Methodist Episcopal Church in Beaconsfield about 1912.
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This is the third of four picture postcards given to me by Janet Hogue. The fourth one will have to wait awhile as I’m struggling to get information on it. But, thanks again to Janet for the photos.
According to a 1996 Beaconsfield history book, the Wesleyan Methodist congregation was established in 1885. They built a chapel in 1888.
At some point, the Wesleyan Methodist became Methodist Episcopal and lots were purchased in 1911 for the construction of a new church building. The church pictured this week was dedicated December 24, 1911. The building measured 36’ x 50’ and the header above the front door said, “METHODIST CHURCH.”
In the early morning hours of November 19, 1949, fire was discovered in the furnace room of the church and, Beaconsfield having no fire department, the church burned. This was the same day as the planned God’s Portion Sale. That afternoon, the sale was held at the Beaconsfield High School and $900 was raised for the construction of a new church building.
The new church was built on the same site as the 1911 church and dedication services were held Sunday May 20, 1951. Dr. Edwin Edgar Voigt of Simpson College headed the ceremony assisted by Rev. W. J. Weber, the Beaconsfield Methodist Church pastor. Cost of the new structure was $26,000. This is the same building that is in use today and Rev. June Nolte Davis was recently listed as the pastor.
A May 17, 1951 Mount Ayr Record-News newspaper gives credit to Carl Hogue and Dick Yashack for much of the work on the Beaconsfield Methodist Church. The church is still very beautiful today.
I hope to celebrate two anniversaries this year. First, August 1st will mark fifty years since I first moved to Mount Ayr from Gentry, Missouri. Second, December 23rd will be the ten year anniversary of “Snapshots of History.” I have currently written approximately 425 articles for “Snapshots.”
