History of Asbury
United Methodist Church

In 1866, the congregation decided that it was time to build a church, the first in Webster City. Services were held in the courtroom of the 1866 courthouse while the "Church on the Prairie" was being constructed at the west edge of town. Today that location is on Bank Street across from our present Educational Building. This church was built for a cost of $5,250 on a lot donated by Walter C. Willson, who promoted the growth of our city. (Willson Avenue was named for him.) Actually, the lot was sold to the church for $100, but he then gave $200 to the church. It was necessary for the deed to have a payment for the lot. The lot was acquired in 1861 but the congregation could not raise the money for the church until 1865 due to the Civil War.

Twenty years later, we needed a larger church as our membership had grown to 170. The school leaders approached us and indicated they wanted to purchase our property so they could build a larger school. We sold the property for $350 to the school board and proceeded to build a large church on the northwest corner of Des Moines and Bank Streets. Much of the building materials were moved to the new site by means of a rail line between the two sites. This new lot was donated to us by B. F. Miller, a banker, on condition that we would purchase the adjacent lot to the north. Rev. W. D. Phifer was pastor at

Twenty-five years later we again outgrew our church building. Our membership was now 373, with a Sunday School attendance of 339. Rev. C. H. Kamphoefner was pastor during this time. Again, we conducted services in the courtroom while our church was torn down and the new brick church was built. The cornerstone was laid in March of 1911, and the church was completed in 1912. This building is the building in which we worship today. Our Education Building was added in 1966. The plans were developed under the leadership of Rev. Paul Heath. Rev. Willard Cunningham took over the pastorate during