History

Efforts were made to organize a Methodist society in Silver Lake as early as 1869, and Articles of Incorporation were submitted to the Sec of State by the following seven members of the Board of Trustees; James T. Sargent, Elias Pierson, E.L. Ball, B.F. Kesler, David Bartram, Thomas Atterbury and Ira Markham. The corporate charter was issued by the State of Kansas on May 22, 1869 to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Silver Lake. While a period of time passed between the charter and the construction of a church building, meetings were held in member’s homes, and also at the schoolhouse which was built in 1868. The continuous history of our church is considered to have begun on May 5, 1877, when the members and friends of the Methodist Church met at the home of Hiram Rice for the purpose of electing a Board of Trustees. Later the newly-elected Board met in the school house on May 26, 1877, to ratify the articles of incorporation. The next meeting of the board was held August 24, 1877,  when action was taken to erect a church building, estimated to cost at least $2,000. It was agreed to purchase the east half of the “Thomas Block”. On April 30, 1878 it was purchased from Mrs. Sally Palmer for the sum of $75.  By December of 1878 the building was enclosed sufficiently enough for use and a dedication service was held. At that time the sum of $1,689.01 had been spent on construction.