An Historical Sketch Of Plymouth Church

Plymouth Church's beginnings go back to Sunday, September 20, 1903. That afternoon and evening evangelistic tent meetings were held at Hudson Park in a tent rented from Gallagher Tent and Awning Company. Rev. Frank N. Dexter from Ripon, the district missionary and evangelist for the Congregational Christian Church in Wisconsin, preached at the services which were arranged by Rev. E.G. Updike of First Congregational and Rev. Clement C. Campbell of Pilgrim Congregational churches. With the rapid growth on Madison's East Side, Rev. Campbell recognized the need for a religious organization near the city's edge. By the next Sunday, September 27, 1903, a meeting was held and the East Side Congregational Society was organized with twelve members, a constitution, and by-laws. At the evening service, three more members were added to the society bringing the charter members number to fifteen.

The constitution of the East Side Congregational Society stated that its object was "to secure a suitable lot, erect a church building, maintain church services and a Sunday School, to promote the spiritual, mental, and moral welfare of our community, and to work toward the organization of a Congregational Church." Less than a year from the organization of the society, a chapel was built on a lot just one block west of Plymouth's present location. The lot was donated by Mrs. Belle Hudson Mahan, a pioneer settler in the area.

Each church member contributed a dollar and secured other dollar subscriptions until $75 was raised for the building's foundation. With further fund raising, $1,100 was raised to build the chapel with $500 more for other expenses. On May 15, 1904 the chapel was erected.

In a church council meeting on January 16, 1906, under the leadership of Rev. Arthur Reed, the East Side Congregational Society became Plymouth Congregational Church with 58 charter members. Plymouth Church grew rapidly under the able leadership of succeeding pastors and plans were begun and blueprints drawn for a new building. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan offered to exchange the lot on which the chapel was built for a corner lot at Ohio Street and Atwood Avenue. The old chapel was moved to the new site and became part of the new building dedicated on April 26, 1916. At the time of construction Plymouth was led by the Rev. Henry Harris, father-in-law of Marie Harris, a present member of Plymouth Church.

The years have seen many changes at Plymouth. During Andrew Lambright's ministry (1944-1953) the church was remodeled and Sunday School rooms and a chapel were added. The chancel was remodeled and a new pipe organ installed when David Nielsen was minister (1953-1956). Plymouth continued to grow, reaching its peak in the late 1950's. Various factors, including the changing character of the neighborhood, contributed to a decline in members, but no lessening in the vitality of the total ministry. During Rev. Dr. C.H. Fylling's inspirational leadership (1957-1972) the church's position of leadership in the life of the community continued.

On April 30, 1961, Plymouth Church voted to join the newly created United Church of Christ, which had officially come into being in 1957 when the Evangelical and Reformed Church voted to merge with the Congregational Christian denomination. This uniting of American and English churches with those of German background marked the first institutional merger in the United States across ethnic lines. The structure of the United Church of Christ includes a national office, state-wide conference offices, four state associations, and congregations bound to one another by covenantal relationships in which each local congregation governs itself.

The first manse, located on the corner of Ohio and Sommers Avenue, was given to Plymouth in 1918 by the Mahan family, and was used until January 1963 when a new residence was purchased. The location of this parsonage is three miles south of the church on Turner Avenue.

In 1965, Plymouth's Board of Trustees began planning an annex to the existing church for office and Sunday School use. Construction began in late 1967. On February 4, 1968, with the annex nearly completed, a fire in the sanctuary almost destroyed that portion of the building. The annex, spared from the fire, was immediately put into use. Rev. Fylling called a prayer meeting, held at St. Bernard's Church that afternoon at which members prayed that Plymouth Church might survive this catastrophe.

Even though some in the Association thought the tragic fire spelled the doom of Plymouth Church, the membership had other ideas. Immediately after the fire, they decided to rebuild, and courageously forged on by drawing up plans for the reconstruction of the church. During a difficult year of rebuilding St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church provided housing for Sunday services in their school gymnasium and the Atwood Community Center contributed space for Church School classes. Although some members were lost to other churches, many remained faithful. With at least sixteen neighboring congregations contributing to refurbishing the sanctuary, Plymouth's present structure was dedicated on March 23, 1969.

Ecumenical relationships begun in that era have contributed to the emergence of the Ecumenical Housing Corporation which has provided improved housing for the elderly on the East Side. Plymouth is a charter member and important contributor to that organization. Plymouth is also among the originators of what has become the longest continual Lenten Series (more than 12 years) in Madison. Warm relationships have continued among Plymouth, Zion Lutheran and St. Bernard's congregations who jointly hold neighborhood Thanksgiving Eve Services.

Pilgrim UCC, Plymouth's "Mother Church" was closed in the early 1970s. Its former building at 953 Jenifer Street now houses the WilMar Neighborhood Center. Members from Pilgrim were warmly welcomed into Plymouth's membership. Plymouth Church in turn has given birth to Lake Edge United Church of Christ in 1948, which in turn parented McFarland United Church of Christ in 1977. Thus, Plymouth is a grandparent!

In 1981, through efforts of a fund drive, chair lifts were installed to make the sanctuary and fellowship hall more accessible. Additional repairs were undertaken after an 80th Anniversary fund drive which raised $5,000 in 1983. With funding provided by a memorial, the sanctuary was air conditioned in 1990.

In December 1985, after serving Plymouth Church for twelve years, Rev. Paul Kehle died suddenly of a heart attack. Rev. Bonnie Jones-Witthuhn served as interim pastor through December 1986. On January 1, 1987, Rev. Charles Wolfe began serving as Plymouth's fifteenth pastor.

An Endowment Fund was established at the January 20, 1991 annual meeting. That year a bequest exceeding a quarter million dollars was received from the estate of Enas "Fritz" and Harriet Butterfield. Since then major bequests from the estates of George and Doris Howland, Howard and Rachel Bewick, and Caryl Swenson, as well as several smaller gifts, have significantly increased the Endowment Fund. Plymouth has come to see bequests as both opportunity for ministry and a responsibility of stewardship as we seek to use these gifts in ways faithful to God.

In August 1988, the Southwest Wisconsin Association of the United Church of Christ relocated its offices from Madison's west side into the annex basement. Hope Lodge of the Odd Fellows has used Plymouth's facilities for about twenty years and has made generous contributions to the care and upkeep of our building. Additionally, our building has been used by the Atwood Community Center for a variety of programs including free community meals on two Fridays of each month. The Madison Literacy Council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Madison Urban League, Madison School and Community Recreation, Narcotics Anonymous, and several Girl Scout troops have been welcomed to use our building.

In 1992 an outdoor contemporary church sign with an angled gold cross was designed and installed. An Allen MDS 26 organ was installed in 1995, with capabilities of producing a classical pipe organ sound as well as many "non-organ" sounds.

Plymouth voted to become a "Just Peace" congregation in January 1987. Plymouth Church became an Open and Affirming Congregation in January 1996.

In 2001, Plymouth completed the building of a new addition to make the facility accessible to physically challenged members of our community. A new ground-level entrance was constructed, and a wheelchair lift was built to enable access to all public areas of the church. The new addition and remodeling of the existing building also added three fully-accessible bathrooms, a Narthex, a new office/reception area, classrooms, and a dramatic new visability for Plymouth Church from Atwood Avenue.

Upon Rev. Charles Wolfe retirement in June 2011 after serving Plymouth Church for over 24 years, Rev. Patricia Hough answered the call to serve as Plymouth's interim pastor. Pastor Hough now skillfully leads the Plymouth community through the challemging process of calling a new permanent pastor.

Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ continues to seek fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of our charter members for a faithful and growing witness to Jesus Christ on Madison's East side and beyond.

The material in this historical sketch is drawn from A Hundred Years of Congregational History in Wisconsin by Rev. Frank N. Dexter, D. D., et at., published by Wisconsin Congregational Conference 1933 and A Brief History of Plymouth Church prepared by Gail Holmes for Plymouth's 90th anniversary in 1995.

The organization was perfected yesterday afternoon of the East Side Congregational society, the meeting being held in the tent at Hudson Park, where services have been conducted for over a week. The intention is to build a chapel in the near future in Hudson Park which shall be the permanent home of the new organization. The promoters have much faith in the future growth of Madison

The movement is the result of efforts made by Pilgrim Congregational church and the First church. The meetings which closed last night, and which were conducted by Rev. F.N. Dexter of Ripon, provided by the interest taken in them, that there was need for a chapel in that part of town. The success of the project is due in a large measure to the work of Mr. Dexter. Rev. C.C. Campbell, pastor of Pilgrim church, originated the movement, having long seen that the remarkable growth of the East end had made a religious organization there both necessary and possible. A large number of homes are established in this part of the city, and for a great many of the residents it is almost too far to go to the uptown churches. For this reason the need of a religious center has long been felt. The organization will partake of the nature of a People's church, no one being committed to any denomination by affiliating with it. It will not keep anyone from belonging to their own church, no matter of what denomination. The object of the society, as stated in the constitution, is 'to secure a suitable lot, erect a church building, maintain church services and a Sunday school, to promote the spiritual, moral and mental welfare of our community, and to work toward the organization of a Congregational church."