Celebrating the Past, Present and Future

We Celebrate the Past, the Present, and the Future

This month marks the 150th anniversary of First United Methodist Church of Topeka, a milestone that is being celebrated with a year of events. How did other generations honor the "birthdays" of our church?

1st anniversary - On March 21, 1856, the church had grown from a handful to 50 members.

25th anniversary - This year J.E. Gilbert, the pastor, and the congregation made to decision to move from Quincy Street and build at 6th and Harrison.

50th anniversary - In 1905, the 1216 members of the church held a "Rally Day" in mid-March.

75th anniversary - Dr. John R. McFadden was the pastor in 1930. A church history entitled, "Seventy-Five Years of Methodism" was published, with a preface by Margaret Hill McCarter. A Homecoming Sunday on March 16 kicked of a week of celebrations, which also included a reception and dinner, a historical pageant, and a cantata. There was a Diamond Jubilee Class of 124 new members.

90th anniversary - 400 members met in Fellowship Hall for an anniversary dinner. The program featured the reading of Mary Holliday’s diairy and letters; scenes from the church’s history with Lew Griffing, the grandson of the first pastor; and choir members in 19th century costume singing many old favorites such as "Beulah Land" and "Precious Jewels."

100th anniversary - There was a Centennial Remodeling Campaign in 1955 to renovate the Mulvane Building. This is when the gymnasium was removed and the second floor added with classrooms. This is also when air conditioning was added in the sanctuary. Dr. Harold Case (pastor 1934-1938) was the guest preacher on Anniversary Sunday, March 20, 1955. The pastor in this centennial year was Eugene Frank, who went on to become a bishop of the United Methodist Church and is now retired and living in Kansas City.

125th anniversary - "So Great a Cloud of Witnesses," a history of the church 1855-1980, was published. Also published was "For Light to Those Who Seek the Way," a description of the stained glass windows, by Margaret Tillotson Ragsdale with photography by Stanley Alexander. The cornerstone was opened and new items placed within it. Dr. Ewart Watts returned as a special guest along with Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, who was the speaker at the anniversary banquet.

What would the little company that met in the log cabin on the Kaw, seventy-five years ago, think of First Church today? Imagine their amazement if they could see the great church plant of 1930. Its manifold activities, the variety and scope of its present program of religious, philanthropic, social and athletic work. The history is by no means complete, for it fails to particularly record the loyal service and individual efforts of a now-invisible company of men and women. There nevertheless is enough in this record to honor the memory of the departed, to quicken the pride of the living, and to give inspiration and courage to those who are to come."

From "Seventy-Five Years of Methodism"