Larry Robertson, dean of area brick masons, spent nearly an hour Monday carefully dislodging a cornerstone of Calvary United Methodist, at the corner of Jackson and Walnut. The block held a time capsule placed in 1962 in what was then First Evangelical United Brethren Church.
The name change occurred in 1968 when the congregation merged with the Methodist Church. This Sunday, members will recognize the church’s 125th anniversary as well as its 55th anniversary of the 1962 expansion and remodeling.
With chisel and hammer, Robertson opened the copper time capsule just enough so its contents could be removed as part of Sunday ceremonies. Services will start at 9:15 a.m., followed by a meal and program in fellowship hall.
Calvary members began meeting in 2016 with those at Wesley United Methodist Church, 301 E. Madison Ave., following the 2015 merger with the Trinity and Wesley Methodist congregations in Iola.
CALVARY’S history may be traced to the early days of Iola. In 1855, three classes made up the Iola circuit. In 1892, Rock Creek School and some of the Salem class organized the United Brethren Church, 20 members strong.
Some of the present building was constructed from pine timbers that once were part of the Santa Fe depot, which congregants bought for $50.
In 1946, two denominations, the United Brethren and Evangelical merged to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Major improvements in 1961-62 were among many the church underwent.
