our history

The Great Commission

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

We have a 100+ year history in the Alturas community.

"Take your little church and dream God's dream for it,"

...is a quote from a sermon by Bishop B. Kern.

1911 - Original survey of Town of Alturas.

1915 - First services held by Australian born Rev. Robert White, a retired minister from the Methodist Missouri Conference, who came from Bartow to hold services in an upper room of the Seilers Hotel.

1920 - Union Sunday School met in the school house with 11 demoninations being represented.

April 17, 1921 - The decision to form a Methodist Episcopal Church South was finalized. Mrs McLendon, described as a dedicated Christian and a member of First Methodist Church in Birmingham, contacted her denomination about forming the Methodist church in Alturas.

Bartow Methodists, headed by Grover Metcalfe, assisted in the organizing. Alturas was added to the Homeland and Prospect (Connersville) circuit.

1922 - The Pittsburg Development Co, who owned the townsite, gave the church a building lot. But it was decided by the members to return the lot and apply the value to the purchase of a lake frontage lot on Star Lake. A lot was purchased from Charles Walker of Bartow who deeded the adjoining lot for free for the purpose of a future parsonage.

1922 - The first full-time pastor was appointed, Rev. W.H. Herndon.

1924 - The cornerstone was laid on the new building with V.E. Voigt was in charge of construction along with F.J. Rosenburg, his assistant. B.B. Register Sr, Alturas sawmill operator, donated the big timber for the building.

The newly formed Ladies Aid, organized by Mrs George Wilson and Mrs G.T. Voigt, held guinea and chicken suppers and socials to raise the $500 extra to pay for the lake front property. Mrs Bertha Voigt died during her term as president in 1927. Mrs V.E. Voigt was president when the lot was paid off. Later the Ladies Aid became the Woman's Missionary Society with Mrs George Wilson, Mrs John Patton, Mrs I.J. Godwon and Mrs Stanton Lander as presidents.

1932 - Good Friday, the debt was paid off and the mortgage was burned. 1932 - Easter Sunday, Rev J.T. Mitchel, led the dedication service in the debt free church.

***Many thanks and appreciation to Sylva Swartz Kelly Waters, who compiled and authored an extensive history of the Alturas United Methodist Church.