Barnard United Methodist Church to Celebrate 130 Years on September 9, 2012

The Barnard United Methodist Church will celebrate 130 years with a service on September 9, 2012.  The service will commence at 10:30 am and will feature special music as well as Bishop Scott Jones, Bishop of the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church.  After the service, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments at the Barnard Community Building.

The Barnard United Methodist Church was originally formed as a house church on the Salt Creek Circuit in the early days of the 1880's with formal entry into the Kansas Conference of the United Methodist Church recorded at the Conference of 1882.  Through out its 130 year history, the church has been home to over 50 different pastors, not counting the early Circuit Riders and ministry students of Kansas Wesleyan University. 

Barnard M.E. Church in 1907

The physical plant of the church house was constructed in the early 1900's on the corner of Harper and White Streets in the heart of the city of Barnard.  The church added a basement and kitchen for fellowship gatherings, expanded the main level for classroom space, and even altered the steeple and bell tower of the original structure during the years to come.  Merged with the Dry Creek Episcopal Methodist Church in the late 1880's, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Barnard become the Barnard United Methodist Church in 1968. 

Another Early Photo of the Barnard UMC

For 70 consecutive years the church has partnered with the neighboring Barnard First Baptist church in hosting the annual Barnard Vacation Bible School.  Many are the children, now turned adults, from the community and surrounding area who remember the sharing of the stories of the faith, engaging in the play and activity, while learning the scripture's words. 

Beginning as the Women's Mission Society and later the Epworth League, continuing through several name changes, the United Methodist Women have continued to meet since the church's origin and are a vital part of the church's ministry. 

Joined with the Ash Grove UMC as a dual church-charge for over 60 years, the two churches served as rural teaching churches for many of Kansas Wesleyan's ministry students throughout the 1960's into the 1990's, an honored position reserved for very few churches in the whole conference.  In 2003, the Barnard UMC entered into cooperative ministry with the Ash Grove, Beverly, Lincoln UMC's and the Vesper PC/USA to become part of a newly created circuit called the Lincoln County Cluster.  The Barnard UMC has faithfully served as a vital mission outpost of the faith within the community throughout its 130 year history.

Over the recent months, several projects have been undertaken at the church.  In addition to the siding and metal roofing added in recent years, the bell tower has been reinforced and new front doors have been added to the entry of the church.  New paint has been applied to the marquee, railings, and the foundations of the new additions.

Pictures and information taken from the Barnard Methodist Church special program, Barnard History, and the author's personal collection.