CELEBRATING 100+ YEARS OF MINISTRY ... A LOOK AT OUR HISTORY

1910- A club was organized called the Methodist Circle.

1910- In autumn, a Methodist Sunday School began to meet at 19th and East A. Then, the MethodistSociety was organized, meeting every 4th week with services by Rev. Clearwater of Laramie.

1911 - The Torrington Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated. Lots were donated.

1913 -Cornerstone of new building was laid. The town band led a parade from Main Street to the site of thechurch. Pastors lived in the church basement, and there, one of them raised white leghorn Chickens.

1914 - First marriage ceremony in the new church and the first funeral.

1916 - Epworth League was formed; first official board meeting was held; building was completed andfurnished with pews. Church was dedicated.

1918 - A parsonage was built, and Wyoming State Conference was entertained.

1919 - Meals were served twice daily for the ex-servicemen who came to Torrington for a land drawing. The ladies netted $1,000.00.

1926 - A 24' x 44' room was added with a full basement. A covered dish dinner followed the morningservice, then a consecration service and communion. A delegation from the Ku-Klux-Klan in full regalia interrupted the service, bringing a contribution for the building fund.

1934 - In spite of the depression, membership grew to 404 with a budget of $4,000.

1934 -1942 - The sanctuary was completely rearranged. Natural gas heating was installed inchurch and parsonage.

1939 - Uniting conference of the three Methodist bodies: the Methodist Episcopal Church, the MethodistEpiscopal Church South and the Methodist Protestant Church. The new name would be, "The MethodistChurch."

1942 - Mortgage burning for the 1926 addition. New pews, carpet, communion rail and pulpit wereadded.

1947 - Baldwin organ was purchased.

1949 - Church was reincorporated as "The Methodist Church."

1955 - Lots were purchased for a new church at 27th and Main.

1956 - Ground was broken on Easter, April 1, and the cornerstone was laid November 18. Churchmembership was 600.

1957 - Church was consecrated by Bishop Glenn R. Phillips. The same year, the Wyoming StateConference merged with the Colorado Conference, forming the Rocky Mountain Conference.

1966 - The new parsonage was purchased.

1968 - The EUB and Methodist Church merged to become, "The United Methodist Church."

1970's-A church bus was available. Trips included the Black Hills Passion Play, and Washington, D.C.

1971-Lonnie Johnson was the minister. He was from the south and was difficult to understand at firstuntil the congregation became used to his speech.

1974-Early church history was presented in conjunction with the nation's bicentennial.

1975- Youth trip to Nashville.

1975-1976-The church sponsored a Vietnamese family.

1976-First live nativity

1980-New Allen organ replaced Baldwin organ.

1981- Elevator installed

1981-Re-Dedication for present church location

1984-A church Christian Mission school was held in Torrington. Kathleen Hunter was the Registar.

1989-The church began the Mother-Daughter Banquet. Frances Anderson, Arlene Ramp and EllenCassidy were instrumental in beginning this.

In the 1980's-1990's, Bats have been a problem and a source of concern

1990-First woman minister to serve TUMC-Marilyn McGraw.

1993-New sound system was installed.

1994- The Atkins Parlor was dedicated by Mary Lou Atkins to the memory of her husband, Les Atkins.

1996- Hand Bell choir began

1994- Rev. David Finley, pastor.

1997- Nancy Boswell served TUMC as a student pastor. Her activities included leading a youth missiontrip to Utah.

1998- Rev. Deb Olenyik, pastor, was very involved in getting youth and young adults involved in thechurch.1999-A transient lived in the bell tower for a time.

2002- A new organ was purchased and installed. This organ has the ability to produce sounds of otherinstruments as well as record musical selections to allow piano and organ duets.

2003- New Bose Sound system was installed in Sanctuary with a Mackie Sound Board. A projectionscreen was also installed. A Praise Band was formed and served for three years under the leadership of Rich Osmotherly and Tim McFarland.

2004- Rev. Ora Dailey became pastor.

2005- The Fellowship Hall was retiled and painted. A summer benefit concert series was started with Christian rock band, "Another Dream". Other concerts have included Big Fish Story, Tim Hebbert, Paden Smith, and the Dixie Melody Boys.

2008- An air conditioning system was installed. The bat problem was taken care of.

2009- Over 50 area singers performed in Easter and Christmas Cantata under the direction of Joyce Willeke. A new curtain and carpet for the Fellowship Hall stage was purchased by UMW.

2010- TUMC Celebrated 100 years of service to Christ and Community. Former pastors returned topreach and other exciting events. A pictorial directory was also made with Olan Mills. A paper pantrywas started to provide paper products to those who are less fortunate. A Liturgical Dance group wasstarted to help showcase the youth of the church. Capital improvements in 2010 consisted of the installation of energy saving windows throughout thechurch, additional interior lighting, and a renovation of the building’s electrical system

2013- Rev. Dailey retired after 8 years of service to TUMC, and Rev. Brian Kroeger, fresh out of seminary was appointed to the church.