The Continental United Methodist Church on North Main and the Christ United Methodist Church on South Main will both celebrate 125 years of worship in Continental this year. Some wonder why there are two United Methodist Churches on Main Street – they are the result of the dynamics of national religious movements over the last 75 years.
In 1888, the church on North Main began as a Methodist Episcopal congregation. This resourceful group moved their original church building when it was found to be on the interurban right-of-way on West Rice Street, rebuilt after a fire in the 1890’s, moved an unused parsonage in from Hector, and built the larger, present-day building in 1937 with funds raised during the Depression. In 1939, the three largest American Methodist groups in the country unified and dropped the word “Episcopal.” The local North Main church then became the Continental Methodist church for the next 29 years.
In the same year of 1888, there are records of a small United Brethren group in Continental. This congregation became re-energized when a young, zealous preacher came to town and raised converts and funds for a church building on South Main in 1893. That building was torn down and replaced in 1928 with the larger church that is in use today (“UB” – United Brethren – is in the stained glass above the front doors). In 1946, the United Brethren Churches of America merged with the Evangelical Church and the church on South Main took the name of Continental Evangelical United Brethren Church for the next 22 years.
Until 1968, there was Continental Methodist church on North Main and Continental EUB Church on South Main. In 1968, another national movement would again effect these two congregations when the Evangelical United Brethren merged with the Methodist to become known nationally as the United Methodist. The North Main church added United to their name to become the Continental United Methodist Church and the church on South Main, going back to their original name of United Brethren Church in Christ, took the name of Christ Untied Methodist Church.
Christ United will be celebrating their 125 years with a special service and meal on Saturday, October 5. Continental United Methodist will celebrate with a special service on Sunday, October 20. Everyone is invited attend.
Continental United Methodist Church
Christ United Methodist Church
