Dailey Church -
Before Additions
Old Union Protestant
Church at Dailey
Dailey Church
with new additions
Our Mission
Statement
Submitted by Pastor David Waid
Dailey Church - Before Additions |
Old Union Protestant Church at Dailey |
Dailey Church with new additions |
From Pastor David Waid - Here is some information on Dailey Church AKA Union Protestant Church. The three pictures in the flyer represent the three building projects: the original building in 1886; the new building after the fire in 1946; and the expansion in 1956. The picture you have on your site would have been taken sometime last summer before we finished our updating – handicap ramp and some parking. The history of the church prior to 1945 was lost in the fire, but from what I have learned from the older people in the congregation, from 1886 until the 1930’s, the church was served by lay leadership without any full-time pastor. Local pastors were invited to come and preach at the church. At times, the building was only used for funerals and public meetings. Its origin was the result of revival services held in the winter of 1885 by Rev. Isaiah Wilson of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pokagon who held a series of meetings in the Vaile Hall in Dailey. From this revival, two churches emerged in Dailey; the Methodist Church in the village and the Union Protestant Church across from the cemetery. Based on a conversation with the leadership in the 1970’s when I first served Union Protestant as pastor, these two congregations merged sometime after 1945. The list of names of those signing the Articles of Incorporation in 1886 were: Bina Wiley, Thomas T. Higgins, Mary J. Kimmerle, Mary E. Spaulding, Charles H. Kimmerle, H. Collins, Titus Tietsort, Wm. Condon, Emmet Dunning, Horace Cooper, John Thompson, Wm. H. Hain, Mary Haas, Wm. Cady, Geo. B. Crawford, J. N. Webster, John Hain, Mary A. Hain, Edward Anthony, Emily Hain and Ella Kimmerle. The first trustees of the church were: Thomas T. Higgins, Charles H. Kimmerle, Emmet Dunning, Wm. Condon and Wm. H. Hain. In addition to those listed, these names also appear in records as charter members of the church: Leroy Carlisle, Dora Ferron, Isaac Rollings, Frances G. Goodrich, Simon E. Witwer, and Emma S. Witwer. I am sure there were others. In the Fall of 1947, a group of energetic young adults began an activity that continued in the church for almost 50 years – a Fall Festival that featured home made ice cream. I remember people lined up down Dailey Road waiting to get in for the food, fellowship, and at times arts and crafts – reported to have been common in the 60, 70, and 80’s. Pastor Wade can be reached at: dmwaid@yahoo.com.
We are here to serve you. If you have any needs or have any concerns about the ministry of Dailey Church, please contact one of us. We believe that every person who comes into this circle of fellowship has been sent here by God. Therefore, you are not here by accident. Above all, our desire is to see God’s love expressed to everyone with genuine, heartfelt warmth. We are excited to share with you the joy of seeing God work among us in a marvelous way. As we grow together in our faith in Jesus Christ, we will worship, we will serve, we will learn, we will reach out to our world with life-transforming truth, and we will share in both times of laughter and also times of crying. If you are visiting with us today, we want to open our hearts to you to make you feel at home and welcomed. If you are searching and praying for a place to belong, we hope you find one with us – Welcome! If you have any questions about our church or the Missionary Church, please feel free to ask.
Dailey Churchis a member of
the North Central District of the Missionary Church, Inc.
District Office,
Elkhart, IN - Denominational Headquarters, Fort Wayne, IN
Pastors of Record
Frank Flagg Prior to 1945
Paul Bogar 1945
Joseph I. Lindsay 1945 - 1948
Robert Vessey 1949 - 1950
Robert Huddleston 1950 - 1951
Robert McDougall 1951 - 1953
Dale Scott 1953 - 1955
Donald J. Tepe 1955 - 1956
Vernon Bell 1957 - 1957
William Pohly 1957 - 1959
Gerald Duecker 1959 - 1962
Fred McNeil 1962 - 1963
Ernest O. Davis 1963 - 1963
Albert O’Rourke 1963 - 1964
William H. Schobert 1964 - 1968
Kenneth Andes 1969 - 1969
John H. Tolly (Interim) 1969 - 1970
Harold Burgess 1970 - 1971
David Waid 1970 - 1973
Virgil Stauffer 1973 - 1975
William McVay (Interim) 1975 - 1976
Douglas Ohime 1976 - 1977
Lowell Gerber 1978 - 1981
Bradley Heiple 1981 - 1985
Mark Filonczuk 1985 - 1990
John Sherk 1991 - 1995
Doug Tindale 1995 - 1999
Clark Stoller 1999 - 2005
David Waid 2005 – Present
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it” Psalm 127:1
This passage had to be the guide behind our forefathers who built and rebuilt the Union Protestant Church at Dailey.
The first house of worship built on the corner of Dailey Road and Dunning Street, was a lovely, white wooden Colonial style church. It was built on donated land by volunteers committed to using their skills, time, and money for a church of their own. The lovely country setting accentuated the fine example of Colonial architecture with the tall steeple, large curved windows and doors, and ornate trimming. The church was dedicated November of 1886, as a non-denominational sanctuary, for worship of God and fellowship of Christians. The congregation enjoyed Sunday morning worship services, Sunday school, Prayer meetings, and started a Ladies Aid.
On Sunday, April 29, 1945, with approximately 70 parishioners listening to the sermon of Pastor Paul Boger, a fire was detected in the roof of the building. After a quick prayer, everyone quietly left the building, taking along their song books. Luckily, the men returned to the building and saved the pews, piano, and everything movable before the building collapsed.
Rebuild? They must. The old basement was salvageable and by fall of 1945, these dedicated and faithful people started building on their strong foundation.
The old Salisbury school on M60 served as a meeting place for the congregation until the new church could be completed. In 1946, Thanksgiving and Christmas services were held in the basement of the church. Before the church opened its doors for services, a car struck the front, southeast corner. The loose brick and smashed cornerstone were repaired and the construction was completed. The congregation met in the new sanctuary for the first time to worship in February of 1947. This time, the many hard working and generous volunteers had built a red brick new gothic style building, free of debt. Even the 900 pound bell was donated.
The church enjoyed a very active membership. In 1948 there were 88 enrolled in the Sunday school classes, plus enough adults attending classes to total over 100 in the educational programs. Over the years, the church sponsored numerous groups and activities including: Boy Scouts, 4H, Home Economics Club, Family Nights, Men’s Club, Youth Group, and Young People’s Club. The Young People’s Club was for those under 40 years of age, and they were the ones to thank for the wonderful ice cream socials!
In less than ten years, the congregation realized it was time to expand to meet the current and future needs of the church. On May 6, 1956 ground was broken for a new addition on the West side of the church. The 34’ x 40’ addition had a full basement, classrooms and a parsonage.
In 1963, the church became affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Also in 1963, the first full-time pastor moved into the parsonage, Rev. William Schobert.
The church celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1986. Since that time, it has enjoyed the leadership of 5 pastors and their wives. In 1999, the church joined the Missionary Church.
The Ladies Aid is still an active part of the church. They meet once a month on a Wednesday evening. There is also a women’s Bible study group, which meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday evenings of each month.
PASTOR DAVID WAID
REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES:
WORSHIP: 9:30 AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 11:00
AM