Prospect United Methodist Church of Dunlap, Illinois was formed by the merger of the Methodist Church and the Prospect Presbyterian Church.  Both churches had long contributed to the life of the Dunlap community and their histories serve as a solid foundation for Prospect.

 

Dunlap Methodist Church

The Dunlap Methodist Church dates back to 1884 when the Methodist Minister at Kickapoo, traveling by horseback, began coming to Dunlap and holding services in the Grange Hall .  Soon it was decided that a church should be built. A committee consisting of the minister, Rev. George A. Weber, John Jackson, Sr., Malon Brassfield, and John Potter, Sr. was formed.  Work on the building progressed well and the Dunlap Episcopal church was dedicated Sunday, November 2, 1885 under the direction of Rev.Weber at the NW corner of Third and Elm. 

The Dunlap Methodist Episcopal church was ably served not only by resident ministers but also by student ministers.  In 1927 Frank Davies, a student, was assigned to Dunlap and Edwards which were connected at that time.  After he had completed his ministerial studies, he married and went to South America serving as missionaries in Chile and Peru.  Following Rev. Davies another student, Cecil Lockard, was assigned to the Dunlap Church and served until his graduation from seminary in 1931.

In 1936 the Dunlap Methodist Episcopal Church was connected with the Princeville Methodist Episcopal Church with the minister, Rev. Austin A. Rodgers, living in Princeville.  Under his leadership work for needed additional facilities began in January, 1938.  A basement with a kitchen and space for Sunday School classes and social activities was put in, a new furnace installed, the auditorium refurbished , and the exterior of the church painted, all the work being done by volunteers.  The re-decorated church with the new basement was dedicated May 15, 1938.  Church membership was 156 at this time.  It was in 1939 during the pastorate of Rev. Rodgers that the church became The Methodist Church as the result of the union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Protestant Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

From 1936 until 1962 the Dunlap Methodist Church continued to be connected with the Princeville Methodist Church.  In 1962 a resident minister, Rev. Roy Doll, was appointed to the Dunlap church.  As the membership grew and its activities increased, the need for a larger church building became apparent. Members of the Prospect Presbyterian Church and members of the Dunlap Methodist Church discussed the possibility of combining forces to build a new church. Their dream was realized when on May 22, 1963 the two churches merged. 

In 1970 the deteriorating church was torn down with the bell being removed and placed in front of Prospect United Methodist.

 

Prospect Presbyterian Church

 

 

In about 1848, Presbyterians who had mostly settled here from the Pan-Handle (West Virginia) would drive by horse and buggy to Princeville for church services.   Later they began to hold services conducted by visiting ministers in a rural schoolhouse at a site east of the first corner north of what is now the town of Dunlap.  An application which was made to the Presbytery to organize a church was granted.  A committee was appointed consisting of Rev. Addison Coffee of Peoria, Rev. Robert Breese of Princeville, and Elder Henry Schnebly of Peoria. On June 8, 1850 the committee met the congregation in the schoolhouse and the organization was accomplished.  Before the church was organized, many names were discussed.  Dr. Yates remarked, "We have nothing yet to name, for our church is yet in prospect." Whereupon the name Prospect was unanimously chosen for the new church.

As the congregation grew, there was need for a larger building.  About five acres of ground from the southeast corner of his farm north of Dunlap was given by Adam Yates as the site for Prospect Presbyterian Church and Prospect  Cemetery. (Prospect Cemetery since the merger of Prospect Presbyterian Church and Dunlap Methodist Church has not been under church jurisdiction).  The lumber for the church was sent from Chicago canal boat to Chillicothe.  Men of the congregation hauled lumber from Chillicothe with their teams of horses.  The church building, 36 ft. by 48 ft., was completed and was dedicated in June, 1854, four years after the organization of the congregation as Prospect Presbyterian Church at a cost of $1,400.  In 1867, thirty acres just east of the church were purchased and a house for the minister built there.

Worship services were held in the church north of Dunlap until 1877 after which they were held in a new church edifice built in Dunlap on a lot partly donated by Alva Dunlap, founder of the town at a cost of $5,100 (NE corner of Third and Birch).  The new church was dedicated during the pastorate of Rev. John Winn. In 1878 the country manse (parsonage) with its thirty acres was sold and the proceeds applied to the cost of a new manse built a block west of the new church in Dunlap.  Around 1891 during a Sunday evening service, a cyclone lifted the tall spire from the roof top. 

As the congregation grew, more room was needed for church activities.  To fulfill this need an annex was built in 1919.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Prospect Presbyterian Church was held June 9 - 11, 1950 during the pastorate of a student minister, Rev. Marion Floyd.  He and his wife lived in Dunlap while he was completing his course at McCormick Seminary.

The last of the many ministers who served Prospect Presbyterian Church before the merger was Rev. Paul Jassimides who served Oct. 1956 to Oct. 1962. The following year Prospect Presbyterian Church merged with Dunlap Methodist Church.

In July of 1967 the Prospect Presbyterian church was sold to Dunlap High School for $9,500.  In June of 1973, the high school sold the remaining contents of the church for $588 and had it demolished.  One of the 19 stained glass windows was donated to Prospect United Methodist.

 

 

On Pentecost Day, May 22, 1963 the church to become known as Prospect Methodist Church was formed.  On that Sunday the congregations of the Dunlap Methodist Church (180 members) and the Prospect Presbyterian Church (207 members) voted at their respective churches to unite. Following the voting the two congregations met on Third Street at the mid-way point between the two church buildings and celebrated the union by singing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" and the "Doxology."

During the beginning years of the new church both church buildings were utilized. Worship services were held in the south church (Prospect Presbyterian Building) Sunday School classes were held in both the south church and the north church (Methodist Building).  The Pastor's office was located in the annex of the south church.  In 1966, the Prospect Presbyterian manse was sold. Following the sale, worship services were held in the North Church along with some of the Sunday School classes.  The other Sunday School classes were held in Dunlap High School (now Pioneer Junior High School).  The pastor's office was moved to a room in the Phillip's 66 Service Station on the corner of Route 91 and Birch Street.

The search for an appropriate site for a new church building led to the purchase in 1966 of the W. R. Wiley estate consisting of just over twenty-three acres of land.  Later all the land except just over four acres retained by the building site was sold.  The site chosen for the new church building is an historic one. It is the site upon which Alva Dunlap, the founder of the town of Dunlap.  The house, now badly in need of repair, was demolished so work on the new church building could begin.  The ground-breaking date was April 21, 1968.  The estimated cost of the new church was $252,000.  The first shovelfuls of dirt were turned by two of the older members of Prospect Methodist Church; Mrs. Alice Campbell representing the former Dunlap Methodist Church and Dr. Clausen Wilmot representing the former Prospect Presbyterian Church. 

On April 23, 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church united forming the United Methodist Church.  Because of this union Prospect Methodist Church became Prospect United Methodist Church.

On November 9, 1969 the cornerstone was placed in the new building under the direction of Rev. Philip Richardson.  On December 7, 1969 the first worship service was held in the sanctuary.  The Consecration Service for the new building was held December 21, 1969 with Dr. Harry Crede, Superintendent of the Peoria District, and Dr. William Bennett, assistant to the Bishop, Central Illinois Conference, participating.

ln 1972 the James White property next to the new church property on Ash Street was purchased for a parsonage for $32,500.  The old Methodist parsonage and the two adjoining vacant lots were sold. 

In 1981 Prospect United Methodist sponsored the Chau family who had escaped from Vietnam and had resided in Indonesia to flee Vietnam oppression. 

In October of 1982 a new organ was added to the church. 

On November 20, 1983 a dedication service was held under the direction of Dr. Follis and Dr. Miley E. Palmer, Peoria District Superintendent to burn the mortgage and dedicate the church building. 

In February of 1993 planning began on an addition to Prospect United Methodist.  The new addition would add a fellowship hall, kitchen, pantry, new offices, lounge/library, four Sunday School rooms, handicapped accessible rest rooms, larger narthex and additional parking. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in October of 1994.  On June 4, 1995 the addition was dedicated with a consecration potluck dinner. 

 

On April 7, 2007 ground-breaking took place for a new addition to the front of the church. This addition expands the sanctuary, narthex and adds more class rooms on the lower level and an elevator. 

 

Pastors Serving Prospect United Methodist Church
Rev.   Roy M. Doll                1963-1964 
Rev. Philip R. Richardson      1964-1971 
Rev. Francis W. Samuelson  1971-1973 
Rev. R. David Goodell           1973-1980 
Rev. D. Dean Follis               1980-1987 
Rev. Bradley F. Watkins       1987-1990 
Rev.  Ronald G. Dickinson    1990-1999
Rev. Mary Kathryn Pearce    1999-

 

  Pastors Serving Prospect Presbyterian Church 
  Rev. David Hervey- Stated Supply  1-1/2 years 
  Rev.  John Turbitt - Pastor- Spring, 1853 - Aug.1855 
  Rev. Thomas T.Smith - Stated Supply- April 1856- April 1857 
  Rev. James Large - Stated Supply  Died  Mar-1858 (buried Prospect Cemetery) 
  Rev. George Cairns- Pastor June 1858-June 1863 (buried Prospect Cemetery) 
  Rev. William Cunningham- Stated Supply for a short period. 
  Rev. J.A.E.Simpson -Stated Supply from Winter of 1864-Spring 1866. 
  Rev. A.S.Gardiner -Pastor- Dec.1866 -Spring of 1871 
  Rev. John Winn - Pastor- Spring 1872-Oct,1877,(Mrs. buried in Prospect Cemetery) 
  Rev. Silas Cooke - Pastor-1877- 1890 
  Rev. H.V.D. Nevius - Stated Supply - 1891-1892 
  Rev. Harry Smith - Pastor-1893-1896 
  Rev. R.C.Townsend - Stated Supply 1896-1898; Pastor to 1904
  Rev. Greigg  -  Stated Supply for short period 
  Rev. Thomas - Pastor 2 years 
  Rev. D.L.Jones - Pastor 1 year 
  Rev. Campbell  - Pastor 2 years 
  Rev. L.H.McCormick - Pastor 5 years 
  Rev. Clarence Blekking - Pastor 3-1/2 years 
  Rev. Wolfe & Stamp supplied for short periods 
  Rev. KortKamp Pastor - Sept.1924- 1925 
  Rev. William Mitchell - Pastor- Jan.1926 - May 1927 
  Rev. George Griscell -  Pastor- June 1927- Aug. 1930 
  Rev. D. Andrew Howey  - Pastor - Feb-1931- Nov. 1933 
  Rev. Thomas Stamp - Stated supply-Aug 1934-Oct,1938(Buried Prospect Cemetery) 
  Rev. Joseph Goehririg - Pastor- Mar-1939- May 1943 
  Rev. Martin Fouts - Pastor -Oct.1943-Apr. 1947 
  Rev. Marion Floyd-Came as a student 1948, Ordained l951, left in May 1952 
  Rev. Perry Tudor- Came as a student in 1952, Pastor-1954-Oct. 1955 
  Rev. Paul Jassimides- Pastor - Oct. 1956 - Oct. 1962 

 

Pastors Serving Dunlap Methodist Church
George W. Weber  1884-1885              
Anthony Bamford   1885 -1886              
Herman Coolidge    1886-1887               
Lewis Springer       1887-1889              
Adolphus Smith      1889-1890              
Henry B. Ward       1890-1892                              
Herman Coolidge    1892-1893                         
David C. Martin       1893-1897                            
James M. Prouty    1897-1898                          

Hugh Gibson          1898-1900                           
W. S. Baker           1900-1901                             
W. R. Warner         1901-1902                   
J. R. Clark              1902-1903                           
E. R. Horton           1903-1904                       

W. J. Leach            1904-1906                               

George E. Alford     1906-1908                                
E. E. Diffenbaugh    1908-1910                              
Thomas L. Kneebone 1910-1914                     
J. L. Wright             1914-1915  

D. S. McCowan       1915-1917 

Charles Swaney      1917 

Anthony Bamford     1918-1920 

H. T. Jackson          1920-1921 

J. S. White              1921-1923 

Fred W. Appleby      1923-1925 

Glen S. Reddick       1925-1927 

Frank Davies            1927-1929 

Cecil R. Lockard       1929-1930 

A. H. McConnell       1930 

Jesse N. VanCleave  1931-1933 

Charles A. Sullivan    1934-1935 

W. L. Barnes            1935-1936 

Austin A. Rodgers     1936-1939 

A. H. Nothdurft          1939-1944 

Charles Smith           1944-1949 

James J. Gross         1949-1954 
Richard C. Mader       1954-1959 
Samuel B. Parker      1959-1962 
Roy M. Doll               1962-1963