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Prairieville United Methodist Church closes after 148 years
Prairieville United Methodist Church east of Faribault has closed after a decrease in membership meant it was no longer financially viable. President of the Church Council Chris Hillebrand hopes the church will be open for a few services per year.
For some, Prairieville United Methodist Church was like home.
Margaret Bauer has been a member of the church her whole life. The white, clapboard church with the small cemetery out back is where she was baptized and married, and it’s where her children were baptized. But after 148 years, the church on Hwy. 60 just east of Faribault is closing its doors.
The church opened in 1870, but with dwindling attendance, it was no longer financially viable.
Chris Hillebrand, president of the church council, is also a lifelong member. In the 1970s, he estimated about 50 people attended services every Sunday, but over the past three years, the church was “lucky to average 10.”
With such a steep decline in membership, the burden of financial support fell on those most active. Serious talk of closing the church began about a year ago, though members have known for a while that it was coming.
“We all knew it was going to happen. We saw the writing on the wall as the funds started dwindling,” Hillebrand said. “We’ve probably known for five years. We tried to hang on as long as we could.”
What was left of the congregation voted in September on closing the church. Of 11 voters, nine voted to close and two voted to keep it open. Hillebrand said at least one of the voters in favor of keeping the church open told him they voted that way to make sure the church got at least one vote.
After Sunday’s service, the doors closed and those attending shuffled out. Now in limbo, they’re looking for a new spiritual home.
There are other Methodist churches in the area, including Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church and Hope United Methodist in Faribault, and Kenyon United Methodist, which operates on Fourth Street in Kenyon. Finding the right church may not be as easy as driving to a new location on Sunday.
“You can’t just close one church one day and go to a different church the next day,” Bauer said. “I’m going to be going to different churches until I can feel at home again.”
Some members of the church could trace their ancestry back to the church’s beginnings, she said.
“There are several Methodist churches in the area. We had the opportunity to transfer to any one of those. I have not made my decision yet because of the fact Prairieville is the only church I’ve ever known,” she said. “I was baptized there, married there… that makes a difference.”
A nationwide trend
“Rural churches are suffering,” Hillebrand said.
According to the United Methodist Church’s archives and history, Methodism in America peaked in 1970 at over 10 million members. In 1950, 6.5 percent of U.S. residents were Methodist.
Since 1970, the U.S. population has grown by over 100 million people, but Methodist church membership dropped by almost 3 million people. From 1980 to 2010, the Methodist population in Minnesota has dropped by 30.4 percent, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.
It’s not just Methodist churches that have seen membership declines. In 2013, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America reported that more than 1,000 ELCA churches had closed nationwide in the decade prior. In Minnesota alone, the number of ELCA congregations dropped by 130 and the number of Minnesotans who regularly attend ELCA services was down by 115,000 people from 2000 to 2010, according to the ARDA.
The Catholic Church saw an 8.7 percent decrease in those attending services regularly from 2000 to 2010, according to the ARDA, though that total is actually up from the number in 1980. The number of Minnesota congregations shrunk by 59 since 1980.
As for Prairieville United, Prairieville Cemetery behind the church will remain, as the Methodist church donated the building to the cemetery association to run, Hillebrand said.
He said the church will hopefully remain alive through a few annual services and it will still be available for weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Jacob Swanson
From: https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/news/article_d29ef693-ea1a-5b3b-8f1b-936153bfb544.html
Prairieville United Methodist Church east of Faribault has closed after a decrease in membership meant it was no longer financially viable. President of the Church Council Chris Hillebrand hopes the church will be open for a few services per year.
For some, Prairieville United Methodist Church was like home.
Margaret Bauer has been a member of the church her whole life. The white, clapboard church with the small cemetery out back is where she was baptized and married, and it’s where her children were baptized. But after 148 years, the church on Hwy. 60 just east of Faribault is closing its doors.
The church opened in 1870, but with dwindling attendance, it was no longer financially viable.
Chris Hillebrand, president of the church council, is also a lifelong member. In the 1970s, he estimated about 50 people attended services every Sunday, but over the past three years, the church was “lucky to average 10.”
With such a steep decline in membership, the burden of financial support fell on those most active. Serious talk of closing the church began about a year ago, though members have known for a while that it was coming.
What was left of the congregation voted in September on closing the church. Of 11 voters, nine voted to close and two voted to keep it open. Hillebrand said at least one of the voters in favor of keeping the church open told him they voted that way to make sure the church got at least one vote.
After Sunday’s service, the doors closed and those attending shuffled out. Now in limbo, they’re looking for a new spiritual home.
There are other Methodist churches in the area, including Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church and Hope United Methodist in Faribault, and Kenyon United Methodist, which operates on Fourth Street in Kenyon. Finding the right church may not be as easy as driving to a new location on Sunday.
“You can’t just close one church one day and go to a different church the next day,” Bauer said. “I’m going to be going to different churches until I can feel at home again.”
“There are several Methodist churches in the area. We had the opportunity to transfer to any one of those. I have not made my decision yet because of the fact Prairieville is the only church I’ve ever known,” she said. “I was baptized there, married there… that makes a difference.”
A nationwide trend
“Rural churches are suffering,” Hillebrand said.
According to the United Methodist Church’s archives and history, Methodism in America peaked in 1970 at over 10 million members. In 1950, 6.5 percent of U.S. residents were Methodist.
Since 1970, the U.S. population has grown by over 100 million people, but Methodist church membership dropped by almost 3 million people. From 1980 to 2010, the Methodist population in Minnesota has dropped by 30.4 percent, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.
It’s not just Methodist churches that have seen membership declines. In 2013, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America reported that more than 1,000 ELCA churches had closed nationwide in the decade prior. In Minnesota alone, the number of ELCA congregations dropped by 130 and the number of Minnesotans who regularly attend ELCA services was down by 115,000 people from 2000 to 2010, according to the ARDA.
As for Prairieville United, Prairieville Cemetery behind the church will remain, as the Methodist church donated the building to the cemetery association to run, Hillebrand said.
He said the church will hopefully remain alive through a few annual services and it will still be available for weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Jacob Swanson
From: https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/news/article_d29ef693-ea1a-5b3b-8f1b-936153bfb544.html
Location of worship
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Church Pastor
Lora Rose Sturm
Pastor
9401 Kenyon Blvd
Faribault,
MN
55021
United States
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Prairieville United Methodist Church Service Times
Prairieville United Methodist Church closed after 148 years of service
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It's been more than 3 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Prairieville United Methodist Church History
Prairieville United Methodist Church FAQs
Question: Where is Prairieville United Methodist Church located?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church is located at 9401 Kenyon Blvd, Faribault, Minnesota.
Question: Who is Prairieville United Methodist Church's pastor?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church's pastor is Lora Rose Sturm.
Question: What time is service at Prairieville United Methodist Church?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church closed after 148 years of service
Question: What is Prairieville United Methodist Church's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/prairieville-united-methodist-church-379708239803
Question: What denominaiton is Prairieville United Methodist Church?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church belongs to United Methodist Church denomination.
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church is located at 9401 Kenyon Blvd, Faribault, Minnesota.
Question: Who is Prairieville United Methodist Church's pastor?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church's pastor is Lora Rose Sturm.
Question: What time is service at Prairieville United Methodist Church?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church closed after 148 years of service
Question: What is Prairieville United Methodist Church's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/prairieville-united-methodist-church-379708239803
Question: What denominaiton is Prairieville United Methodist Church?
Answer: Prairieville United Methodist Church belongs to United Methodist Church denomination.
Let no darkness overtake me
Visit, I beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation with thy mercy, and me with thy grace and salvation. Let thy holy angels pitch their tents round about and dwell here, that no illusion of the night may abuse me, the spirits of darkness may not come near to hurt me, no evil or sad accident oppress me; and let the eternal Spirit of the Father dwell in my soul and body, filling every corner of my heart with light and grace. Let no deed of darkness overtake me; and let thy blessing, most blessed God, be upon me for ever, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit, I beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation with thy mercy, and me with thy grace and salvation. Let thy holy angels pitch their tents round about and dwell here, that no illusion of the night may abuse me, the spirits of darkness may not come near to hurt me, no evil or sad accident oppress me; and let the eternal Spirit of the Father dwell in my soul and body, filling every corner of my heart with light and grace. Let no deed of darkness overtake me; and let thy blessing, most blessed God, be upon me for ever, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prairieville United Methodist Church listing was last updated on the 31st of August, 2020