Mead United Methodist Church

Our Beginning
About the year 1883, the fur settlers then residing on homesteads on Peone Prairie built a small one room building for a school house, in about the center of Peone Prairie, where Bruce Road and the Mt. Spokane Highway intersect. On Sundays, the settlers and their families used the building for worship. In 1884, the Rev. Mark Waltz conducted the first preaching service.  Later, Elder Anderson was installed as the regular minister for the first Methodist Church in this territory north of Spokane. This was before there was a village of Mead, but at about the same time, the Spokane Falls and Northern Railroad was being extended into Spokane. In conjunction with the new railroad several small shacks were built at the present site of Mead to house section workers. The railroad was built parallel to what is now Market Street.  Soon there was a small general store, hotel, boarding house, and houses were built and the village of Mead took shape. In 1888, the Rev. A.J. Loomis, circuit rider, and his family arrived in the village of Mead. He preached at Peone Prairie in the schoolhouse and at Mead. He also had to attend to those living in the “Northern Territory,” now known as Wild Rose and Half-Moon Prairie.  In 1890, the Mead Episcopal Church was formally organized. In 1891, the Theodore Cushings selected and purchased the first organ, at a cost of $175.00.

An annual event was the Sunday School summer picnic, held for many years at the farm of the E. Wells family. In 1892-1893, the first revival meetings were held at Mead in the schoolhouse. During this same time, the Mead Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized and accepted by the Methodist Conference with 23 charter members.  An Epworth League for youth was formed in 1895, and it functioned for several years. The little white schoolhouse continued as the Mead Church until 1911, when the school district began using the building for a music room.  As late as 1956, the old white schoolhouse was still being used as a storage room.  The Early 1900’s In 1902, the first “Ladies Aid” Society was formed. This group worked in earnest for a church building. Their first venture was a blanket social. Suppers, programs, sales and every other moneymaking idea they could think of, were tried.  The first bazaar was held in November 1903, at which the ladies sold fancywork and other articles.  They made nearly $100, and the bazaar became a tradition that continued until 1933. When the Ladies Aid had accumulated $250 in their Building Fund, the building program began in earnest. Subscriptions were taken for cash and labor among members and friends of the church.  James Berridge gave the two lots for the building.  The new brick church cost $1,800.  On Oct. 28, 1904, the Mead Church was dedicated by B.E. Koontz, “Presiding Elder” of the Spokane District of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  During this time, the Peone Methodist Church was built (1908).  Also, churches were built at Pleasant Prairie, Foothills, and Greenbluff.  Peone, Pleasant Prairie, and Foothills were placed together in a circuit for one minister, with a parsonage at Pleasant Prairie. Mead, Greenbluff, and East Peone (known as Beaver Creek) combined and had one minister, who resided in Mead. Pastors needed a team of horses and a good “surrey” or buggy to attend to their many duties.  With the unimproved country roads, transportation was not very pleasant and often difficult and dangerous; but these valiant pioneers carried on and the church grew.
1920 - 1945
In 1920, electricity came to Mead, and it was quite an occasion when electric lights were installed. Also, in 1920 the Peone Church closed its doors, and it stood vacant for eleven years, until the Peone Grange took over the building.  Mead never had a church bell, so they purchased the bell from the old Peone Church. In 1931, the bell was hung in the Mead Church. The belfry had to be reinforced to support the bell, but it rang merrily on Sunday morning, and to call the townsfolk in case of fire or other disasters.  In going through the church records, we find minutes of the Official Board of the Church meeting held on Oct. 26, 1920, with Mr. Bradley, Pastor, presiding. The discussions, which took place that night sound very much like a council meeting today. The first problem facing the church then was finances. A paper was passed among those attending, and $322 was subscribed to put toward a pastor’s salary. A position of janitor was authorized at $1.00 per week. The steps needed to be repaired; so someone was delegated to get the job done. The parsonage needed repair, and a window light was needed.  The Board decided to ask the \ Ladies Aid Society to pay the bill.  The matter of putting a cistern in the parsonage was discussed at some length.  A committee was formed to look into the cost. It was finally decided to pay $45.00 out of the money on hand to Mr. Bradley for salary.  With the pastor receiving his money, the meeting was adjourned. In the 1930’s, the depression affected the Mead Church as well as the rest of the nation. The church did not have its own pastor during this time.  Hillyard supplied a pastor for one hour on Sundays. There was no money to keep the parsonage in repair. Since there was no resident pastor, the home was rented when possible. Finally, in 1946, it was soldto Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bourne for $2,500, with the money banked for purchase of another parsonage.  Dark days for the Mead Church would last for 15 years, with a long succession of “student” pastors, supply pastors, retired pastors, and laymen who came to preach on Sunday.  Without the untiring efforts of Mr.and Mrs. Harris and a dedicated group of Women Society members, the church would not have survived. In 1939, the Mead Church obtained an abandoned building on East Peone Prairie and moved it to Mead, adjoining it to the brick church.  In the early days, all social affairs had been held in the I.O.O.F. Hall. After 1927, the old High School gym was available for church affairs.  This new addition became the Church’s Sunday School and social room. 

In 1940, Whitworth College’s Religious Training Department successfully petitioned the school at Mead to release grade school children for Bible Classes. The Mead Church’s Sunday School rooms were used. This afforded those children unable to attend services on Sunday some religious training.  These Bible Classes were the first such classes to be held in the county; later the city schools and other county districts would follow suit. Post World War II   In 1946, Mead dedicated its first public water system.  The church was provided piped water free of charge, due to the generosity of Mr. Reeder, owner of the system.  The men of the church were able to install bathrooms in the social hall, and the women provided new steps for the church.  Mead continued to grow with the opening of Kaiser-Mead, and new and larger schools were built. The Mead Methodist Church was the only church in town and had 35 active members.  The membership continued to petition the District Superintendent and the Methodist Conference for help.

About 1950, the Rev. John Meade, a retired pastor who had been a supply pastor, interested the District Superintendent in the possibilities of a Missionary field here.  He promised to help, if the congregation would provide a parsonage for a full time resident pastor. There was an opportunity to purchase a home across the street from the church from N. L. Gossett for $6,300.  It 1953, this home would be purchased, but it would be another year before a resident pastor became available. In August 1954, the Rev. (and Mrs.) Rathbun became the first resident pastor. The membership increased from 15-20 to over 150. Under the Rathbun’s leadership, youth groups flourished, a choir was formed, and everyone got involved.  Mrs. Rathbun published “The Mead Messenger” once a month, with over 200 copies mailed each month. Growing pains made it necessary to find a larger place.  With much discussion, pro and con, and with a final vote of 49-7, it was decided on March 25, 1956 to purchase the “Mead Tavern” on Market and First Streets and convert it into a church. An auction was held that raised over $1,000 for the new building. Everyone was involved in raising money for the new “Weseleyn Center.” With weekly work parties and extensive cleaning and fixing, the building was finally consecrated on August 26, 1956.  The Church now had both a Sunday School and a Youth Center. During Sunday services on Feb. 10, 1957, a fire broke out in the church, and all movable things were moved to the Weseleyn Center.  Services were then conducted at the Center. The budget of the church in 1958 was over $5,000, which was hard on the congregation.  This amount was separate from the Building Fund pledges used to buy the Weseleyn Center; another $3,600 was needed to make the required payments on the Weseleyn Center loan each year.  Some members failed to keep up with their pledges, and others did not renew their pledges when they expired. The church was in a real dilemma.  In 1956, the Rev. Austen Rugger began his pastorate. To compound the existing problems, Pastor Rugger’s wife became ill and had to be sent to a Mental Hospital.  The Church raised the money necessary to send the Rugger children to Texas.  Ray Kuhns, the pastor before Mr. Rugger, also had not been in the best of health, and had a sickly wife who required extra care from the congregation. In 1958, the church begged the District Superintendent for relief in the form of a new pastor, but Rev. Rugger was returned to the church. Several families left the church at this time, reducing the membership’s support even further. During the year, the brick church was sold to Mr. Harold Nichols for $2,500. Mr. Nichols did not keep up with his payments, and when he moved, the payments stopped completely.  Later a “Pastor Thatcher” would take over the building, with the mortgage being paid fully in September, 1962.  A new pastor, Rev. Firmon Kenoyen, was sent in 1959. He had a hard road ahead of him. Pastoral support was reduced to $1,800 a year and the parsonage was provided as his home.  Under Rev. Kenoyen’s leadership, the congregation renewed their building pledges.  Dinners, auctions and other moneymaking projects were held, and the church once again became able to meet its payment obligations to the Mission Board.  During the four years the Rev. Kenoyen and his wife served, membership grew. In 1958, the first funeral was held in the Weseleyn Center, that of Rev.Rathbun.

In 1960, the first wedding held in the Center was that of Jackie Kerns to Tom Higginbotham.  The Modern Era In 1963, District Superintendent Cecil Ristow suggested a new location for the church.  In June, 1963, the Reverend Ron Kurtz and his family came to the church. Under Rev. Kurtz’ leadership, there was much interest among the young people.  Two portable units were brought in for use while a new church was being built. 

From 1966-1970, the minister was David Biles.  In 1969, the new church was finally ready.  A special ceremony was held to march over to the new church carrying the candles and offering plates. In 1970 to 1972, the Church was served by the ministry of Wayne Martin.  He continued with the M.Y.F. and the congregation enjoyed their singing.  In 1972, Ken Carlson was working for the County when the call came to serve the Lord. He quit his job and went to school and then into full time ministry.  He served at Mead until 1975. In 1975, the Rev. Rex Van Beek came to the Church. He lived in Edwdall, where his wife was pastor. He was at Mead only until 1976.

In 1976, Bill Shields was attending Whitworth College, studying for the Presbyterian ministry. He was limited in what he was able to do as our pastor.  The old church bell was returned to the church at this time, and was dedicated. When the brick church was sold in 1958, the bell had been sold with it. Mrs. Albert Lucas’s father had bought the building, and, when he sold it, he gave the bell back to the church.

In 1978, Glenn Kennedy came to Mead as Pastor. It was raining so hard the Kennedy family couldn’t move onto their property; so, for a while, they lived in the church. Under Pastor Kennedy’s ministry, the church has grown in numbers and spirit.  Our present organist, Barb Austin, took over from Mrs. Bess Harris who served the church for many years.  A pump organ was donated to the church, which was later converted to an electric organ in 1967.

Record of Mead Pastors
1884- Mark Waltz
1885- Elder Anderson
1886-1890 Circuit Riders
1890- A. J. Loomis
Lee Johnson
1893- W. L. Blackwell
1894- N. E. Parsons
1895- M. R. Brown
1897- J. C. Kirkman
1898- W. B. Eakin
1899- George Gable
1901-1903 B. E. Koontz
1904- Rev. Sicafoose
1905- George Snyder (First Pastor @ Brick Church)
1906-1907 Frank Spaulding
1908- L. W. Puttman
1909- W. C. Smith
1910-1911 R. A. Armstrong
1912-1914 Rev. William Wellington (Mead & Greenbluff)
1915-1916 C. M. Carson
1917- A. J. Neufeldt
1918-1919 Robert A. Forkner
1920- E. A. Bradley
1921-1924 William Wellington
1925-1926 C. W. Geiszler
1927- Rev. James
1928- Rev. Lewellyn
1928-1935 Mark Freeman
1936- Rev. Frank Lowther (from Deer Park)
1937- John Finney (Whitworth Student)
1938-1940 Milton DeArmand
1941-1943 Rev. Estabrook, Rev. Poindexter, Rev VanWert
(Supply Pastors); Frank Burgess
Arthur Treman, Jewel Pyles (Student Pastors)
1943-1946 Harry Slick (Mead joined with Hillyard)
1947-1949 Enoch Willman
1947-? A Woman Pastor
1949-1951 Erling Bergan
1951-1954 John Moede
1954-1955 R. B. Rathbun
1955-1956 Ray Kuhns
1956-1959 Austen Rugger
1959-1963 Firman Keneyer
1963-1966 Ronald Kurtz
1966-1970 David Biles
1970-1973 Wayne Martin
1973-1975 Ken Carlson
1975-1976 Rex VanBeek
1976-1978 Bill Shields
1978- Glenn Kennedy