History

The first prospectors arriving on the present site of Butte were recorded in 1864. There were just a few cabins scattered along Silver Bow Creek in which lived a few placer miners who had come over from Alder Gulch to look for gold. There was not much to be found in the bed of the creek, but views of ore were found, specifically copper.

The first formal "Methodist" religious services, of which we have a record, were held in Butte in early 1873 by Reverend Hugh Duncan, who was then serving as pastor of the Deer Lodge Mission. (A Marion J. Hall, who later served as the Methodist pastor and evangelist, is credited with the first “street meetings" in Butte.) Scotsman Duncan came to the United States in 1853. His son later wrote that "after a day of hard work he would study his lessons by the light of a candle, reading good literature and studying with a definite end in view, in the light of his accomplishments in later years." He was a licensed preacher for the Methodist Episcopal Church and helped start churches and Masonic Lodges wherever he went. Rev. Duncan is considered the first Methodist preacher in Montana to make this state his permanent home.

At the first gathering in 1872 of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Denver in 1872 Rev. Duncan was assigned to Deer Lodge and Missoula. Hugh was a miner, farmer, rancher, and preacher and came to the booming mining community of Butte to lead worship and lay the groundwork for a new church; this was in addition to his pastoral work in Salmon City, Idaho, some 160 miles away.

In 1875, Duncan, was appointed solely to work in Butte. The community was growing with mining interests all around.

In 1876 the name of Butte first appears in the official minutes of the Rocky Mountain Conference. W.C Shippen was sent from Helena to Butte. He stayed only a year, and the work was combined with Fish Creek in the Jefferson Valley. The following year, Francis Asbury Riggin, was made pastor of the circuit. This was the same year for the formation of the Montana Annual Conference. In 1887, the first meeting of the Montana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church took place at Mountain View Church.

In the February 5th, 1890, edition of the Montana Advocate (the periodical of the Montana Methodists – which was published out of Butte), Francis Asbury Riggin writes: "My first appointment to preach in Butte carried me over the main Divide of the Rocky Mountains on horseback 30 miles, in the Fall of 1877. When I arrived, there was no church nor parsonage to receive me. Nor was there any organized work. I put my horse in the livery stable and went to the hotel and registered. I hunted up a place to preach and was informed that the only suitable place was a dance hall owned by Judge Loeber. He told me that his rate for the use of the hall on Sunday was $5. This would not put it in condition, and I must sweep it and light it and make the fires. This I was thankful to do. I had a good congregation. I paid the $5 out of my own pocket, I paid my bill at the livery stable for my horse, I paid my hotel bill; it all amounted to $10. I received no compensation."

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"I couldn’t stay long but I went to the townsite Co. plat and selected six lots for a church. These were the nearest vacant lots to Main Street. I agreed to pay for them when the deed was furnished. On my return I found that they were sold to another and conveyed. After preaching a few times with a similar experience as narrated above I found a stopping place at the home of Brother A.T. Rundel and sons, and others, and the hotel bill was wiped out, but the livery bill and the hall bill went on. I made another attempt to purchase two lots, this time in the block where the Presbyterian Church now stands, having agreed on the price before the conveyance. Another offered better inducements and got the lots."

"In the meantime, our congregation steadily increased, filling frequently the spacious hall which would seat more people than any church edifice now in Butte. When the new schoolhouse was built, we moved to that building, upstairs; we got its use by paying the same rent. As it paid Paul even if it robbed Peter, we felt glad to aid the school fund".

Mountain View Church

The Rev. Francis Asbury Riggin was holding services in a two-story school building later occupied by the Public Library. The upper floor was used for all kinds of public purposes and on Sunday afternoon there was held a Union Sunday School. This is the birth of Mountain View Methodist Episcopal Church and the first Protestant congregation in the community.

F.A Riggin writes: "Our labors culminated in a gracious revival in the spring of 1878 in which I was aided by my colleague and brother, W.W. Van Orsdel. There were about 50 conversions. At this time, we organized a church and a Board of Trustees. I obtained the promise of two lots where the church now stands, borrowed the money out of the bank of Clark & Larrabie on my own responsibility and paid for them. Their cost was $150. We took up a subscription for a church … The first church was built on these lots and later a parsonage."

Between 1880 and 1883 the first church building was completed, and a parsonage built. Riggin writes: "The trustees selected from our plans the present building. When the bids were examined the contractor, whose bid was accepted backed out. We began the building by working in the subscribers who promised work. The first day revealed the fact that it would take too long that way. We finally got the cellar excavated, the foundation laid, and the superstructure begun. We asked for bids for its completion and after one was accepted, the contract made and the bidders had signed, the trustees who were not church members, feeling that they would become personally responsible, declined to sign it. I wouldn’t insist on the other members doing so but pocketed the contract and met its conditions during the progress of the enterprise until our term of three years expired." (He refers to the term of his pastorate, 3 years being the limit then.) "Then the building was so far completed that we held our conference of 1880 in it … The enterprise cost me twice as much as I received during my pastorate from the charge for the three years while I was there, and while it was not the comfortable charge that it is now, I have had some consolation in the promise of the Savior as contained in Mark 10:30, some of which I have already obtained."’

One of the ‘prominent Montana men’ to help build the Mountain View Church was Patrick Carney. He later became nationally famous for raising potatoes in the Jefferson Valley where he supplied "great big baked potatoes" on the dining cars of the Northern Pacific railway. He relates how the trustees of Mountain View faced a problem: "… the lots where the church now stands could be gotten for nothing and two blocks down the hill there were two other lots for sale for $300. They chose the free lots. The Baptists later bought the other lots; but as a result, ‘successive generations of Methodists have had to toil two blocks further up the hill.’" This conflicts with Riggin’s version of his paying the $150 cost … Riggin probably kept his part confidential at the time and both versions make a great story!

Early-day Presbyterian minister, J.R. Russell also relates that the four congregations that had shared the Union School (Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodist Episcopalians, and Southern Methodists) all used the new Mountain View facilities for a time. He relates that "it was only partially completed, and muslin took the place of glass for windows."

The building was totally paid for by 1885, over the protests of the “official members.” These were some of the most prominent and wealthy people in Montana, who protested the fact that missionary aid money paid off the remaining debt.

In 1887 the first annual session of the Montana Annual Conference was held at the Mountain View Methodist Episcopal Church. For many years, this congregation was the largest in the Conference. Out of this congregation, Dr. Phoebe A. Ferris, went to India and later China as a medical missionary and the women’s fellowship continued supporting her missionary work until her retirement. She returned to Butte in the 1920’s to run the Deaconess Hospital (link to ()) In 1899, Governor Rickards reported that "Methodism was never so prosperous nor more promising than now."

The present structure, located at 301 North Montana, was begun in 1898. During its construction, services were held in the courthouse and gatherings of over 1000 worshipers were not uncommon. On February 25, 1900, just 2 days less under year after it was decided to build, the first worship service was held in the new, beautiful, conveniently arranged and elegantly furnished church. The total cost of the church, complete with organ, stained glass windows, carpeting, seats, and so forth, was $25,000.

The cornerstone laying was quite an event, with Senator Clark, Ex-governor Rickards, and the ‘most beloved person in Montana’ Brother Van (Rev. Wm. Wesley Van Orsdel) all giving speeches from a platform adorned with freshly cut pine trees and an American Flag flying twenty feet above the crowd.

The grand gothic style was probably designed by Butte architects Link and Donovan and the complex geometrical and floral designs of the stained-glass windows suggests that they were built by the then flourishing Butte Art Glass Works. Copper King and later U.S. Senator, W.A. Clark was then the president of the church’s Board of Trustees and Butte's first mayor, Henry Jacobs, was also a Trustee. In the early 1940's the windows flanking the organ were given as memorials and constructed by the J.&R. Lamb Studios of New York. A spectacular organ was installed in 1949, by Kilgen Co. at a cost of $12,000.

In 1964, the church purchased property at the corner of Montana and Centennial. Unfortunately, due to unmanageable financial circumstances, the plans for the new building and the property were shelved, and the land was sold.

In 1966, the four existing Methodist Churches in Butte laid plans for a larger parish. Three pastors were assigned to the parish: Marion Hixon, Robert Link, and John Pugh. The parsonage, located just north of the church, was sold to help purchase three new parsonages. The parish dissolved in 1980 with Bob Craver retaining his appointment with Mountain View and Trinity (also known as the “hill” churches). Bob’s grandparents had been members of the church and Bob joined the congregation in 1944.

In 1999, the church celebrated 100 years in its current building. Unfortunately, the size of the building and the upkeep of a structure that lasted over 100 years made it difficult for the congregation to continue. The Foundation fund that was established in 1937 was beginning to run out. The congregation voted to close and a final ceremony was held on July 5, 2015. The remaining members were hosted by a celebration at Aldersgate Church. The closing orders of the congregation were read by the Montana West District Superintendent, Kama Hamilton Morton, who lived in Butte when her father served the Aldersgate congregation.

On April 23rd, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. Although, we did not gain access to the interior, we heard stories from Sue DeBree, a former pastor, along with other members of this vital congregation. We learned of the massive granite stones that line the church and the former parsonage; both locations are listed on the National Historic Registry. Dave Goodwin, current owner of the facility, has promised us access to the interior at a later date.

Pastors who served the Mountain View congregation:

Hugh Duncan (1875-1876)

W.C. Shippen (1876-1877)

Francis Asbury Riggen (1877-1880)

J.J. Garvin (1880-1883)

Samuel Winger (1883)

George C. Stull (1883-1884)

J.B. Chynoweth (1884-1885)

William A. Shannon (1885)

William E. King (1885-1888)

John J. McAllister (1888-1890)

Frank E. Brush (1890-1892)

Gardner D. Holmes (1892-1893)

William Rollins (1893-1897)

E.B. Lounsbury (1897-1898)

Josiah L. Albritton (1898-1901)

Alfred H. Henry (1901-1903)

Corliss Hargraves, associate pastor (1901-1902)

Charles L. Bovard (1903-1906)

Arthur P. Morrison (1906-1909)

A.D. Batchelor (1909-1910)

George D. Wolfe (1910-1920)

Thomas R. Clarkson, associate pastor (1917-1919)

Charles Wolfe, associate pastor (1918)

J. C. Randall (1920-1921)

Cecil L. Clifford (1921-1926)

Charles G. Cole (1926-1932)

Gertrude Schaal, associate pastor (1928)

Andrew C. Caton (1932-1944)

J. Homer Magee (1944-1946)

Richard Lungren (1948-1952)

Alexander R. Henry (1952-1954)

Clarence G. Spellman (1954-1956)

Richard F. Vick (1956-1962)

Charles A. Nowlen Jr. (1962-1966)

Butte Methodist Larger Parish (1966-1980)

Marion Hixson (1966-1968), Minister of Preaching

Robert Link (1966-1970), Minister of Education

John E. Pugh (1968-1972)

Gayle Sandholm (1970-1972)

Donald Keefauver (1971-1972)

Roger Robinson (1972-1974)

Daniel W. Wanders (1972-1976)

Robert C. Baker (1975-1977)

John W. Bartram (1976-1979)

Robert A. Craver (1979-1980)

Robert A. Craver (1981-1992)

Susan K. DeBree (1993-2002)

Richard Rice (2002-2005)

Ben Nardi (2005-2006)

Mike Parr (2006-2007)

Gary Treglown (2007-2009)

Dee Anna (2009-2012)

Ron Martin Dent (2012-2015)

St. Paul Church

In 1840, the Methodist Episcopal Church, like many denominations in the United States split over the issue of slavery. It would be almost 100 years (1939) before the denomination would come back together, long after the results of the Civil War. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South worked almost exclusively in the southern United States, but in certain parts of the north, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was active. One of these locations was Montana.

The Reverend L. B. Stateler brought Southern Methodism to Montana when he arrived at Virginia City in 1864. First services in the Bitterroot valley were held in 1870 and G. O. Hilton was appointed first pastor at Corvallis in 1871. The work of the denomination flourished in Montana, which was far from the original home of the church in the Deep South, due to pioneer preachers like Stateler. They worked tirelessly amongst mining communities finding families who sought worship in their own communion (or denomination) but pastors and churches from their own denominations were few and far between.

In 1871, the Western Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South mentions the appointment of F. E. Taylor to the Silver Bow station of the Deer Lodge District. There is no evidence, however, that Rev. Taylor ever made it to the area.

In 1878, Edwin J. Stanley is listed under appointment of the new Butte Circuit. 1878 is the first year of the newly created Montana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1879, Bishop J. C. Keener preached in Butte just before holding Annual Conference in Willow Creek. In a 13 year period, Butte hosted Annual Conference; showing the growth of the congregation. In 1885, we find the first mention of a congregation in Anaconda.

In 1899, a new building was erected on the site of the existing church structure (google maps). Noted architect William White designed this majestic, multi-gabled church of stone and brick, built at a cost of $16,000. Gothic lancet windows, stained glass, Romanesque arches, and wood tracery in the gable windows showcase White’s meticulous attention to fine detail. A steeple above the entry and pyramidal roof once crowned the two corner towers, visible in the 1905 sketch.

Rev. Settle arrived from Missouri to serve the Saint Paul’s congregation in 1899. He was instrumental in the construction of the building located at the corner of Galena and Idaho. After his first year of ministry, Joseph Settle saw the need for a hospital. A commodious building was secured, and, on June 29, 1899, the work of remodeling it was institute, and in due time it was admirably arranged and equipped as a hospital. The institution was called Saint Paul’s hospital. The short-lived hospital stood at the southeast corner of Gold and Montana Streets, 502 S. Montana. It was only listed in the city directories from 1900-1902, even though Western Resources Magazine in 1901 reported that “the sum of $500 has recently been spent in the operating room alone … For a dollar a month … one can have medical treatment, board, nursing and surgical attendance, and furthermore the choice of thirty doctors.”

Rev. Settle was the President and General Manager of the hospital, also known as Johnston House. The hospital, however, was “entirely non-sectarian, Jew or Gentile, Christian or unbeliever, all receiving the same skilled, considerate, conscientious care.” Sisters Hospital, which became St. James, was already in operation and was much larger, so it may have forced St. Paul’s hospital out of business.

The congregation moved to a small building on Wharton Street (location unknown). Pastors are listed as serving the St. Paul congregation around the time of 1940. The congregation ceases to be in the records until 1954 when the other Methodist Episcopal Church, South congregation (Lowell Avenue) changes its name to Saint Paul.

By 1918, the church was owned by mortician (and later Silver Bow Sheriff) Larry Dugan, a sympathizer with the incendiary Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The building then housed the Butte Daily Bulletin (later known as the Butte Strike Bulletin), a radical newspaper voicing policies of the anti-Anaconda Nonpartisan League, published by William F. Dunne. On September 13, 1918, local police and federal troops under Major Omar N. Bradley raided the Bulletin, arresting twenty-four men and thwarting a miners’ strike.

It is now on the National Historic Registry. The boards over the current location were placed to preserve the windows.

On April 30th, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. Although, we did not gain access to the interior, we learned from a current member of Aldersgate that her grandparents were married in this building; and to prove it she showed us the marriage certificate, signed by Chas. A. Rexroad, St. Paul’s ME Church, So. The public also heard about the history of our two Methodist denominations and the speculation that Saint Paul’s was seen as a rival of the “other” Methodist Church (Mountain View) just up the street.

Pastors who served the St. Paul congregation

Edwin J. Stanley (1878-1884)

R. Boyns (1884-1885)

A. C. Couey (1886-1890)

J. E. Squires (1890-1895)

T. W. Alton, associate pastor (1894-1895)

M. H. Kauffman (1895)

Stephen B. Tabor (1895-1901)

Joseph M. Settle, associate pastor (1898-1901)

S. H. C. Burgin, associate pastor (1900)

J. W. Burgin (1903-1904)

Sam F. Chambers (1904-1906)

William M. Curtis (1906-1907)

Philip Hartman (1908-1910)

Charles A. Rexroad (1911-1918)

R.H. Lewelling, associate pastor (1917)

Robert H. Daugherty (no date listed)

J.A. Baxter (1922)

J.C. Martin (1923-1924)

Haskell E. Tudor (1924-1926)

W. E. Alman (1928)

Philip Hartman (1939)

Rev. Rollins (date sometime after 1939)

Fred Anstice (date sometime after 1940)

Grace Church

Grace Church began in the fall of 1879 as a mission of the Mountain View congregation to the communities of South Butte and Meaderville. Those on the official board were Bros. Van Orsdel, the Rev. F.A. Riggin, and former governor Rickards. In 1886 the site of the church, on Arizona and East Second Streets, was purchased by Rev. F.A. Riggin and Rev William E. King. The first pastor, W. F. Hawk, was appointed in 1888 and the building’s cornerstone was laid on April 11, 1889. The cost was $2500 and the citizens of Butte provided $1000. Up until 1899, Grace and the Unity Church shared a pastor.

August 1899, Grace became a separate charge, and the church grew rapidly. More room and facilities soon became necessary and in 1902 the building was enlarged and remodeled. At various times over the ensuing years Grace Church shared its pastor with other Butte Methodist churches including, at various times, Silver Bow, Wesley Chapel, Unity, and St. Paul’s.

Reformer Carrie Nation spoke at Grace church during her Butte visit in January 1910. Grace was one of the churches where Mrs. Nation did “a land-office business” selling her books and hatchet pins, although when she was on the streets of Butte and in saloons, her welcome was more ridicule than enthusiasm. After her lecture at the Grace Church, she marched up Arizona Street to the red-light district where she pleaded with working girls to give up their “life of shame,” but she left the A.B.C. Saloon (corner of Wyoming and Mercury) to the orchestra playing “What The Hell Do We Care.”

In 1939 the Silver Bow Park Methodist Church consolidated with Grace and the name was changed to Grace-Silver Bow Methodist Church. In 1941 the parsonage on Arizona Street (north of the church) was remodeled for use as a Sunday School and named Freeman Hall. The home west of the building was purchased for the parsonage. It was the Grace-Silver Bow congregation that assumed the leadership of building of a new church on the “flats” … this is our current Aldersgate congregation.

In 1960, the Grace Methodist Church building was sold to the Church of God and the proceeds were used in the debt retirement of the new Aldersgate Church and its parsonage. The building is now a private residence.

On May 7th, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. Several former members shared about the two east-side doors, one led to the sanctuary and the other led to Sunday school rooms that also offered overflow to the sanctuary. Grace operated as a center for youth and Sunday school to people in the community and was also a place of weddings during the construction of Aldersgate’s sanctuary. We also learned that on the southern side of the building was the location of the organ, this is evident on the outside of the building.

Pastors who served the Grace congregation:

Ulysses F. Hawk (1888-1889)

T.S. Devitt (1889-1891)

Francis A. Guiler (1891-1893)

Job H. Little (1893-1895)

Thomas H. Hicks (1895-1896)

John Hosking (1896-1899)

A. C. Snow, associate pastor (1897-1900)

James W. Tait (1899-1906)

Frank Edward Dodds (1906-1908)

W. W. Van Dusen (1908-1909)

L. N. Moyer (1909)

William H. Pascoe (1909-1910)

Edward L. Mills (1910-1911)

John A. Meeke (1911-1914)

J. Harry Mitchell (1914-1919)

George M. Carter (1918)

Charles Rhodes (1919-1922)

Charles F. Wolfe (1922-1925)

Edward Smith (1925-1935)

William S. Traweek (1935-1937)

Bert A. Powell (1937-1940)

Howard B. Ricketts (1940-1955)

Clarence E. Means (1955-1956)

Ole Aarvold (1956-1958)

Robert A. Craver (1958)

Mount Bethel Church

In 1883 Mount Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church was started in Walkerville on Clark Street. George C. Stull was appointed the pastor and also served Mountain View. J.W. Bennett then was appointed and worked on the construction of a church building and parsonage. In 1906 the Anaconda Mining Company donated property and the congregation to an existing structure on Main Street. This building, one of the oldest in Butte, was built before 1881 and had served as a general store, a grocery store, and a Catholic Church. During the years of the pastorate of Rev. Frederick T. Spencer (1907-1910), a great revival with over 100 converts who joined the church. In 1922 the basement was converted into a social hall. In 1961, Helen A. Handlin was sent from the church as a missionary nurse to Mexico.

In 1966, the four existing Methodist Churches in Butte laid plans for a larger parish. Three pastors were assigned to the parish: Marion Hixon, Robert Link, and John Pugh. The last Sunday School Christmas Program was held in 1970 with the congregation uniting with Trinity Church in 1970

On April 16th, 2023, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. Clark Grant, the latest owner, listened to several members of Mount Bethel describing their recollections. We learned that a caretaker lived in the western end of the building. Other remembrances were of the location of the piano in the sanctuary. It was pointed out that Mount Bethel was the place of worship for all protestants in Walkerville.

Pastors that served the Mount Bethel congregation:

George C. Stull (1883-1884)

J.W. Bennett (1884-1887)

George M. Ryder (1888-1889)

Joel Vigus (1889-1890)

James H. Watters (1890-1891)

Job H. Little (1891-1893)

George W. Jenkins (1893-1894)

Wilder Nutting (1895-1896)

Alexis Berk (1896)

James T. Stephens (1896-1899)

Frederick S. Clemo (1899-1900)

Lee L. Tower (1900-1902)

Charles D. Crouch (1902-1903)

Thomas H. Martin, associate pastor (1902)

Henry A. James (1904-1906)

Samuel A. Oliver (1906-1907)

Frederick T. Spencer (1907-1910)

Thomas H. Barker (1910-1912)

Charles Rhodes (1912-1914)

Harry M. Cooper (1914-1915)

Charles Carlin (1915-1916)

W. H. Berryman (1916)

George J. Stephens (1916-1917)

W. A. Parkinson (1920-1921)

Frederick T. Spencer (1922-1943)

Edward Smith, associate pastor (1925-1926)

Gustavus A. Morrison, associate pastor (1931-1932)

Fred Anstice (1943-1950)

Howard Robertson (1950-1953)

William W. DeBolt (1953-1955)

Ellsworth A. Morgan (1956-1962)

Ronald R. Hallett, associate pastor (1957)

Richard F. Vick (1963-1966)

Butte Methodist Larger Parish (1966-1980)

Marion Hixson (1966-1968), Minister of Preaching

Robert Link (1966-1970), Minister of Education

John E. Pugh (1968-1970)

Trinity Church

Trinity United Methodist Church was organized as the Centerville Methodist Episcopal Church in 1884 in a rented building on the corner of East Center Street and Wells Street, when Reverend J. W. Bennet gathered a group of 25 young people for Sunday School. They had been meeting for some years in the schoolhouse before Rev. Bennet was appointed. During a lively Christmas program in 1886, the floor collapsed, and members decided it was time to build a church. In 1887, the present site on the corner of LaPlatte and Main Street, was donated by the Butte & Boston Mining Company and construction began with completion by Christmas of 1889. The new building included something quite remarkable for the early 1890's: electric lights, donated by Senator Lee Mantle. In 1896-1897, the original wood-frame building was raised up and a basement built to accommodate the fellowship hall. It was given a brick veneer and a vestibule with choir rooms added. As more time went by, an organ was purchased, a furnace replaced stoves, and memorial windows were dedicated to those who helped to place the Church on the Hill. When Rev. Vigus left in 1891, the church was debt free; had 200 members, 175 listed in the Sunday School and 23 recorded in the choir.

Situated at the border of two working class communities (Centerville and Walkerville), Trinity church was known as one of the "miner's churches," as opposed to the "Mine Owner's church" of Mountain View. Its mission was to the early Cornish miners.

In 1966, the four existing Methodist Churches in Butte laid plans for a larger parish. Three pastors were assigned to the parish: Marion Hixon, Robert Link, and John Pugh. The parish dissolved in 1980 with Bob Craver retaining his appointment with Mountain View and Trinity (also known as the “hill” churches).

In 1970, the church united with Mount Bethel to become Trinity United Methodist Church. After a decline in membership and due to the aging of the building, the congregation was closed on July 15, 2015. Several members transferred to Aldersgate. The Sandwich ministry of the current Aldersgate congregation is a remnant of this congregation’s commitment to mission.

On April 16th, 2023, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. Rick Chappel, co-owner, opened up the building to some 50 people of the community. Sue DeBree, a former pastor, was on hand to share in her recollections. We learned how the interior stairs were a later addition after the basement was placed underneath the building. We were treated to stories of community dinners and locations of “family” pews.

Pastors who have served the Trinity congregation:

J.W. Bennett (1884-1887)

Henry P. Clampitt (1887-1888)

George M. Ryder (1888-1889)

Joel Vigus (1889-1891)

John L. Guiler (1891-1893)

George W. Jenkins (1893-1894)

Wilder Nutting (1895-1897)

John Oxley, associate pastor (1896)

Jacob Mills (1896-1898)

George Feese (1898-1899)

John Hosking (1899-1903)

Samuel J. Hocking (1903-1907)

John Hosking (1907-1908)

Samuel A. Oliver (1908-1912)

William E. Snider (1910-1912)

Paul M. Adams (1912-1914)

John G. Ross (1914-1917)

Henry A. James (1917-1919)

William H. Pascoe (1919-1922)

Frederick T. Spencer (1922-1943)

Edward Smith, associate pastor (1925-1926)

Gustavus A. Morrison, associate pastor (1931-1932)

Fred Anstice (1943-1950)

Howard Robertson (1950-1953)

William W. DeBolt (1953-1955)

Ellsworth A. Morgan (1956-1962)

Ronald R. Hallett, associate pastor (1957)

Richard F. Vick (1963-1966)

Butte Methodist Larger Parish (1966-1980)

Marion Hixson (1966-1968), Minister of Preaching

Robert Link (1966-1970), Minister of Education

John E. Pugh (1968-1972)

Gayle Sandholm (1970-1972)

Donald Keefauver (1971-1972)

Roger Robinson (1972-1974)

Daniel W. Wanders (1972-1976)

Robert C. Baker (1975-1977)

John W. Bartram (1976-1979)

Robert A. Craver (1979-1980)

Robert A. Craver (1981-1992)

Susan K. DeBree (1993-2002)

Richard Rice (2002-2005)

Ben Nardi (2005-2006)

Mike Parr (2006-2007)

Gary Treglown (2007-2009)

Dee Anna (2009-2012)

Ron Martin Dent (2012-2015)

Unity Church

Unity Methodist Episcopal Church was begun in 1887 by a half-dozen people meeting in a room over a saloon in Meaderville. In 1889, the church was built on Meaderville’s Main Street and was enlarged in 1896. The mining industry encroached on the church building and in 1906 construction was begun on lots donated by the Boston and Montana Mining Company. This location was still on Main Street but east of Silver Bow Creek, between the communities of Meaderville and McQueen and across from the Franklin School. The cornerstone was laid on August 19, 1907, by the Montana Grand Lodge of A.F and A.M. and the Montana State Band played with the Men’s Glee Club singing. The church succumbed to the industrial advances of the mining industry. The Anaconda mining company purchased the entire neighborhoods of Meaderville and McQueen and subsequently set for the destruction of the building (the current Berkley Pit would be the location of these neighborhoods). On March 15, 1964, the final service of Unity Methodist Church was held. The organ and the pews were taken to the Lake County Community Church in Ronan and the proceeds from the sale of the church ($15,000) were used for the building of the Aldersgate parsonage on Kossuth Street.

On May 7th, as part of 150 years of Methodism in Butte celebration, the public was invited to the location of this historic site. We met in the viewing stand of the Berkeley Pit as our location is underwater.

We learned from Donna Shovlin, long-time member of the church, that the building was created with three rooms in the basement for the pastor. Unity was always shared with another Methodist church, so the pastor never lived in the basement. The rooms became locations for Sunday school space and where Santa was hidden during the Christmas program. Donna reported that one lucky child was always chosen to go “find” Santa. The congregation was home for people in the East Butte, Meaderville, and McQueen neighborhoods. The men from this congregation personally helped with the building of Aldersgate.

Pastors who served the Unity congregation:

J. W. Bennett (1887)

Ulysses F. Hawk (1888-1890)

T.S. Devitt (1891)

John J. Bennett (1892-1893)

Job H. Little (1893-1895)

Thomas H. Hicks (1895-1896)

John Hosking (1896-1899)

A. C. Snow, associate pastor (1897-1900)

R.H. Shafer (1900)

Lee L. Tower (1900-1902)