A club was organized called the Methodist Circle.
In autumn, a Methodist Sunday School began to meet at 19th and East A. Then, the Methodist Society was organized, meeting every 4th week with services by Rev. Clearwater of Laramie.
1911
Torrington Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated. Lots were donated.
1913
Cornerstone of new building was laid. The town band led a parade from Main Street to the site of the church. Pastors lived in the church basement, and there, one of them raised white leghorn chickens.
1914
First marriage ceremony and funeral in the new church.
1916
Epworth League was formed; first official board meeting was held; building was completed and furnished with pews. Church was dedicated.
1918
A parsonage was built, and Wyoming State Conference was entertained.
1919
Meals were served twice daily for the ex-servicemen who came to Torrington for a land drawing. The ladies netted $1000.00.
1926
A 24’ x 44’ room was added with a full basement. A covered dish dinner followed the morning service, then a consecration service and communion.
A delegation from the Ku-Klux-Klan in full regalia interrupted the service, bringing a contribution for the building fund.
1934
In spite of the depression, membership grew to 404 with a budget of $4000.00.
1934-1942
The sanctuary was completely rearranged. Natural gas heating was installed in both the church and parsonage.
1939
Uniting conference of the three Methodist bodies: the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Methodist Protestant Church. The new name would be, “The Methodist Church”.
1942
Mortgage burning for the 1926 addition. New pews, carpet, communion rail and pulpit were added.
1947
Baldwin organ was purchased
1949
Church was reincorporated as “The Methodist Church”
1955
Lots were purchased for a new church at 27th and Main.
1956
Ground was broken on Easter, April 1, and the cornerstone was laid on November 18. Church membership was 600.
1957
Church was consecrated by Bishop Glenn Phillips. The same year, the Wyoming State Conference merged with the Colorado Conference, forming the Rocky Mountain Conference.
1966
The new parsonage was purchased.
1968
The EUB and the Methodist Church merged to become
“The United Methoidst Church”.
1971
Rev. Lonnie Johnston, pastor.
1978
Rev. Dean Woodward, pastor.
1981
Robert Sewell, pastor.
1991
Marilyn McGraw, pastor
1994
David Finley, pastor
1997
Nancy Boswell, Student Pastor
1998
Debra Olenyik, pastor
1998
Youth Mission trip to Milford, UT
1999
A transient lived in the bell tower for a time.
Youth mission trip to Rosebud Reservation.
VBS first held at Newman Ranch.
2000
Rev. Olenyik led a group to Israel.
2001
A new organ was purchased
2002
Mission team sent to Alaska.
Church kitchen remodeled.
Headquarters for Ministerial Resident Assistance Fund.
2003
Easter and Christmas cantatas including singers from other churches and
an evening community performance added.
Evening with Bishop Nthamburi of Kenya and performance of
“A Lion of a Fellow” by playwrite Vivien Hills.
Youth mission trip to Pueblo, CO
Praise Band was formed under the leadership of Rich Osmotherly.
2004
Pastor Deb Olenyik was transfered to the Estes Park, CO UMC. The Rev. Ora Dailey was sent to replace her.
Fund raisers for a new BOSE sound system were done.
Church in the park Sunday School kickoff.
BOSE sound system installed November 2004.
All the audio will be done by one tech in the balcony.
2005
Entire Fellowship hall floor re-tiled.
"Another Dream", a Christian Rock band from Laramie held a concert at TUMC. The funds raised in the concert was donated to a local pastor's family to assist with medical expences. This was the start of an annual summer benifet concert event.
2006
"Big Fish Story" performed on the church's front lawn. Proceeds to Brit Trumbull and Travis Sims.
2007
Tim Hebbert, of Gering Nebr., and his family provided the annual summer concert. Proceeds were donated to "World Vision".
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ABOVE HISTORY IS TRUE. IT HAS BEEN PRINTED BEFORE, AND IT HAS BEEN (AND WILL BE) UPDATED. IF YOU HAVE ANY THING YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED HERE, PLEASE EMAIL ME.
--T. MCFARLAND, WEBMASTER