Batesville United Methodist Church (Franklin County - Batesville, Indiana)
MC 188                                                                                                                                        

ARCHIVES OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY
AND INDIANA UNITED METHODISM

Batesville UMC (Franklin Co.)
Size: 1 container, 0.4 linear feet
Restrictions: None
Accession #: Not Known
Provenance: donor

Historical Sketch

The church in Batesville was organized in 1870. The first church building was built in 1871. The present brick sanctuary was erected in 1889. Up until the pastorate of Rev. William Nocka (1910-13), all services were conducted in the German language. During his tenure the church began having some services in English in the evening. Then in 1918, the Official Board resolved to discontinue the German services since "the German was under suspicion at that time" because of the conditions of WWI. At the same time, the official name of the church was changed from German Methodist Episcopal Church to First Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the fall of 1891, it was decided to form an English-speaking Methodist church in Batesville. By 1894, the new building of the English Methodist Episcopal Church was put into service. In 1913, its official name was changed to Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church.

By 1926, since all of the services of the First Methodist Episcopal Church (German) had been conducted in English for a number of years, the members of both churches felt that one united church would serve the community, so on 10/10/1926, the two united in the first service together.

Collection Statement

The collection includes class attendance books; Quarterly Conference Minutes; W.S.C.S. records; W.F.M.S. records; miscellaneous trustees records; treasurer's records; miscellaneous reports; membership records; and miscellaneous letters.

MC 188

Folder 1 Choir 1913

2 John Barth Brotherhood 1909-1941

3 Letters--Miscellaneous 1893-1941

4 Members 1894-1939

5 Reports--Miscellaneous 1905-1943

6 Treasurer's Record 1913

7 Trustees--Miscellaneous 1894-1944

8 W.F.M.S.--Treasurer's Record 1923-1926

9 W.S.C.S.

In the Back of MC 188:

Class Attendance Books: 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943/44, 1944, 1945

Quarterly Conference Minutes: 1923-1934

W.S.C.S. Report Books: 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948