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In 1835, in a one-room log cabin, located three miles
west of Palatine, the Cady family was joined by a dozen or
so neighbors to worship God in this pioneer community.
Because the group qualified as a Methodist Class, they were
soon eligible to receive the services of the Circuit Riders,
a corps of dedicated Christians organized by the Northern
Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church to bring the
Word of God to the new settlers.
1848: A great revival brought 80 converts with 54
solid Class members. The Sunday school attracted 84 teachers
and 276 scholars. With such success, the Class now qualified
as a Charge to which resident ministers were assigned.
1858: Rev. Thomas Cochran guided the group in making
building plans. On land donated by Joel Wood at Wood Street
and Plum Grove Road, a white frame church was built and
dedicated.
1891: Rev. William Smith, a retired army chaplain,
began a 4-year term as pastor. He designed the red brick
North Church that was dedicated in 1895 on the site of the
original church.
1927: North Church remodeled, adding new pipe organ
1935: “Week of Jubilee” celebrated 100 years of
Methodism in Palatine
1952: North Church is enlarged
1953: The first Director of Youth Activities was
added. Continued growth resulted in adding a second worship
service and two Sunday School services, even though First
United Methodist Church rented classroom space in both the
Wood Street and Oak Street schools.
1957: A centennial celebration was held. Construction
of a new sanctuary on Plum Grove Road & Wilson Street began.
The present Sanctuary was dedicated in 1958 and eleven years
later, the parlor, church offices, library, and education
wing were added.
1974: It was determined that the North Church was in
need of repair or replacement. For two years, volunteers
worked at restoring the building to useful condition as a
fine arts center, which was used extensively for
performances by various church groups.
1982: The 125 year history of FUMC was celebrated
with a presentation of the original musical, “Winds of God,”
which involved a cast of over 70 members.
1992: A renovation of the existing Sanctuary was
completed. The organ was rebuilt and enlarged a year later
and is dedicated in honor of Mercie Heise, who served as
church organist for over 60 years.
2006: Construction begins July 5 on new
administrative office space and the Wesley Center, a
multipurpose facility to replace the North Church. The lobby
is also greatly expanded, displaying stained glass windows
from the North Church as a visual reminder of the many
generations that came before.
2007: In the midst of construction and renovation, we
celebrate our Sesquicentennial – 150 years in the community
of Palatine. By the end of the year, renovation is complete.
The history of First United Methodist Church of Palatine,
however, is much more than a history of buildings. It is the
history of a congregation that has found ways to faithfully
serve the wider community for more than one hundred and
fifty years. In each succeeding generation, the people of
FUMC have had the wisdom, foresight, and faith to be open to
the new ways God is leading us.
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