The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 July 1987 — Page 57

First church started in 1863

(Continued from page 8) for the diocese. This task was accomplished and also on the grounds was established a retreat and conference center, now known as the Wawasee Episcopal Center. The Church has undergone interior restoration and had several improvements added since 1966. Grace Lutheran Church This church had its beginning as the old Union Church, located l‘/2 miles north of Syracuse on the southeast corner of the Guy Ott farm. Rev. M.M. Bartholomew then organized a church in Syracuse in 1861, which he served as pastor. This group met in various homes and later worshipped for many years in the Syracuse Church of God. Rev. J. Webber served as pastor from 1866 to 1872. Then there was no pastor designated at the church for 11 years. Finally, in 1883 Rebecca Weybright and Preston Miles convinced Jesse Dunn, minister at the Lutheran Church in Benton, that he should preach in Syracuse once every four weeks. This soon changed to every two weeks and he was ordained in 1884. The church was formally organized on May 17, 1885. Rev. T.F. Weiskotten was pastor when the new church building was built on land donated by Mrs. John Stetler. Plans were accepted for the new building on August 16, 1904 and the church was built at a cost of under $5,000. It has been remodelled four times since it was built. Richard Dunning, the current pastor, became pastor in June 1985, replacing Frank Barcus who retired. Dunning is the 29th pastor in the church since it was established in 1861. Grace Bible Church Grace Bible Church was founded in the mid 1940 s by Howard Vogalmere, Dr. John Ray and Harold DeFries. It was first located south of Syracuse in the old Mock school building. Dr. Ray was the first minister and Rev. W. McCain the second. He laid the groundwork for the church to become incorporated. The church moved from the Mock schoolhouse to West Main Street in Syracuse in October, 1949. The congregation became incorporated into Grace Bible church of Syracuse in 1954, when Rev. M. Raymond Mason was pastor. He served until 1962 when the current pastor, Dr. David Haifley, became the minister. In 1968 the congregation saw the need for a Christian school in the area and prevailed upon Dr. Haifley to return from Tipton, lowa, where he had moved in 1967. In September, 1968, the Syracuse Christian school opened its doors at 518 S. Main St. . In 1971 the church and school were moved into the old Hex School, northeast of Syracuse, which had been purchased in 1970 and renovated. In the summer of 1972 a modular type school building was purchased. Placed by the old school, which is used for the high school, this building has housed the elementary school since November, 1972. Syracuse United Pentecostal Church Syracuse United Pentecostal Church began in January 1967 with a congregation of 13 worshippers. For several months church was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Johnston on Main Street in Syracuse. Then in July, 1967, the church purchased the building at Pearl and Harrison streets from Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, which built a new building south of town. The first pastor was Rev. Sidney Bryant, who was followed in 1972 by Rev. Terry Fleetwood. The Pentecostal Church building

was rededicated in tbe spring of 1973 and was redecorated in 1973-74. Rev. David Hudson came to the church as pastor on June 12, 1978, after Rev. Fleetwood resigned in December, 1977. Rev. Hudson served until October, 1985, when he resigned to take a church in Morgantown, W. Va. Rev. Ron Looney was voted pastor on October 29,1985. He and his wife, Leilani and son, Brock, moved to Syracuse in Nov. 1985. The Pentecostal Church building at Pearl and Harrison Streets is a real landmark. In this Sesquicentennial year it is 100 years old. Wawasee Community Church Os The Nazarene The work of the Wawasee Community Church of the Nazarene began in Syracuse in early 1962 when the church was started by the home missions board. Property on the corners of East Benton and Lake Streets and Eeast Benton and South Harrison Streets was purchased from the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The church at the corner of East Benton and South Harrison Streets and the parsonage at 207 E. Benton St. were retained and excess property was sold. The church began operation with a Vacation Bible School on July 1,1962, with Rev. and Mrs. Underwood and Mrs. John W. Secor as directors. Rev. Secor later became director and organizing pastor of the church. The first regular services began on July 8 and the church was dedicated on November 25, 1962, by Dr. Paul C. Updike. In June of 1983 the Syracuse Church of the Nazarene was reorganized and 10 members transferred in from other congregations and Rev. Jim Otis as pastor. The name was changed to Wawasee Community Church of the Nazarene and in March, 1984, Rev. Ron Blake became pastor, moving to Syracuse from Texas. Wawasee Heights Baptist Church Wawasee Heights Baptist Church began in Syracuse in the spring of 1961 with Bible study meetings taught in homes by Rev. Kenneth Brown. The first congregation met as Syracuse Baptist Church and held tent revivals. Hoosier Skateland, in Wawasee Village, was the location of the church as regular services began on July 22,1962. Rev. Brown served as pastor until Rev. James C. Paige became pastor in August, 1963, The congregation purchased the old Syracuse Methodist Church in the fall of 1963 and did extensive redecoration of the building. Rev. Robert Munday came as pastor in late 1963 and served the church for 10 years. The present church building in Wawasee Heights, near Wawasee High School, was first used in the summer of 1968 with services held in the basement. Services began in the new sanctuary on August 24, 1969, and dedication services were held Nov. 16,1969. Wawasee Lakeside Chapel Wawasee Lakeside Chapel was begun by Goshen College youth in October, 1947, in Byer’s Chapel, near Lake Wawasee. This chapel burned to'the ground in the winter of 1948. The congregation began meeting in the bam at the Crow’s Nest in early 1949, moving then to the Turkey Creek Conservation club house where it met through 1955. In 1952, the chapel became affiliated with the In - diana/Michigan Mennonite Mission Board. During the 1952 to 1961 pastorate of Herbert Yoder, Wawasee Lakeside Chapel was built at its present site on the east side of Lake Wawasee. The building was then enlarged in 1961.

In 1973 the chapel became an independent congregation within the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. The first pastor of the chapel was Rev. David Shank, who became pastor in 1948. He was followed by Rev. Herbert Yoder and Rev. Jason Martin. Harlan Steffen, the current pastor, assumed the pastorship in 1965. Calvary United Methodist Church Calvary United Methodist Church has its roots in two former churches in the Syracuse area, Lakeside United Brethren in Christ and Trinity Evangelical Church. Both denominations united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1946. Then in 1951 the two became Calvary Evangelical United Brethren Church. The congregation had its services in the Evangelical Church building and Rev. Kenneth Foulke lived in the United Brethren parsonage on Lake St. In July, 1956, the church purchased the parsonage in Bonnie Brae Manor. Ground was broken for the present church by SR 13 in south Syracuse on July 31, 1960. Dedication of the church followed on October 22,1961. In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist denominations united to form the United Methodist Church and thus Calvary United Methodist Church received its present name. Rev. Ross Cook served as minister from 1972 to 1978. Rev Paul Steele followed him in October, 1978. When he left in June, 1982, He was replaced by Rev. David Maish, who still serves the church as pastor. The church celebrated its 25th anniversary at its present location. A new addition is now being added to the building to provide a fellowship hall and additional classrooms. Rock Church The Rock Church is an interdenominational Christian church located on the east side of Lake

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Wed.; July 1,1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

Wawasee. It began services in the spring of 1981 in response to the 20th century revival known as the Charismatic Movement. The Rock church officially became a

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not-for-profit religious organization in June, 1981, although the group had met together prior to that.

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