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2123 Forest Ave.
Great Bend,
Kansas 67530
(620) 792-2148
Sunday Worship:
8:30 & 10:30 AM
Sunday School:
9:30 AM
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday
8:00 AM - 12 Noon
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 12 Noon
Overview
Directions
Staff
History
About Us
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH
Shortly before 1870, some of the pioneers in their westward journey decided that they had gone far enough and settled around the site of Great Bend. Among them were a group of Methodists who conducted Sunday School in a farm home northeast of Great Bend.
In the spring of 1872, settlement of the area began in earnest. A census showed that 581 persons lived the area embraced by Barton County. The city was incorporated and grew rapidly. In 1873, while the city constructed the first courthouse, the Great Bend Circuit was organized as a mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first services were held in a store building on the south side of the public square. As soon as the school house was finished, it met there, until the courthouse was completed and then continued there for several years.
Although the settlers were very poor in 1876, their daring faith set the foundation for building the church in Great Bend. In 1877 subscriptions were taken and work began. 
The size of the frame building was 30 x 50 feet and stood on the northeast corner of the block on which the present church stands. The congregation numbered thirty-five. View an hand-illustrated 1882 map of Great Bend here, with a closeup of the Courthouse area and our first building here.
Records indicate that the city enjoyed a period of prosperity during the 1880’s. Accordingly, the church paid off building debts, increased a missionary offering of $125.00 to $200.00 and paid the minister $1,000.00 for the first time. Real estate values were very inflated and property sold at fabulous prices. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the trustees sold their church and the parsonage at 1311 Stone.
In 1886, a church was built on the corner of Forest and Morton Streets, and a parsonage on the adjoining lots to the west, with a total value of $16,000.00. The church was dedicated January 16, 1887. Membership had grown to 176. By 1892 the congregation was free of building debts for the church and parsonage.
In 1893 the Annual Conference met at Great Bend. The church was newly papered and a new furnace installed in preparation for the event. Unfortunately, crop failure and general financial depression was crippling the community and with it the church. Unusual drought in the mid 1890’s resulted in entire failure of crops. However, as the economy of the country improved, the church was strengthened with finances stable at the turn of the century. Improvements to the church property were without a dollar of indebtedness at the end of the year.
With church facilities long outgrown, the population of the city being about 3000, the congregation began to dream of a new building that would meet present needs and provide adequately for the future. The Ladies’ Aid Society began to save money for the new building in 1914. Lots were purchased in 1921 with subscriptions taken for some months before. Building began in 1922. It was dedicated in January 1924. Its dimensions were 80 x 141 feet. Total cost was $145,000.00. 
After the dedication of the building in 1924, the interest in the Church was strong and the attendance was good. In October of 1942, the original building mortgage was burned. By now the staff included a part time secretary, and a custodian.
By 1948 the city of Great Bend had grown to about 10,000 citizens and membership in the Methodist Church was 1075. Plans were made for a much needed educational building to be built to the east of the church. A fund raising campaign was begun. The building was completed in 1957, and formally opened in 1958 at a cost of $283,000.00. The building features classrooms, office space, a library and a chapel. Air conditioning and a speaker system was installed at this time. Average attendance at worship services was about 700. In 1964, the educational building debt was paid in full.
With the union of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches in 1968, the name of the church became First United Methodist Church.
The one hundredth anniversary in 1973 found the church in a sound position with the facilities in good condition and the original eleven charter members increased to 1525 persons.
The church buildings that began with the small frame building in 1873, to the gothic frame building in 1886, to the impressive edifice built in 1924, to serve as houses of the Lord, have never altered their purpose to bring persons to Christ. While the buildings changed with the years and organizational methods developed according to the progress of time, the purpose for which the church came has never altered. The dedication of the people of this church who witnessed through the years from 1873 to the present day in this community to their faith in Jesus Christ is the revelation of the Holy Spirit at work in the world.