As early as 1865, religious meetings were held in individual homes in Ottawa County.
From 1877-1878, the Methodists built a small frame structure across the street from the present church building, and then, built a larger stone building on the present site.
Seven years later, the structure was severely damaged by a storm andwas considered unsafe.
The present church structure was erected from 1886-1888 and was valued at $10,500.
The certification of the Minneapolis Methodist Church is dated November 16, 1890.
Our parsonage was built on the corner of 5th and Elm Streets in 1917. It has been taken care of and updated by our congregation over the years, and still continues to be used today!
In October of 1943, Ada and Minneapolis became one charge with Rev. A.B. Madison as pastor. This arrangement of sharing the pastor continued until Ada's closing in June 2019.
An organ was purchased in 1953 and a ground-breaking ceremony was held for a new educational building in November of 1959.
James Joyce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Omar Joyce, was commissioned a missionary of the Methodist Church in 1953.
By 1977, the congregation was ready to construct a new church or remodel the old one. Committees were formed and an architect was given the task of preparing the two designs.
A first all-church proposal was voted down due to the large amount of indebtedness. By 1979, the committees went back to work, made changes to specifications and design, and presented a new proposal at the May church charge conference. It passed by a large margin.
On September 7, 1981, the newly-remodeled church was re-consecrated. The remodeled facility is air-conditioned and is handicapped accessible. The old stained glass windows were retained, as was the beautiful wooden buttressed ceiling in the sanctuary.
In 1984, a new organ was purchased.
Various funding projects have been undertaken by groups and classes. These have included rummage sales, cookbook sales, Christmas wrappings, along with the annual chicken dinner, the food stand at the County Fair, the Men's soup supper, and ice cream socials.
Today, the First United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, Kansas, continues to be a vibrant part of our community, carrying on the rich legacy of Methodism. Rooted in a history that saw the denomination spread across the country with westward expansion, our church remains a place of worship and community engagement. As part of the larger United Methodist Church, our congregation is a connectional church, working together with other churches, like the United Church of Bennington, to make a meaningful impact. With a focus on serving, Minneapolis First United Methodist Church strives to be a welcoming and inclusive place, continuing its mission to make disciples and transform the world.