Our History
The early days
The Methodist Church has had a spiritual presence in Bozeman since 1865, when William White Alderson held the first religious services at a log cabin in the Gallatin Valley. A year later, he organized a Sunday school, first in a log house on Main Street and then later in the Masonic Building at the corner of Main and Rouse. Although other churches in the Yellowstone Conference are older, Bozeman Methodists pride themselves as the oldest group to have had continuous services in Montana.
The Reverend A.M. Hough of Virginia City formally organized the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bozeman in August 1866 in the Masonic Building. The very next day, Alderson began securing subscriptions to build a place of worship. He wrote, "Progress toward the erection of this building was necessarily slow, owing to the scarcity of money, the sparseness of the population, and the extremely high prices for all necessary materials. Lumber cost from $80 to $100 a thousand; common nails, 50 cents a pound; glass, $35 to $50 a box, and all other things in proportion."
The new church was a frame building 24 feet by 26 feet, built on the southwest corner of Main and Templar (now Tracy) Streets. Not only was it the first church in Bozeman, but it was also the first frame building in town. Duncan McArthur donated the land in addition to his subscription of $100. W.J. Beall was the contractor. Donated labor constructed and shingled the church during the fall and winter of 1866-1867.
In 1874, a sanctuary was built at the current location on the corner of Willson and Olive. Alderson donated the lots, and W.H. Tracy was the contractor. The building cost approximately $8,000. The bell and organ were moved from the first building to the new sanctuary.
Our church in the community
The current use of the church building by community groups has a strong precedence. Before the interior of the first church building was completed, Judge Hezekiah Hosmer, then Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, held a two-week term of district court. In 1879, the Presbyterians used the building as their house of worship until their own could be built. This led to a long-standing tradition of the two congregations joining for summer worship, alternating buildings and ministers.
The historic bell, which was shipped up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Fort Benton and brought to Bozeman in 1870, also contributed to community life. Because it was the only bell in town for several years, it was used on many occasions and for various purposes. It ushered in Independence Day and other holidays; it served as a fire alarm; and it called children to public school as regularly as it called the devout to devotions.
Today Bozeman United Methodist Church proudly plays its electronic carillon three times daily for the community and on Sundays as a call to worship. It also ushers in the annual Christmas Stroll with carols. The carillon was installed in 1977 by Tom Drummond and his family in memory of his wife, Jane, with tapes provided by memorials to others from the congregation.
Later building improvements and changes
Improvements to church property include major remodeling in 1906, a basement addition to the north in 1948, an office wing to the west in 1950, and the addition of the upper level education wing and chapel in 1956. The parsonage at 123 West Curtiss was built in 1962. The Annex, across Willson Avenue, was purchased in 1985; the two lots to the south were converted into parking space. In 1994, the old sanctuary was leveled, and the current sanctuary was built. The offices and educational spaces also underwent a major remodel at that time, with the total project costing $1.6 million.
Formation of Bozeman United Methodist Church
Bozeman United Methodist Church was formed in May 1975 when First United Methodist Church and Faith United Methodist Church (organized in 1886 on North Church Street) merged. The merger brought together the talents of the two congregations, who had a long tradition of serving a full-course dinner for the community every fall.
Today in Bozeman United Methodist Church
Ever aware of its greater mission in the nation and the world, Bozeman United Methodist Church participates ecumenically and connectionally to serve the needs of the global community. Offering educational classes and forums to discuss current social issues is a high priority for the congregation. Locally, the church supports the Bozeman Deaconess Foundation by helping nominate United Methodists to the board, which oversees the operation of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Hillcrest Senior Living Neighborhood. The church also made a $10,000 contribution to the building of the new Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, which opened in 1986. Bozeman United Methodist Church also supported the establishment of New Life United Methodist Church in Belgrade both financially and emotionally.
Bozeman United Methodist Church prides itself in the diversity of its members, its openness to different opinions, and its ability to work together for the betterment of the community and the world.