The Shiloh Story
Shiloh United Methodist Church – An Abundant History
Shiloh United Methodist Church is a growing church with a proud past. It all began with a revival meeting in 1807 at Three Springs - a spot that later became the village of Shiloh in the Illinois territory. That revival gave birth to what is now Shiloh United Methodist Church - the oldest Methodist Church in Illinois. And now, more than two centuries later, Shiloh continues to be a Christ-centered church with a promising future.
Following an 11-day revival camp meeting in 1807, led by Reverend Jesse Walker and Elder William McKendree, the original log church (barely 11 by 18 feet) was built in just two days. The people came in wagons and on horseback, fording or swimming rivers or creeks. People came and camped because they were curious as to what was going on. Others came because they were lonely, frightened, feeling guilty or hoping to draw nearer to God and see His blessing. In 1875, after a couple of small buildings, a church with a steeple was erected on the site. It can be seen from miles around and the brick church stands proudly today – only now it has expanded to a large worship center and educational wing with lots of room for future growth.
Through the years since the church went through lean times. Cornelia Muelchi recalled a time when there were just five parishioners gathered around the coal stove for a Sunday worship in the lower level of the building. Doris Lambert, a member since 1939, also remembered the lean years. “The Depression years were hard on everyone. No one had much money and at times it was difficult to even pay a minister,” she relates. “We didn’t have a regular minister until years later. In those days, McKendree College often sent a student pastor to us, who may have stayed until he graduated, or a retired pastor sometimes filled in.” Church attendance decreased for several decades following the Depression. Edie Bland, a member since 1960, recalled making regular visits to people’s homes to invite them to church. “Early in the 1960s, we probably had about 20 or so attending on a regular basis.”
 |
 |
By the mid-80s, attendance at Shiloh dwindled to the point that the few families attending couldn’t keep the church operating financially. Their faith in God and a hope for the future enabled the tiny congregation at Shiloh to survive. When the church conference issued a near-final decision to close the doors of the church, St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in West Belleville sent Steve Moore to pastor the church on a part-time basis to help Shiloh get back on its feet. “Steve brought so much more than stability to our struggling church,” Barb Dubs remembered. “He had a vision for what the church could be.” So in 1987, 180 years after the revival that founded the church, a new revival was beginning to take place. Within a year or so of his arrival, the congregation hired Steve as their full-time pastor. Shiloh United Methodist Church continued the journey toward its promising future.
In 1995, when Pastor David Huff arrived to serve the congregation, the growth continued. Soon the church experienced some real growing pains. The pews were packed and classrooms were too small. God was visibly fulfilling the purpose of Shiloh by making disciples for Jesus Christ, and His people and programs needed more space. A new building required a huge commitment on the part of this growing and transient (thanks to nearby Scott Air Force Base) congregation.
The congregation formed a Vision Committee in 1996 to explore relocating the church and to study the demographics of the area and the growing congregation. The study’s findings led the congregation to choose blending the heritage of the current structure with a new addition. The congregation adopted Jeremiah 29:11 as its guideline for the project: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for a hope and a future.” The financial campaign included 40 days of prayer and fasting. By 1999, building plans and financing were approved and groundbreaking took place in April 2000.
As the new worship center progressed, the congregation grew to about 350 - an increase of more than 900 percent since the mid-60s. People faithfully squeezed into the small sanctuary for two services, and late arrivers worshipped via video cam in the tiny church kitchen. Before construction, Sunday School and the church office occupied a small parsonage and portable building. When those buildings were removed for the new construction, on-site space was severely limited. Several members opened their homes for weekly Sunday School for youth and adults while younger children met in the old building for “Power Hour” complete with puppet characters who sing and share God’s Word.
In April 2001, a year after groundbreaking, Shiloh UMC celebrated “Transition Sunday” with worship beginning in the old sanctuary and progressing into the new facility - a 20,000 square foot worship, fellowship, and education center adjacent to the former brick church.
Architectural Symbolism
Besides providing Shiloh with a facility to further the work of God, the construction and design of the new building serve as a reminder of God’s presence, the salvation offered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the purpose of the Church. Symbolism representing the Trinity (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is incorporated as architectural elements in combinations of three squares. These Trinity symbols (designed by architect Gary Karasek) are seen at several locations near the entrances to the new building.
A larger-than-life wall relief mural entitled “Legacy of Changed Lives” depicts God’s people coming to His Kingdom. It covers the south exterior wall and can be seen from Shiloh’s Main Street. Inside, natural light floods into the gathering space and the entrance to the worship center through oversized windows and skylights. Mounted high on the outside wall is a new Methodist cross and flame. It can be seen through a skylight directly above the main entrance to the worship center as a symbolic reminder of one’s passing by “the foot of the cross” as we enter for worship.
In the worship center, a smaller version of the same cross is placed on the south wall next to three colored glass windows. The windows represent the colors God commanded the Israelites to use in the tabernacle. Sapphire, or blue, is representative of heaven. Purple represents royalty, kingship, and elegance, and scarlet symbolizes the blood of Christ, shed as a sacrifice. Seven small windows on the north wall display a rainbow from warm yellows, ambers, oranges, and reds to cool greens, blues, and purples. They represent our lives and time on earth.
The mission of Shiloh United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who commit to follow Him, seek to grow in their own spiritual lives, and use their spiritual gifts to impact the world for Jesus. The ministry center helps them to do just that. The worship center comfortably seats everyone and guests are always welcome.
When William McKendree, the first American-born Methodist bishop and founder of McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, offered his prophetic blessing at the founding of this church in 1807, he had faith that “this church would live long and accomplish great good.” As it was when the pioneers came here to draw nearer to God, Shiloh United Methodist Church remains a place where God is continually changing lives. And that is good!
