St. Andrew United Methodist Church

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St. Andrew of West Lafayette was established by the Evangelical United Brethren Church as a mission church in 1954 with the appointment of the Reverend James W. Sutherland. Worship was first held at the parsonage on Grant Street, then in the West Lafayette Junior High School, and later at the Student Center on Russell Street. A new parsonage was built in 1955 at 322 Meridian Street which provided worship and class space until the church building was erected in 1957. Facilities for classes and fellowship were added in 1963.

Epworth Heights was organized in January, 1967, as a project of the Lafayette District Missionary Society. In June, 1967, offices were opened in University Square, and the Rev. J. Phillip Klinger was named pastor. A home was purchased at 2936 Wilshire Avenue as the parsonage. The congregation met for worship in the Soller-Baker Chapel, West Lafayette, from January, 1967 until January, 1969. During those two years, the membership grew from 6 to 130.

Soon after the General Conferences of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church approved a Plan of Union on April 23, 1968, to become the United Methodist Church, St. Andrew and Epworth Heights committees drew up a "Plan of Union" which was placed before both congregations on December 22, 1968. The plan was approved, and the two churches were united on January 1, 1969. Ministers of the two churches at the time were Rev. Carl Lemna of St. Andrew and Rev. J. Phillip Klinger of Epworth Heights. Both served as ministers to the combined congregation during the adjustment period.

In 1979 the chancel and Fellowship Hall were remodeled. New classroom and office space were added in 1989. In November of 1992, the office space and surrounding classrooms in the new addition were destroyed by fire. Quick action by the fire department saved the sanctuary and the rest of the church building. The office space and new classrooms were rebuilt during 1993.

At some point after this detailed history was written, St. Andrew moved to its current location, about 3½ miles north.