Our History
New Hope Church is located in Perry Township, Clinton County, Indiana.
In 1890, the people of the New Hope community realized the need for a church close by. They began holding Sunday School in the Sparks School (later called New Hope School.) The men and boys of the community soon began building a church on the ground donated by the Ham Brown Estate. It was dedicated July 24th, 1892. Rev. John Rosenbarger was the pastor.
On, July 4th, 1915, the building was struck by lightning and burned down. The only thing saved was one seat and the piano which the young people had purchased by husking corn and cutting wood. John and Ray Albright carried the piano through the door just as the roof fell in. Soon plans were made to rebuild. Again, the men and boys of the
community set to work to build a house of worship. The second building was built close by where the first one had stood. It was dedicated on January 30th, 1916.
This second building is still standing. Through the years, landscaping was done, restrooms, an oil furnace, memorial windows, outside bulletin board, new pulpit furniture, a Baldwin electric organ, and a new piano were added.
In 1966, the Builders for Christ class, with Donald Gilmore, President, and George Benefiel, Church Trustee, began planning an addition to the Church. On July 1st, the congregation began work on a 28’ x 30’ addition to the west side of the church, making a large classroom on the main floor and a basement below. On the last day of July, the class met in the new room. The room was dedicated on November 20th, 1966.
In the fall of 1988, the west outside stairs were taken out. An office and sound room were built in the space.
From the beginning to 1909, New Hope Church was part of the Thorntown circuit, Crawfordsville District, Upper Wabash Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. In 1909, the church was placed on the Frankfort circuit, St. Joseph Conference, with Farmers Chapel (by Bunnell Cemetery), Jefferson and Pleasant Hill.
In 1926, this circuit was divided so New Hope and Pleasant Hill were together. In 1946, the former United Brethren and Evangelical churches united to be known as Evangelical United Brethren or E.U.B. In April 1968, the former Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches united to be known as the United Methodist.
After this union, New Hope was placed in a circuit with the Colfax Methodist, Lafayette District of the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church. Pleasant Hill Church as placed with the Thorntown former Methodist due to Conference boundaries.
In the spring of 1982, the congregation decided to withdraw from the conference and become an Independent Church.
*This information was taken from the 1971 and 1989 New Hope Church directories.
What We Believe
PURPOSE
Our purpose shall be to serve God, maintain public worship, provide religious instruction as taught in the Scriptures, exercise Christian care over its members, and promote spiritual welfare in this community and the world.
DECLARATION OF FAITH
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sufferance under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; the third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
THE BIBLE
We believe the BIBLE is the inspired word of God.
MEMBERSHIP
The church will accept all persons as members who publicly accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, who have been baptized, and who will support the church with their attendance, gifts, and prayers.
COMMUNION
We believe in open communion, that is shall be held each Sunday during the worship service, and any other special occasion the minister may deem appropriate.
BAPTISM
We believe in baptism. We believe in dedication of infants.