Menu
Harwood United Methodist Church fades into history
On April 6 The United Methodist Church in Harwood welcomed members and friends to celebrate the history of the building and its people.
The response was huge for the small village of Harwood. With a population of around 100 people, 31 showed up for the celebration and deconsecration of the building.
Established as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Harwood in 1892, it merged with the Mt. Vernon church in 1968 and became the United Methodist Church. The Mt. Vernon church building now belongs to the Mt. Vernon Cemetery Association.
The United Methodist Church held its centennial celebration in 1992.
The April 6 closing ceremony was much more somber. The building has been a busy part of the Harwood community for so many years that having it set empty will be an odd experience for many Harwood citizens.
One person who was ill and couldn't attend the closing ceremony is long-time church member James Carrier. Carrier has lived in Harwood all of his life, except for the 30 years he spent in the military, and he and his wife Martha were faithful members.
"My wife went to Sunday school there when she was a child," Carrier said. "She grew up in the church and attended faithfully all of her life. She was 81 when she died last June." The closing of the church was a difficult situation for Carrier. "It was a sad occasion for me. My wife had worked so hard to keep the church open for years and years. Harwood is a declining community, and it was a forgone conclusion that it would close sooner or later." His wife had written about the church in the "Nevada & Vernon County Heritage 1855-2005 'Pass It On'" two-volume set of history books. She had a great pride in the church and what the members had done to improve the 115-year-old building. Here's a quote from that book, used by permission.
"Many improvements have been made to the church since the beginning. After 100 years we got a restroom. We have a lighted church sign, a handicap ramp, a repaired belfry with a bell that rings and a beautiful steeple. We enjoy a faithful few, but need so much young people and children." With the closing of its doors, the members will scatter out to other churches. "Some will go to the Methodist Church in Schell City," Carrier said, "others joined the Baptist Church in Harwood. I'm undecided right now, but I'll probably attend the Methodist Church in Schell City." Carrier insists the building is in fine repair and much too valuable as a building to just set empty. He has plans to see it remain a viable part of the community.
"I'm attempting to give the building to the Northeast Vernon County High School for club or group meetings or other off schoolgrounds religious activities." He feels if the proposed new high school gets constructed, the church building will be close enough to the high school for students to use.
"I hope they will take the church building -- it's a good building," Carrier added. "We've put on a new roof and siding, it would be sad to see it set empty." He emphasized that the building was kept in top shape because there was funding available to keep it repaired.
"The church was financially sound, we just couldn't keep people there. It was not a financial problem that closed it, but an attendance problem." He sighed. "People just don't come to church." There is no cemetery at the church, it's out of town, so unlike the Mt. Vernon church it can't be used for that.
Carrier said, "We had some moneys left over when the church closed. We gave $1000 to the Harwood Baptist Church, $1,000 to the Three Mile Cemetery, $1,000 to the Schell City Methodist Church and have $4,000 left. I have established a scholarship program for the Northeast Vernon County High School, and have put $1,000 for a seed in it. I want to call it the Martha Carrier scholarship fund in honor of my wife.
Martha was treasurer of the church and worked so hard to keep it open. She would be really sad to see it has finally closed." Carrier paused, then added, "I appreciate all of the people who supported the church."