History
1841 – 2008 When Missouri became a state in 1821, a map was printed listing the principal religion of the state as “Methodist”. One of the first sermons preached in Buchanan County was delivered by a young Methodist preacher by the name of Enoch Mather Marvin in the Woods schoolhouse located in Agency Township, the year was 1838. Marvin later became a Methodist Bishop.
Jane Martha Wood and her parents owned the schoolhouse. Who was the grandmother of Georgie Whitson and Perry Brumm. As a result of the conversions from these services, in 1841 a log house was moved to a location on top of a big hill a few miles to the northwest of the Wood’s schoolhouse. This building served as a schoolhouse during the week and a church on Sunday. In 1846 the church became a part of the newly formed St. Joseph Methodist Circuit and was assigned the Reverend John Tutt as minister. Other churches on the circuit were Agency, Sparta and Jimtown.
Mr. & Mrs. John Martin deeded an acre of land to the church on July 17, 1856. This acre was from the land homesteaded by the Karns family and is the site of the present church. On this plot a log church was erected. The story is told that when the first church building was being built a stranger came walking by and sat on the steps to rest, saying, “Now I have found my Ebenezer”. The name stuck and thus the church gained its title. The name is especially appropriate since it means “ Stone of Help”.
In 1884 the log church was removed and the original structure of the present building was built on that same location. Three of the men building the church were John DeShon, Jace Landis and Bill Whitson whose descendents are still active in the church today.
The need for more space resulted in a full basement being built under the church in 1929 and a coal-burning furnace was installed. Trees and shrubbery were donated and planted by Robert Hagar and Dick Bagby. That same year saw the start of the Ladies Aid Society, who in 1935 served their first chicken dinner. That became and annual event and an important financial assist to the church. A Lord’s Acre Sale, started in 1944, and has been held every year in the fall with proceeds going for maintaining and improving the church building and property.
In the early 1950’s the glass in the sanctuary windows was replaced with stained glass.
April 15, 1953 an all day celebration was held. Bishop Ivan Lee Holt gave the message and the service commemorated a century of service and witness for God.
An education annex was built and dedicated in 1956. A number of members and friends of the church donated labor. The building committee that directed this project consisted of Max Evans, T.E. Grier, Fred Moser, Roy Shipps, and Franklin Whitson. A new kitchen added in the fall of 1956 was planned by the W.S.C.S. (Women’s Society of Christian Service).
Then, in 1963 a complete remodeling program was undertaken, with indirect lighting, birch paneling, lowered ceilings, new restrooms and an entirely new pulpit and alter area being installed. The door in the south end was removed and one added in the east side of the building. In 1965 new pews added the finishing touch to the beauty of the Ebenezer sanctuary.
In 1978 the sanctuary was remodeled again. The ceiling was restored to its original height and new lights and new carpet was installed and the walls painted.
A restroom and storage closet was added upstairs, in1990. This made our church completely handicap accessible.
Recently in 2005 we celebrated the opening of our new Fellowship Hall at the south end of our property. It has a seating capacity for approx. 120 people and a large beautiful kitchen. We also expanded the parking area to fill the space between the new hall and the church. The committee in charge of this project was Barbara Barton, Cliff Kerns, Joyce Pike, Leon Hitchings, Billye Hitchings, Jeanne Boyer, and Dub Boyer.
As we've completed 170 years of worship in this place where our forefathers and their fathers before them gathered to honor the Sabbath, we can look back with pride to all that has gone before us. We can look forward with faith and joyous anticipation to the years that lie ahead.
Jane Martha Wood and her parents owned the schoolhouse. Who was the grandmother of Georgie Whitson and Perry Brumm. As a result of the conversions from these services, in 1841 a log house was moved to a location on top of a big hill a few miles to the northwest of the Wood’s schoolhouse. This building served as a schoolhouse during the week and a church on Sunday. In 1846 the church became a part of the newly formed St. Joseph Methodist Circuit and was assigned the Reverend John Tutt as minister. Other churches on the circuit were Agency, Sparta and Jimtown.
Mr. & Mrs. John Martin deeded an acre of land to the church on July 17, 1856. This acre was from the land homesteaded by the Karns family and is the site of the present church. On this plot a log church was erected. The story is told that when the first church building was being built a stranger came walking by and sat on the steps to rest, saying, “Now I have found my Ebenezer”. The name stuck and thus the church gained its title. The name is especially appropriate since it means “ Stone of Help”.
In 1884 the log church was removed and the original structure of the present building was built on that same location. Three of the men building the church were John DeShon, Jace Landis and Bill Whitson whose descendents are still active in the church today.
The need for more space resulted in a full basement being built under the church in 1929 and a coal-burning furnace was installed. Trees and shrubbery were donated and planted by Robert Hagar and Dick Bagby. That same year saw the start of the Ladies Aid Society, who in 1935 served their first chicken dinner. That became and annual event and an important financial assist to the church. A Lord’s Acre Sale, started in 1944, and has been held every year in the fall with proceeds going for maintaining and improving the church building and property.
In the early 1950’s the glass in the sanctuary windows was replaced with stained glass.
April 15, 1953 an all day celebration was held. Bishop Ivan Lee Holt gave the message and the service commemorated a century of service and witness for God.
An education annex was built and dedicated in 1956. A number of members and friends of the church donated labor. The building committee that directed this project consisted of Max Evans, T.E. Grier, Fred Moser, Roy Shipps, and Franklin Whitson. A new kitchen added in the fall of 1956 was planned by the W.S.C.S. (Women’s Society of Christian Service).
Then, in 1963 a complete remodeling program was undertaken, with indirect lighting, birch paneling, lowered ceilings, new restrooms and an entirely new pulpit and alter area being installed. The door in the south end was removed and one added in the east side of the building. In 1965 new pews added the finishing touch to the beauty of the Ebenezer sanctuary.
In 1978 the sanctuary was remodeled again. The ceiling was restored to its original height and new lights and new carpet was installed and the walls painted.
A restroom and storage closet was added upstairs, in1990. This made our church completely handicap accessible.
Recently in 2005 we celebrated the opening of our new Fellowship Hall at the south end of our property. It has a seating capacity for approx. 120 people and a large beautiful kitchen. We also expanded the parking area to fill the space between the new hall and the church. The committee in charge of this project was Barbara Barton, Cliff Kerns, Joyce Pike, Leon Hitchings, Billye Hitchings, Jeanne Boyer, and Dub Boyer.
As we've completed 170 years of worship in this place where our forefathers and their fathers before them gathered to honor the Sabbath, we can look back with pride to all that has gone before us. We can look forward with faith and joyous anticipation to the years that lie ahead.