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Brick Chapel UMC celebrates 150 years of historic building
BRICK CHAPEL — It was no ordinary Sunday at Brick Chapel United Methodist Church this past weekend as the congregation celebrated 150 years in its current building.
To mark the event, Putnam County Historian Larry Tippin was on hand to give some history of the congregation and the unincorporated Monroe Township community to which it lends its name.
The previous building, also a “brick chapel” but formally named Montgomery Chapel, was built in 1835. In 1872, that building was either torn down or burned, and was replaced by the new church building.
One year later, a post office was established in the area under the name of “Brick Chapel.” The name, though not the post office, apparently stuck, as in 1984, the church name was formally changed from Montgomery Chapel to Brick Chapel.
The history of the congregation actually goes back further, to 200 years ago.
In 1822, the first sermon was preached by circuit rider Benjamin Jones in the cabin of George W. Howlett. Three years later, the congregation was organized as the first Methodist Society in Monroe Township and was included on the Eel River Circuit.
In 1932, a larger log cabin was built to serve as church and school. That building lasted only three years until the orginal brick structure was established, making the current building at least fourth different home the congregation has had over its history.
Moving into the 20th century, a remodel was performed in 1912, including adding partitions for Sunday school classes, moving the entrance and pulpit and adding the vestibule and bell tower.
Another remodeling project came in 1953, which included adding stained glass windows. Two years later, the church was at it again, adding an education unit.
Finally, in 1961, the parsonage was built.