Town.” It was sold around 1904 and later dismantled.

1885

The Ladies’ Aid Society (LAS) was established in 1885. They were instrumental in raising money for church projects by hosting ice cream socials and oyster dinners. The LAS purchased the lot for the second church building and also paid for the first parsonage. 

1895

The Rev. J.W. Irish was appointed as Mount Horeb's first full-time Methodist pastor.

1904

The church moved uptown in 1904, to be closer to the center of the growing Mount Horeb community. Built at the corner of Oak and Third Streets, it was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the first Methodist Episcopal class held in Mount Horeb, November 27, 1904. The building was later sold and converted to residential living.

1914

The church constructed it's first parsonage at 302 Oak Street.

1954

The church celebrated its 100th anniversary. Extensive remodeling of the building had taken place between 1917 and 1954.

1967

Blue Mounds UMC merged with Mount Horeb UMC. The Blue Mounds church building was located at 2963 Jones Street in Blue Mounds. The building still stands, but has since been converted to residential living.

1977 - 1985

Bursting at the seams, plans began in the 1970s to relocate and build a larger structure at the corner of Highway 78 and County Road S. Henry Steinhauer secured the land, and many church members helped with construction. The building was dedicated in the summer of 1985. 

2004

The church celebrated its 150th anniversary. Building renovations the year prior included adding a brick facade to the exterior.

2010 - 2017

The congregation once again experienced growing pains. To address space needs a preliminary building committee was established in 2012. In 2014, all church debt was retired through a Miracle Sunday Campaign. A capital campaign launched in 2016 to raise funds for a new addition and elevator, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place in 2017.   

2018

The new addition was completed and a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on June 24, 2018. The new addition gave our church a welcoming entryway and gathering space, a bell tower with our historic bell installed, and an elevator shaft incorporated within the bell tower.

2019

Our congregation voted to become a Reconciling Congregation in May 2019. We are an organization that seeks the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of the United Methodist Church. We are associated with the Reconciling Ministries Network.

2020

In March 2020, our congregation, along with the rest of the world, closed our doors to in-person activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We quickly pivoted to on-line services. In 2022, we began offering in-person worship and activities again.

2023

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for our elevator took place on November 12, 2023. The inaugural ride was taken by long-time church members Doug Blankschein, Dixie Burns and Gaye Scheidegger. We now have a building that is fully accessible.