HISTORY OF THE GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Warren, MN was organized in November of 1879 with its first official service held in the barroom of the Miner House, which was located on the southwest corner of what is now Main ST. and Fletcher Ave. Rev. Samuel Kerfoot of Emerson, Manitoba, was its first pastor.  The pews of that service consisted of planks laid over kegs.  It is of special note that at the time of our church conception there was not even a school in Warren, in fact no public building of any kind.  The village was not incorporated and Marshall County had been organized only a few months.

Judge Nelson's office was chosen as a  more fitting site for winter services, but with the rapidly increasing membership moved to the new courthouse by spring.  The new pastor, C.B. Brecourt served in the 1880's and 1890's.

Methodism boomed and a new church was built in 1883.  In 1897 the church was moved to it's present site on Johnson Ave.  In 1938 the name of the church was changed.  Episcopal was dropped and the name became the First Methodist Church.  A remodeling project was started in 1938 and took several years.  On May 27, 1943, just as the project was being completed, with a dedication set within a few days, a fire destroyed the interior of the building, most of its furniture, records and books.

Though the congregation was heartbroken over the loss, their spirits became stronger and they set to work to rebuild.  With hard work and much determination the church was re-dedicated on Nov. 5, 1944, completely debt free. 

May 22, 1949 the Scandinavian and First Methodist Churches united.  The emerging fellowship was called Grace Methodist Church. 

In 1963 a building committee was elected to remodel and add to the church.  Plans were drawn to include additional Sunday School rooms, a office and study for the pastor and a new ground level entry to the church.  The kitchen was moved to the new addition, giving added space to the dining area.  In 1968 Rev. Cal Daniels became the pastor and under his direction "Articles of Agreement" were drawn up with the  Angus-Tabor Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Euclid.  Together we became the WEA Community Parish.

In 1997 three floods devastated Warren in the span of 13 months.  The fellowship hall, kitchen, a Sunday School room along with the furnace for the church were destroyed.  The "Noah's Ark Fund" was set up to fund the renovation of the church basement.  With the help of the congregation and others the basement was completed with a new kitchen, dining area, two bathrooms (one handicap accessible), storage area and a classroom.  An elevator was completed in 2001 and is up and running.  A wonderful addition to the church.

Excerpts of this history were taken from the centennial booklet of the Grace United Methodist Church, 1879-1979.