An Appleton church removed a time capsule. Members will open it on 175th anniversary
APPLETON – There is no way that the current congregation at First United Methodist Church of Appleton could squeeze into the small space where the church got its humble beginnings, well over a century ago.
With a dirt floor beneath his feet and a partial roof over his head, Rev. William H. Sampson delivered a sermon to a group of 14 people on Oct. 8, 1848, inside "Johnston's Shanty," a boarding house, that was essentially a shack, near what is now Lawrence University.
On Sunday, exactly 175 years later, First United Methodist members will gather at their current — and far larger — church, located at 325 E. Franklin St., to celebrate the anniversary and their long history.
“It’s just going to be a pretty big party," Rev. Markus Wegenast, lead pastor, said.
Festivities include a worship service at 10 a.m., with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung preaching, followed by a celebratory lunch. Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford and other guests are expected to attend.
Members will also get a glimpse inside a time capsule removed from the church's cornerstone and add items of their own, before sealing it back up again.
When he first arrived in 2014, Wegenast said it "was a very special feeling" to learn he'd be serving at Appleton's oldest church.
"There is a special bond between the people of First Church and the community of Appleton," he said, "and maybe that is because we have been part of the community from the very beginning.”
After opening the time capsule, members will add mementos from COVID-19 pandemic, 175th anniversary
On Monday, a company arrived at First United Methodist Church, Wegenast said, to extract the time capsule from the cornerstone on the exterior of the church. They removed a brick, he said, to reveal a sealed, metal box, measuring roughly a foot all the way around.
“I've never seen a thing like that," said Wegenast.
No one knows what's inside it, or how old the contents could be, according to Wegenast, who said he held the "really heavy" box. They sent it to a welder to be opened before Sunday's celebration, he said.
Members selected items to add to the time capsule from present day, such as a book written about the church's 175-year history. They're also including a mask from the COVID-19 pandemic, Wegenast said, “because that has been a very instrumental part of this time period right now, and people in 25 years may not remember why that was necessary."
"But," he added, "that’s what a time capsule is for.”
Congregation overcame fire, depression to expand church
Over 175 years, First United Methodist Church has moved between different homes around Appleton.
After the first services in "Johnston's Shanty," members met on Lawrence's campus. In 1855, they built a church along East College Avenue near the corner of Drew Street, before constructing a new building in 1868 at Lawrence and Morrison streets. Then, in 1872, a fire broke out.
"It seems the caretaker had built a big fire in the stove in preparation for the morning service. The fire got out of control and ignited the walls and floors. Firemen could do little bit watch as the building was destroyed," according to a book published in 1998 for the church's 150th anniversary.
As members began to rebuild, The Panic of 1873 hit, and the economic depression stymied construction, leaving a completed basement with a crude roof covering it.
"Undaunted, the Methodists brought their own chairs and tables to the basement, and services were held there for five years," according to the book.
In the meantime, parishioners continued to fundraise, the church was finished in 1879.
"Church attendance grew tremendously during and right after World War I," the book says, and people realized they, once again, needed a bigger space.
Finally, in 1925, the congregation dedicated its Tudor Gothic-style church near City Park, where they still meet today.
Members established 175 year legacy of a church that serves the Appleton community
As the church's footprint and its membership grew, so did its programs and outreach in the community. The 150th anniversary book also highlights everyday life for churchgoers.
In the early 1900s, for instance, the organ was still pumped by hand. One Sunday, the pumper fell asleep, and when the choir rose to sing the anthem, the organ was silent, according to the book. Later, in 1975, there was the "Donut Dilemma," when kids were upset that they missed out on coffee hour while attending Sunday School.
"A crisis was averted when it was agreed to furnish the youngsters with donut holes in class," the book says.
More: Antique collector's passion for pump organs has led him to buy a Marshfield church. Again.
Today, First United Methodist Church welcomes about "1,000 members and friends," including children, Rev. Wegenast said. Together, they work often with community organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity. The church also has a sister congregation in Cuba, he said, and it hosts a Congolese congregation in Appleton.
A lot has changed since Rev. Sampson preached that first Methodist sermon back in 1848, and First United Methodist Church is no longer located where it originally stood. But for 175 years, members have established a lasting legacy, and from a theological perspective, Wegenast said, the people are the church.
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Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at @ruthyjacobs.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: First United Methodist Church celebrates 175-year legacy in Appleton
