People who resided in the vicinity of Side Hill School attended church services in the schoolhouse until they erected their church, Wishard Chapel, in 1887. Father James B. WISHARD, a resident of the the Ringgold County Home, was instrumental in raising funds for the new church. Father WISHARD, who was a retired circuit minister, performed the dedication services of the new church in 1887.

In 1957, Wishard Chapel was remodeled with the additions of a basment with a kitchen and a vestibule. During the remodeling, a new oil heater was installed.

On August 8th and 9th of 1987, Wishard Chapel celebrated its centennial. Music was provided by the AMES Family Band and Tiffany PADGITT. Wanda BENNETT conducted church school and Pastor Jack KENDALL led the morning worship services with over 100 people in attendance.

Wishard Chapel United Methodist Church is located on U.S. Highway 169 five miles north of Mount Ayr.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 08, 1962

Wishard Chapel, which is located five miles north of Mount Ayr on Highway 169, will observe the 75th or diamond anniversary of its establishment on Sunday, Nov. 11. Guest speaker for the afternoon program will be Dr. Merrill SUMMERBELL, superintendent of the Creston District. The church was dedicated on November 13, 1887, with a large crowd in attendance.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 21, 1964

Wishard Chapel elected new officers and teachers during the Sunday school area as follows: teachers, men's class, Charles BENNETT and assistant, John TRIGGS; women's class, Mrs. Aubrey KIRPATRICK and assistant, Mrs. Doyle WEEDA; young adults, Mrs. Robert BENNETT and assistant, Ellis MAUDLIN; junior high, Mrs. Bob McCREARY and assistant, Mrs. Jane DeVRIES; nursery, Mrs. Ellis MAUDLIN; secretary/treasurer, Mrs. Marvin TRIGGS; librarian, Diane WEEDA; assistant librarian, Becky LONG; pianist, Mrs. James POLLOCK.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 13, 1987

Wishard Chapel, a historic Methodist rural church located at the junction of county road J25 and Highway 169 north of Mount Ayr, celebrated its centennial Aug. 8 and 9.

The church was founded in 1887 as the result of enthusiasm developed by the evangelistic services conducted in the Side Hill Rural School (still standing) in January of that year.

The minister of the Mount Ayr Methodist church and 86-year-old Rev. James B. WISHARD, a farmer and rural religious leader, cooperated in the effort. Rev. WISHARD assisted in raising funds for the building and it was given the name of Wishard Chapel out of high regard for him.

Since that time it has served the area not only as a church but as a rural community center, hosting innumerable Farm Bureau and extension services, 4-H club activities, celebrations, and a host of other activities common to an active and progressive rural community.

Although organized as a Methodist church, it was sponsored by both Methodist and Presbyterian denominations and had pastoral leadership from both groups for several years after 1887.

The centennial services began Saturday evening, Aug. 8, with an informal luncheon, visiting and fellowship. At 7 p.m. the Ames Family Band, a musical group developed by the Kenny AMES family, took over. Mrs. AMES is a former member of the church and she and Mr. AMES were married in the church 25 years ago.

They and their son and daughter, Scott and Melissa, gave an indoor and an outdoor concert of gospel and contry music, which was very well received.

People attended from at least five states and various locations in Iowa. Total attendance for Saturday evening was 144 and on Sunday, Aug. 9, there were 166 present. The church school was held with the superintendent, Mrs. Wanda BENNETT, in charge. Special music was a solo by Tiffany PADGITT.

The morning worship was led by Pastor Jack KENDALL delivering the message on "Victory at Sea" in which he went back to his memories of events during his service as a seaman of the U.S. Navy in WW II.

A special occasion of the morning was holy communion from the origianl communion set which was purchased by Mrs. L. O. IMUS for the church in 1887. The set is owned by the Ringgold County Historical Society and is kept on display in the Cornwall Home section of the Ringgold County Pioneer Center.

After a covered dish dinner the group reassembled for the centennial service with the District Superintendent, William Cotton as guest speaker.

Special music was provided by the Ringgold Singers mixed quartet of Mr. and Mrs. Richard JACKSON and Mr. and Mrs. Jim McCREARY and a solo by Barbie McCREARY.

Pastor Jack KENDALL conducted a "Stroll Down Memory Lane" with several former members sharing their memories.

The final part of the celebration was the rededication of the chapel and its congregation to the challenges of the next century.

A history of the church and a church comemorative plate were developed and are available.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 08, 2006

A farewell potluck lunch and program for Pastor Brian OLIVER and family was held Sunday at the Tingley community building. A large crowd was there to wish them the best in their new appointment.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 2, 2010

May 31: A total of 35 attended Wishard Chapel on Sunday morning.

Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 17, 2011

Wishard Chapel, one of the oldest churches in Ringgold county, has withdrawn from the United Methodist Church conference to become an independent community church. The great majority of Wishard Chapel members felt that this was the only way they could remain a Bible-centered, conservative congregation -- one that could minister to all the needs of the community -- was to become an independent, community church.

Wishard Chapel will be 125 years old in 2012 and it has made changes before. It began as a Methodist-Episcopal Church in 1887. Later it became just a Methodist Church. When the United Brethren and the Methodist Churches merged, Wishard Chapel became a United Methodist Church.

The church building is a landmark. Wishard Chapel's church building deed is held by the United Methodist Church conference, and according to the by-laws, it has to be put up for sale by sealed bid.

The new Wishard Chapel Community Church hopes to get it back as quickly as possible with little opposition.

The group's attorney assures the group that the building must remain as a "house of worship," a church, according to the deed.

Until Wishard Chapel gets the building back, Saint Joseph's Catholic Church has invited the new Wishard Chapel Community Church to worship in their sanctuary. Services will begin there Sunday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m.

Rev. Thomas RUTAN and his wife, Rose Ann, have come from South Carolina to help the church become established as a community church.

"Everyone is invited to come and join the new Wishard Chapel Community Church," Rev. RUTAN noted. "Great music, solid Biblical preaching and a desire to be part of and minister to this community is the heart-felt desire of the new group."

Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 16, 2012

In November an article was published stating how Wishard Chapel had voted to withdraw from the United Methodist Conference and become a community church.

One of the goals at that time was to purchase the Wishard Chapel Church back from the UMC Conference and continue ministering in the community they have served in for 125 years.

The people of Wishard Chapel Community Church are happy to report that all of their prayers and dreams have been more than fulfilled. Last Sunday, Feb. 12, the people from Wishard Chapel moved back into their own church building and began worshipping as Wishard Chapel Community church. There are many people and groups that helped Wishard Chapel in the transition. Saint Joseph Catholic Church and Father Glen WILWERDING were wonderful in allowing use of their beautiful sanctuary for the time the members were negotiating to get the Wishard Chapel church building.

"We are grateful for the fellowship they shared with the members," said Pastor Tom RUTAN. "We are also thankful to the United Methodist Conference for their generosity. They allowed us to get the church for a menial sum, much less than we expected and what we offered."

"Everything that happened confirmed that the action Wishard Chapel took was the right decision," RUTAN said. "New families are coming almost every Sunday."

Everyone is invited to come and worship in this new community church. Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m. beginning on Sunday, March 4. Worship service is at 10:30 a.m. now and will continue at that time.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, October 25, 2012

October 22 - A large crowd attended Wishard Chapel Sunday morning to hear Pastor Bill ARMSTRONG preach an inspiring message. Praise team was Cindy STEPHENS, Ruth GREGG, Carol Ann McCREARY and Laurie Anne BELZER.

SOURCE:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. December 1, 2005.

Photograph & transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2009; updated March of 2012 & October of 2012; updated December of 2012