Christian United Methodist Church

The first man who preached Richman Twp. was a Mr. Williams, a Methodist missionary stationed at Chariton. Services were held at Green Bay Cemetery.
In 1868, a number of Methodist living in the area, north of Humeston, decided to build a church at the Humeston Cemetery site.
Men went to the timber a few miles northwest of there and cut logs which were hauled to the sawmill for sawing into frame lumber.
Sid Fellers, a carpenter, was assisted by other men in the building project. After the framework was up, the wind was blowing so hard from the south that the men set some timbers on the north side to keep it from blowing down. During the night the wind changed to the north. Returning the next morning they found it flat on the ground. One of the brethren was of the opinion that if the Lord blew down His own house, it should be let to remain, but another said, "No, it was our own stupidity, if we had set braces on the south side too, it would have been all right." The church was dedicated on June 21, 1868.

After the town of Humeston was going, the church was torn down and rebuilt on the lot where the water tower now stands. It was dedicated in 1881 or 1882 when Rev. Volmer was pastor.

The church was later moved to the location across the street at the southwest corner across from the park. It had been moved to within 3 feet of the foundation when an August storm moved it three feet too far. A tree stopped it. Mr. Matney, who lived in a house nearby, had looked out at the storm and started to run as he shouted to his wife "THE CHURCH IS COMING!"

Church in 1921

A new building, built in the early 1920s was dedicated in April 1921.

The church had maintained a parsonage since the 1880s. A new one was built in 1899 after the other was damaged, and destroyed by fire. The parsonage was two stories above ground with a basement. It was torn down and a new one was built on the same site in 1967 (and remains there today).

In 1971, the local Christian and Methodist churches first considered joining together as a yoked parish. The Christians voted to leave their own building and worship along with the United Methodist.
Consequently, United Trinity Parish, consisting of the Humeston United Methodist, the LeRoy Presbyterian, and the Humeston Christian, was formed in 1972. The next year the Derby Methodist closed and joined.

The Humeston Christian Church was sold for $500 and demolished. (see the Christian Church story). The lot was sold and a home was built. The parsonage was sold and now is owned by the First Baptist Church.

�An architectural firm studied the 1921 building, concluding that cost could easily spend as much for a new one and on the proposed addition. They concluded that the cost could run $93,000 to repair and $275,000 to completely refurbish entirely.

On September 15, 1991 a vote to construct a new church passed. By November 1991 a location south of Humeston at 510 South Front St. had been chosen as the new site.

Present Church

The cost was about $362,000. Lay people donated labor. The debt was $90,000. In May of 1996 the construction costs were paid in full. The members burned the mortgage after a Sunday service.

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