Church History

In the winter of 1919 a small group of people gathered in a private home in Winthrop Harbor to form a Christian congregation. They were a small but earnest group who felt the need of a church. Prior to this tinme, the people depended on Circuit Riders. The population of Winthrop Harbor was not large, just a few hundred people, but there was neither church nor Sunday School until that time. Funds were scarce so for some time meetings were held in the homes-later in the school building.
In 1923, the present building was begun on land donated for a community church by Mr. Thomas E. Wells. For many years the basement, heated by a pot bellied stove, served as sanctuary and general meeting place with the remainder of the building an empty shell above. During the depression years, progress was slow and it wasn't until 1936 that the sanctuary was completed. That is, it was completed only so far as the barest necessities were concerned. When the church was begun in 1923. the village population was about 200 children and 300 adults.
On July 27, 1935 the church legally joined the Rock Rover Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On that date the trustees, Elvaree Martin, Marie Abrahamson and Hiran H. Higgins, acting in accordance with a unanimous vote of the members which had been held on July 26, 1935, transferred the title of the property from the Winthrop Harbor Community Church to the Community Methodist Episcopal Church.
The problem of getting a minister was also a serious one, since there was no place for him to stay and they could not afford to pay a minister more than a few dollars a week. For some years, student ministers were supplied by the Garret Biblical Institute.
By 1951, the population was about 1,800...it became impossible to conduct classes for so many children in such small quarters. Under the stimulus of Mis Nellie Anderson, a committee of villagers started a building fund. In July 1951 the new church addition was begun. The plans called for a building about 30x70 feet. The basement was finished so that the church school could be held.
Today our church is complete. Our ministry is to share the story of Jesus Christ through worship, study, and service and to develop and encourage Christian values in today's society. We're all about Christ and people.