Early in 1899, the quarterly conference of the First Methodist Episcopal Church appointed a building committee of B.M. Stevens, J.P. Walker, Granville Kittrell and Miss Eulah Freeman for the purpose of erecting a suitable church edifice in South Joplin. A site on the northwest corner of Eighteenth and Byers Avenue was located and purchased. The cornerstone was laid on August 27 and the new church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day.

The church was made of brick and was 32 feet by 50 feet and seated 300 persons. The cost of the lot and building was $4,200. Regular services began on November 12, 1899. The Sunday School session was held with 106 men, women and children attending. A collection of $4.17 was taken.

There were 10 charter members of the church: H.C. Ruby, Mrs. M.E. Ruby, Miss Irene Russell, J.B. Wiley, Mrs. Mable M. Bowman, Mrs. Flora Cruncleton, Miss May Hamilton, Mrs. L.M. Johnson, Granville Kittrell and Mrs. Elizabeth Kittrell.

Reverend Perry E. Pierce, in March of 1900, was appointed as the first full-time pastor of Byers Avenue Church. A parsonage was erected at 1724 Byers at a cost of $1,600.

Under the ministry of Rev. Pierce and Reverend D.W. Crow, the congregation grew rapidly and by 1909 a larger church was needed.

City Engineer J.B. Hodgon, a member of the church, drew plans for a new church. The old church building was moved to 2302 Pennsylvania and was home to the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church for several years. It later was used as a nursing home and a private residence. The bell tower and steeple were removed when the building was moved.

While the new church building was being constructed, church members met in the Shoemaker Hall. The new building, 80 feet by 60 feet, was dedicated on June 17, 1910. It was constructed of brown glazed brick and finished with Carthage stone. It seated 600 people and had a basement fitted with Sunday School rooms, kitchen and parlor. It cost $20,000 to build.

Members raised $9,500 during the construction period. The remaining $10,500 was raised in 45 minutes during the dedication ceremony by Methodist minister Dr. Reverend Iliff, whose specialty was dedicating churches and raising money. Rev. E.W. Elayer was pastor at this time.

In February of 1914 plans were made for an addition to the church because of its rapid growth. At a cost of $12,000, an 80 feet by 36 feet addition with a full basement under the complete church was constructed on the north side of the present building. The new building provided seating for 750 people. Bishop William A. Quayle who also raised $10,000 in 52 minutes for the church debt dedicated the new annex on September 3, 1916.

In January of 1929, Pastor Rev. Martin M. Wolff outlined a five-year program for the church. He appointed people to investigate the cost of obtaining a pipe organ, building a parsonage and making other changes. Another goal was to increase membership from 634 to 1,000. The cost of these items was estimated at $15,000 and it was stipulated that work would not begin until two-thirds was pledged.

In October of 1929, the church underwent extensive work. The west stairway was removed to make room for two classrooms and a fire escape was built at the rear of the building. The kitchen was enlarged and a new sink, cabinets and service window was added. The organ, a new type Hinner, had been purchased at a cost of $7,500. Dr. S.B. Campbell of Carthage, the district superintendent, dedicated the new organ. Powell Weaver, organist for the Grand Avenue Temple in Kansas City, MO performed the dedicatory concert.

Tentative plans were made in 1929 to build a parsonage at 1705 Byers but money was not available. Our pastors lived in rental houses from 1911 to 1938. In 1938, the church bought a brick house at 2123 Wall to be used as a parsonage. Rev. Lloyd V. Harmon was the first pastor to live there.

Church members did their part during World War II by making surgical supplies. A supply of cotton, gauze, etc., was received, enough to make 60,000 dressings. Classes were held at the church to teach women how to make and fold these dressings.

In 1948, the old coal-fired furnace was converted to natural gas.

On November 20, 1949, a pageant portraying five decades of history and a homecoming was held at the church. Former pastors and the only living charter member, Mrs. Eva Wondell Johns of California, and other members were honored for service to the church. All persons in the pageant were costumed according to the decade they represented. The pageant represented the first 50 years of the church and the people in it.

Two significant events happened in 1956. The church was completely air-conditioned and a house and lot on the north side of the church was purchased and used for Sunday School meetings. The house was removed in 1964 and the lot converted to a paved parking lot.

In October of 1959, a permit was obtained to construct a parsonage at 3015 Ohio at an estimated cost of $19,000. Rev. George E. Sparling and his family home first occupied the modern all-brick.

A remodeling and renovation project for the church was approved in 1965 and Jones Brothers Construction Co. of Joplin was awarded a contract in the amount of $120,000 on April 21, 1966. Charles W. Hight, a former church member, was the architect and Satterlee Plumbing and Heating and Nelson Electric were the sub-contractors.

The renovation was completed in January of 1967 and Bishop Eugene M. Frank and Superintendent Perry Rowland consecrated the church on Jan. 29, 1967. Rev. Lewis Odneal was the pastor.

In December of 1976, then Rev. J.K. Wright and the trustees burned the paid-up mortgage on Byers Avenue Church. The building was presented to the Bishop who accepted it and dedicated it to the worship of God.

In 1981, Byers Avenue Church initiated a bus service throughout the city for people wishing to attend Sunday school and morning worship service. An anonymous donor provided funds to purchase the bus. Youth director Tom Cassidy was the bus driver.

In September of 1986 several problems facing the church surfaced. Masonry surface on the church and painted areas needed repairs. Other repairs to the exterior and interior were estimated at $60,000. At a joint meeting with St. Paul's United Methodist Church, it was suggested that a union of the two churches might be a solution to the problems. Byers Avenue members decided against the union and voted to make the needed repairs.

Reverend Steve House was transferred to Byers Avenue Church in 1987 and organized the Victory Singers, a group of church members not in the choir. The Victory Singers are still active and perform several times during the year.

Early in 1992, plans were advanced for the construction of a New Life Center. At a charge conference in November of 1992, Gale Graham presented a resolution to build the facility. The vote was positive. Floyd Belk pledged $100,000 in memory of his wife, Nancy, who passed away earlier that year. The membership raised another $25,000, and in January, 1995 construction began on the 12,000-square foot building at a cost $500,000. Ann B. Sherer, Bishop; David Van Giesen, District Superintendent, and Pastor John Roeder consecrated the building on June 24, 1995. Major donors were Nancy L. Belk, Florence Barton and James E. Studebaker.

The women of Byers Avenue United Methodist Church have been active since the church was started in the late 1890s. They prepare an annual fund-raising turkey dinner and participate in craft shows, rummage sales, bake sales and flower and plant sales. Women members have been active in local, district and conference offices over the years.

Much of this history of the church was compiled by William N. Vandiver for the centennial anniversary in 1999.

© 2007-2008 eDesigns Web Services