Calvary United Methodist Church of Elkhart Indiana

It was on June 4th, 1911 that several persons of the area called "The Hump"
first met under a large Maple Tree at the corner of Lusher Ave. and 21st Street
and started a Sunday School Class. As the weeks went by they moved to a porch,
then to an apartment building, The Lusher Flats, on Larue Street. Then, when
the Hump School was built on 21st Street across from St. Vincent's Cemetery, they
moved into the school.

The Quakers, the Evangelicals and the Methodist Episcopals all at one time or
another lent support to the work, but it was the Methodist Protestants, under
Rev. Fred Clarke of the Division Street Church (now Grace United Methodist Church)
and Rev. Samuel Heminger, who spent long hours calling on the homes of the
Hump area, who were responsible for organizing the Hump area Sunday School Class
later to be the Calvary Church.

The inspiration came in 1919 when Rev. Fred Clarke had consented to hold
revival services in the Hump School. The Spirit of God moved and after a month
of meetings and 52 conversions to Christ the Christian people of the Hump
took the name Calvary Church, asked Fred Clarke to be their pastor and made plans
for a building of their own.

After several years of praying, working, and tithing, a combination
parsonage - chapel was erected at the cost of $6500 on the northeast corner of
Nappanee St. and Indiana Ave. The Dedication was held March 9 1924. Membership
rolls included family names such as Grauer, Helvie, Parcell, Lechlitner, Toben,
Fore, Noffsinger, Hamilton, Shigley, Martin, Thompson, Zollinger, Ullery, Squibb,
Jackson, Newcomer, Cross, Herrle, Jones, Thornton, and perhaps a few more.

Rev. John Coons (1922) and Rev. Nathaniel Vice (1923-26) were pastors in those early years. Both were self taught God called men who served God well. The average Sunday School attendance in 1925 was 56. Rev. Otis Jones, a locally converted barber, served Calvary from 1926-31. Rev. Gerald Skidmore served Calvary from 1931-35. The 30's were difficult times for the church. Men were sometimes paid in groceries not wages making it difficult for church finances. In 1935 16 tithers were counted in the Church. The average Sunday School attendance was 84. Rev. W. R. Schmelzer served Calvary from 1935-40. In 1939, Calvary Methodist Protestant Church became Calvary Methodist Church, when three denominations, The Methodist Episcopal Church North, The Methodist Episcopal Church South, and The Methodist Protestant Church united. The President of the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church at the time of the merger was the the same Fred Clarke who was instrumental in founding Calvary.

At this time pastors were appointed on a part-time basis while attending Garrett Biblical Institute. The first
of these was Rev. Robert Yunker (1940-42), followed by Rev. M.C. Morrow (1942), and then Rev. Wayne Mitchell (1943,45).  The Sunday School attendance in 1945 was 91.  During this time Calvary became completely self supporting.  The congregation was outgrowing the 30 x 30 chapel and plans to build were considered.  But because of World War II building had to be postponed.