On Sunday, Aug. 22, Bishop Hill Community United Methodist Church held a dedication service for a new plaque the congregation received naming the church a United Methodist Historic Site.
Members of area United Methodist churches were invited to a time of fellowship with cake and ice cream enjoyed under the trees in the church yard on Aug. 22. Many responded to the invitation and were present during the ceremony.
The process of being named a United Methodist Historic Site begins with the church assembling history in word and picture. Those approved must have some significant impact on the history of The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist connection to Bishop Hill dates back to the founding of the colony in 1846 as some of the early settlers had heard Methodist teaching and doctrine before arriving. Class meetings began early in the colony in some secrecy. After the collapse of communal life in the colony a Methodist Church was officially started with the first pastor appointed in 1864.
Many members of the original colony moved to other places in Illinois and some returned to Sweden. They carried their Methodist faith with them and established Swedish class meetings that eventually became Swedish Methodist churches, now part of The United Methodist Church.
