OUR HISTORY

The Lawrenceville society counts its organizational date as 1893. There was no Lawrenceville society listed in the 1892 or 1893 YEARBOOK. Rev. H. G. Bachman, who was appointed to St. Francisville, reorganized a city church in May 1893, with seventeen members. The young church first worshiped in "the old brick church" on Eleventh and Walnut Streets purchased on July 7, 1893, for the sum of $620. This building, constructed in 1859, had previously been owned by the Presbyterians and then the Methodist Episcopols. By 1897, their number had increased to fifty-nine. Wabash Conference appointed Rev. H. G. Bachman to St. Francisville, Lawrenceville, Liberty and New Hope in 1894. Until 1914, Lawrenceville was variously combined with Vincennes, Birds, Bee Branch, Island, Spring Hill, Decker, and Olney, under pastors H. G. Bachman, D. S. Moore, Edgar Lloyd, E. E. Robbins, George Holborrow, S. P. Mercer, J.

B. Hull, C. W. Haney, H. E. Woodard, W. G. McVey, W. V. Miller, J. F. Erwin, and W.R. Bonham.

This Building is still standing at the corner of 11^th and Walnut

Currently occupied by the Masonic Lodge

Since 1914, the Lawrenceville church has been served by full-time pastors. In 1912, new lots were purchased at the corner of Tenth and Maple Streets, under the leadership of the new pastor, W. R. Bonham. A new frame church was erected at a cost of $4500., with Frank Moore, son of Rev. D. S. Moore, as contractor. This structure was a replica of the First Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis. The 1913 Wabash Annual Conference was held in the new church. It was a proud time for the society.

Pastors of the growing church between 1914 and 1963 were W. R. Bonham, E. G. Grimes, 0. L. Mumaw, 0. P. Ellis, J. C. Black, J. T. Myers, G. H. Boley, F. W. Johnson,Leroy McDowell, J. C. Black, W. W. McCormick, J. L. Bright, G. H. Boley, F. H. Current, V. H. Mottweiler, J. L. Bright, 0. L. Mumaw, Denver Shipley, and John Lefler.

Click Photo

A modern limestone church was built on the same location in 1963, under Pastor John Lefler, with Alvin McCracken of our Washington, Indiana church as contractor.

Click Photo

Then, in 1975, construction of a new parsonage west of the church by contactor Herbert F. Young completed the lovely facilities we now enjoy. Planning for this parsonage was begun under Pastor Carroll Morris and finished under Pastor J. Rolland Seybold.

The pastors who followed John Lefler were Carroll Morris, J. Rolland Seybold, Warren Ranck, Lael Dixon and Lauren Eicher, Jim Rea, Brian Buterbaugh. Many have been the blessings of our past. As we look to the future, we expect new and precious blessings, because Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever.