Wishard Chapel’s new church nears completion
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The new church building for Wishard Chapel is undergoing construction just north of it’s current church about three miles north of Mount Ayr.
Although Wishard Chapel is one of the oldest churches in Ringgold County, it is about to evolve into the newest house of worship in the area.
Pastor Bill Armstrong is excited to usher the congregation into their next chapter, and make room for additional members.
“We always had a plan to build,” states Armstrong, “as the ministry has grown.”
Wishard Chapel Church regularly welcomes around 75 people on a weekly basis, and the chapel seats 90, which does not leave much wiggle room. Sunday school classes have been meeting in a trailer next to the original church building that was brought in to provide additional space.
Thanks to a very generous gift from the estate of Leroy and Betty Trimble, the members of Wishard Chapel Church were able to buy land from the Bevington family and break ground for a new building.
BG Builders was hired to design and build the new church just north of the original historic chapel. This will be the third church Terry Boswell and Matt Gilliland have built together.
Another substantial gift is helping bring the church closer to completion, although opportunities to support the growing church still exist.
The project is roughly $100,000 short of being fully funded, and the members plan to have several fundraisers throughout the coming year to bridge the gap.
Wishard Chapel Church is inviting the community to visit, pray over the new church and bless the building on September 17 from 3-5 p.m. For a nominal $10 donation, paint and markers will be provided for creating handprints, writing prayers or scriptures, and well wishes within the walls of the building.
This is not the first time in the history of the church its members have stepped out in faith.
Prior to the church being established, Christians met at Side Hill School, about three miles north of Mount Ayr. A building committee was formed around 1886 and a Mr. Middlesworth donated land for the future church site.
Reverend Vollmar, of the Mount Ayr Methodist Episcopal Church, and James Wishard, a retired minister, joined forces to raise money and generate interest in constructing the church building.
The building was erected in 1887, and a supper and auction were held to raise money for hymnals, pews, a wood stove, and other necessities. With the success of the fund-raising, dedication services were held November 13, 1887 to an over-flowing crowd.
The church was given the name of Wishard Chapel out of high regard for 86-year-old Rev. James B. Wishard.
. In 2011, the church withdrew from the United Methodist Church conference to become an independent community church and remain a Bible-centered, conservative congregation — one that could minister to all the needs of the community.
Rev. Tom Rutan led the congregation through the church re-organization and Wishard Chapel re-opened on February 12, 2012 as a non-denominational church after purchasing the building from the United Methodist Conference.
Soon after, Rev. Rutan began recruiting Bill Armstrong and offered to mentor him as the next incoming pastor. Armstrong had been filling the pulpit churches around the area as needed, and was remodeling the funeral home at the time, so he did not initially accept Rutan’s invitation.
After much reflection, Bill and Sandy Armstrong assumed the pastoral role on October 12, 2012.
Pastor Armstrong now looks forward to the spring of 2024, when Wishard Chapel Church will welcome the community in celebrating Easter in the new church with seating for 180 people.
