The Amherst Methodist Church
Centennial Observance
July 11 and 12, 1953
HISTORICAL SKETCH
In the summer of 1853, "Old Father" Miller,
Methodist minister, formed a class of 9 at Amherst. The following
constituted this original class which marks the beginning of the Amherst
Methodist church: Thomas and Rachel Fleming, William V. and Caroline
Fleming, Harriet Fleming, Phoebe Fleming, Maria Fleming, E. T. Ryerson,
and Parmelia Fleming Ryerson. At the time of the next annual conference,
the Amherst Circuit was formed. It was in the Waupaca District. (We are
now in the Appleton District.) The first Quarterly Conference held for
the Amherst Circuit was held in the Fleming schoolhouse on November 26th
and 27th, 1856.
The Sunday school report of July 10th and 11th, 1857,
reads: "Teachers and Officers 8, Scholars 30, Volumes in Library
100; Scholars in infant class 3; Advocates 12."
The first parsonage was built in 1858. The church was
built in 1863. The building was erected on "the land deeded to the
Methodist Society by Robert Wilson, the father of . . . A. C.
Wilson." During the year 1871-72, when T. M. Ross was minister,
"some improvements were made upon the church, such as painting the
interior of the building, finishing the windows and reseating it."
During the pastorate of W. Rowbotham, 1886-90, the following
improvements were made: "The young people . . . built a new
platform in front of the church at a cost of fifteen dollars, shingled
the roof at a cost of over seventy dollars, put new blinds to the
windows at thirty dollars, built a wood house at the cost of twenty
dollars, bought a new organ at fifty dollars insured the parsonage at a
cost of three dollars . . .. The trustees have paid one hundred dollars
indebtedness on the parsonage and built a new barn at cost of one
hundred and thirty dollars . . . The church building was remodeled
during the pastorate of C. E. Coon, 1918-1922. The church became quite
strong at this time, both numerically and otherwise. Clarence Hanscom,
Centennial guest speaker, served during the year 1927-1928. His
emphasis, according to the record, was work among the young people. The
first lady minister to serve the church was Margaret Osterhuis (now
Margaret Wilkinson, Centennial guest speaker), who left a good record.
During the pastorate of William P. Leek in 1939, many united with the
church. The longest pastorate was that of George H. Willett, who served
7 years, beginning in 1942. John Kendall was the last pastor before the
present one, Arnold H. Nielsen. Mr. Kendall and those who preceded him
laid well the foundation for the work that followed, for during the
succeeding two years the membership of the church has doubled, and the
present building enterprise has been initiated and carried on.
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