Lodi United

Methodist Church

130 Locust Street, Lodi, Wisconsin 53555

Office Hours:  8:00 - 1:00, M-Th

(608) 592-3480

Church Secretary - Roxy Witzke

Pastor Scott Walters - 592-7449                                        Pastoral Assistant Julie Wilson - 592-5817

A HISTORY OF THE LODI 

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Methodist Church (Burned in 1968)

Started in 1845, the Lodi United Methodist Church is the oldest established church in Lodi.  At that time two brothers and an itinerant minister with his wife met in their cabins every two weeks for Sunday School classes and preaching services.  By 1853 a parcel of land was purchased and in 1855 a Methodist House of Worship was constructed.  In 1856 the West Wisconsin Conference was formed and in 1863 the Annual Conference meeting was convened at Lodi.

 In 1927 the tower and roof of the original church were destroyed by fire.  The damage was repaired and an addition constructed.  Dedication Services for the remodeled structure were held on December 12, 13, and 14, 1930.

At the General Conference in 1939 the Methodist Episcopal Church North, the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Methodist Protestant Church merged and the name chosen was simply the Methodist Church.

Though a tornado damaged the roof in 1950 and various other modifications were made to the church, it became debt free in 1966.  Then, on March 24, 1968, tragedy struck and the entire interior of the church was destroyed by fire.  The people of the area expressed their sympathy and offered aid, and the Presbyterians, the Catholics and the Arlington Prairie congregations offered the use of their buildings for our services.  It was finally decided to use the Presbyterian Church and to share expenses with them.  Subsequently, a new church was built across the street on the site of the old Lodi Grade School and a new parsonage built on the site of the original church.  The first service in the new church was held on July 25^th, 1969.

In the meantime, a Uniting Conference was held in 1968 at Dallas, Texas.  At this conference a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) and the Methodist Church took place and the United Methodist Church (and, thus, the Lodi United Methodist Church) was born.

This is but a brief sketch of the history of our church.  It doesn’t contain any details of those in the church who lived their lives in the light of Jesus Christ, nor of the ministries and programs of the church conducted over the years to strengthen and nurture the lives of many in both the church and the local community.  The Lodi United Methodist Church is proud of its service to the community for these more than 160 years and looks forward to continuing this service for many more years to come.

Current Church (Built 1968-69)

Send comments concerning this web site to rschmie@chorus.net                             Last Updated:  April 9, 2010