THE HISTORY OF A BALDWIN CITY CHURCH: IVES CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Student researchers were Miriam Rice, Kate Strauss, and Jessica Yarmo (2003)

Editor: Dr. George Wiley, Baker University

Photographs

Introduction 

  1. What are the churches of Baldwin City?

  2. Has work on this church's history already been done?  Is there a written history of the church?  If yes to either question, find out more so you don't duplicate someone else's efforts.

  3. What People In This Church Know About Its History?
     
  4. What Written Documents Or Artifacts Are Available?

 

  1. How Did The Church Get Started?

Ives Chapel’s building once housed the Presbyterian Church of Media. In 1903 Captain Ives bought the building. It was renamed as Ives Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. Baker University Student Rev. D.K. Burnham was the first minister. The church’s charter was filed Jan. 7, 1904. Over time, there have been enhancements to the building, such as the addition of a dining room and kitchen. The exterior has been redone several times. The basement originally dug for coal and kindling was later turned into classroom space, and remodeling is still being done to parts of the church.

 

  1. Who were the founders?

 

  1. Why did they decide to start a church?

  2. Has the church existed in other buildings than the present one? What were they?

  3. How have major historical events affected the church? Examples: "Bleeding Kansas," the Civil War-World War I-World War II-Korean conflict-Vietnam War, economic crises (like the Great Depression), changes in agriculture, the civil rights movement.

  4. What people have been influential in the life of the church over time? (other than the founders). These people might include a particularly beloved pastor (or a particularly unpopular one) or a lay leader.

  5. What controversies has the church experienced?

  6. What gives the church its particular identity or flavor? What makes it different from other Baldwin City churches or from other churches in its denomination?

  7. What Is The Mission / Purpose Of The Church?
     
  8. How Has The Church Ministered To The Baldwin City Community?

 

  1. How Has The Church Ministered Beyond the Baldwin City Community?
     
  2. What contact or involvement has this church had with other churches in Baldwin City?

  3. Is the church connected to a judicatory body? (annual conference, archdiocese, etc.) If so, what kind of relations has the church had with its judicatory body?

  4. What is the church's polity (how does it govern itself, how do decisions get made)? Are decisions up to the congregation only? Are others involved?

  5. What was the toughest thing the church ever went through?


  6. What Are Some Of The Church's Successes?
     

Student Researchers’ Comments.