PEKIN, Ill. (25News Now) – Members of Pekin First United Methodist Church is celebrating their bicentennial this week.
The church considers itself the oldest congregation in Pekin, tracing its roots back to 1826. That was when Pekin’s founder, Jacob Tharp, invited the traveling minister Jesse Walker to his home.
“And in fact, there’s a statement from his diary that Jesse Walker said, ‘Well, you know, is there even going to be anybody there?’ And he made sure that there were people there, and that they then started classes and from then, this church was formed,” said church member Valerie Moehle.
The congregation has called several buildings home during that time. The current facility on Court Street was built in 1954.
Church members told 25News about prominent women in the church’s history like Sandra Newman, the first ordained woman in the area, and Mary Westerman, who taught a Sunday school class with over 400 children in the 1800s.
During the Civil War, they sent money for bandages and blankets to the front.
More recently, the church raised money for charities trying to end malaria, sent members on mission trips to Liberia, and started housing projects in Pekin.
People who have attended for decades said they have seen changes over time.
“We are now much more of an outgoing church. We go out in the community. We’re in every festival. If you drive by the church, there’s always something going on in our front yard or in our side yard,” said church member Ralph Heston.
The church has been marking the occasion all year. Couples married there were invited to come and renew their vows. A youth group reunion was held for anyone participating in the church’s programs for teens, and there was a community block party.
The bicentennial is giving the congregation a chance to reflect.
“We have been spending a lot of time in our worship services talking about what does that mean for the future of the church? How do we now look at where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re going?” said lead pastor Sean Peters.
Sunday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. there will be a bicentennial worship service to mark the milestone. Pastors who previously led the church and the bishop will be in attendance.
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