Our HistoryDreams of Past Congregations The Loveland United Methodist Church, as it is known today, evolved through the years from the dreams, prayers, and labor of its congregation. Just as the name evolved; first, as The Loveland Methodist Church, The Loveland Methodist Episcopal Church, The Loveland Methodist Church (again), and presently The Loveland United Methodist Church; the places of worship have evolved. As the settlers arrived in this section of the Little Miami River Valley, they brought with them their love of God and the need to meet together in His worship and in the study of the Bible. As early as 1798 they met at the home of Colonel Thomas Paxton, and then in an old school house located on East Broadway, site of the original St. Columban Catholic Church. In reality, the roots of our church go back to the teachings of the early Methodist circuit riders, who came to this pioneer locality for some 50 years before a tangible church was built in Loveland or the people divided into denominations. One such circuit rider was Uriah M. Heath, father of Civil War General Thomas T. Heath, who had built a home in the Loveland area. Under the elder Heath's guidance, The Loveland Methodist Church was organized in 1853. The General provided a meeting place in a log hut near the Heath's stone house, which was located on a mound on the east side of present route 48 opposite the Loveland Health Care Center. As the little group increased in number, services were moved to the third floor - Lyceum Hall - of the brick building still located on the northeast corner of Broadway and Railroad Avenue in Loveland, opposite Nisbet's. The building had been built in 1854 by Larwin De Golyer. This location was shared with the Presbyterians, with each congregation meeting on alternate Sundays. The Methodists continued worshipping there until the Presbyterians built their church on Third Avenue in Loveland in 1859. (The building is now occupied by the Loveland Church of God). The Methodists then moved their place of worship to this locale, again with each group meeting on alternate Sundays. Loveland, at this time, was located only on the east bank of the Little Miami River; and there existed only one plot of vacant land, that used by John Shorten for his garden. The dream of this early Methodist congregation was realized when he agreed to sell this lot for $700 with $100 of this price as a donation, if a church building was built thereon within a year. Faced with this deadline, a frame church was completed in 1868 on Railroad Avenue at the entrance to the present Nisbet Park. However, the location had many drawbacks - periodic flooding and the dirt and noise of passing trains, especially when the train's whistle interrupted church service or came at an inappropriate time in the pastor's sermon. About this time, the land on the west side of the Little Miami River was being developed into home sites. The developers, Dr. N.W. Bishop and his son, Dr. Lucius Bishop, aware of the Methodist's problems, offered the congregation a lot on the west side of the river for $500. After much prayerful consideration, 30 church members subscribed this cost in amounts from $5 to $100. An early church history recalls: "This new church represented the faith and endless energy of Reverend E.S. Gaddis, and the building was accomplished through volunteer efforts of carpenters, masons, painters, and plasterers associated directly or indirectly with the membership of the church, together with those who were paid for its construction. It was consecrated January 13, 1901. However, succeeding congregations continued to dream, and each succeeding dream became reality with prayers and labors of the members:
From the above, it is evident that the members of the Loveland United Methodist Church, from its founding to the present day, have had many dreams for their church. It is to their everlasting credit that their faith in the Lord and their labors have been manifested. Interesting Church Data
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