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First Methodist Church in Centerville, IA


It's not everywhere you go that traffic will slow down and wait for some random blogger standing on the sidewalk across the street to get a photo of the local church.  But...that's just what one car did for me in Centerville, Iowa! Centerville was one of our last stops on our way home from St. Louis last year.  We noticed this Methodist church down the street from the courthouse, and knocked on the door of the parsonage.

Caroline Bahman, who has attended the church for 70 years (and fills in for the secretary), answered.  When we asked if we could tour the church, she kindly obliged.  From the church office, she took us through the parsonage. The parsonage itself rivals other historic homes throughout the state!  Isn't the woodwork gorgeous?!

The land for the church was platted in 1846.  In 1847, the first church, a wooden building, was constructed.  This was followed by another church, built in 1876 across the street.  The current structure was built in 1906.  Old photos of the congregation show that the church was once packed with hundreds of members, young and old! Originally, the church had a huge pipe organ behind the pulpit, and two lovely balconies for the choir on either side.  If I remember correctly, those balconies had to be removed because they caused too much strain on the structure.  Now there is one balcony at the back of the church.

The focal point today is the beautiful stained glass windows.  Mrs. Bahman's son is a carpenter and her husband was a shepherd for a time, so the window with Christ as the Shepherd, which (if I recall) she purchased for the church, has special meaning for her. There are three windows featuring Christ.  A fourth window features John Wesley, father of the Methodist church.  It has been said that John Wesley preached over 40,000 sermons.  He rode about 250,000 miles on horseback, and often preached in the fields.  "God grant that I may never live to be useless," Wesley prayed.

I often think of this saying, as Aunt Esther (My Centenarian) gave her version of this quote whenever she was asked for advice, "Do all the good you can while you can, because you never know how soon it will be too late!" Other windows show the Bible, a crown, star and U.S. flag (probably to remember veterans), dove, anchor, sheaf of wheat, grapes, and crosses.

Downstairs there is a spacious fellowship area for church dinners and meetings.  When we visited it was nicely decorated with flowers for an upcoming event.  The kitchen is modern and useful-looking, though also very tastefully designed. The Sunday school/Bible study area has plenty of books.  It also has a counter and sink at a little over knee-height.  Since I had recently visited Montauk--where everything was built for very short people--I asked the lady if the sink was built so low because the church was so old or if it was for children.  She assured me that it was for present-day children.
Mrs. Bahman told us about the coal-mining history of Centerville, and about the annual Pancake Day festival, which has been held since 1949. I was very glad we stopped at the church.  Thanks to Caroline Bahman for a wonderful tour!
 Labels: Appanoose County, Church, St. Louis Trip, Travel

