Champlin UMC History

Previous to 1872, Methodists in Champlin met with the North Roads Church, which was one of two in Methodist meeting places Maple Grove. In 1872, Rev. John Stafford organized 12 members to become a Methodist church in Champlin. Rev. Stafford was instrumental during this time in uniting the two Maple Grove churches with Champlin. A year later, a 32x50 foot church building was built with the assistance of the townspeople, and a year after that, a parsonage was built. Champlin and Ostego were on the same charge from 1874-1887. During 1900, the old church was torn down and a new edifice was built on the same lot, but facing Oak St. (now called Independence Ave.) The cost was $3,200. A new parsonage was built in 1901. In 1923, the building was remodeled, and they put in a full basement. Membership continued to grow when a group formerly of a German Methodist Church joined the Champlin group in 1925. In 1935, the church started a new tradition when they held an outdoor Sunrise service at Easter at the Indian Mounds followed by going inside for breakfast prepared and served by the women of the church. From the start, CUMC had part-time pastors of their own or shared pastors with other churches. During 1929-1935 and again in 1946-1952, Champlin shared a pastor with Anoka.

Return to Top of Page

“Growing” First Steps in New Territory

It was evident in 1948 that the church building needed major repairs and renovations so the parsonage was sold to finance the necessary work. Dr. Charles Sexton was appointed to Champlin in 1957. This made him the first black pastor of an all white congregation in Minnesota. Looking towards the future, the congregation accepted a donation of land from Henry and Bernyce Lefler. The land was 3.8 acres-west of 169 and north of the Mill Pond. By 1965 membership and participation reached their building’s potential. There were more than 100 people ages 3-86 who participated in Sunday school, and there was no room to invite friends. There were also more than 50 people involved in 3 different choirs: ages 4-10, grades 5-8, and grades 9-adult all led by Ruth Stephens. They also held two rummage sales per year during this time period. In November of 1965, the furnace exploded and services were held in the Champlin school until clean-up was complete. The long awaited new church building on the land by the Mill Pond was completed in 1966. The first service was on November 13 and started in the old building and continued in the new building with the congregation bringing several items from the old building to the new. From then on The Easter Sunrise service was held at the Mill Pond with a pancake breakfast prepared and served by the men of the church. Also, Pentecost outdoor services were held with everyone wearing red and celebrating sometimes with red balloons and strawberry ice cream cones. The church library began in 1967 and the parsonage was ready in 1968. Also during 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethern Church were united forming the United Methodist Church. Pastor Robert Hunter was CUMC’s first full time pastor from 1967-1969. Then Pastor Ankeny came and CUMC split his services 60-40 with Riverview UMC. Champlin continued to share a pastor with Riverview from 1970-1992. In 1985, Champlin was appointed its first female pastor, Kathi Austin Mahle. A children’s Christmas musical program was started in the 1980's called Champlin United Methodist Singers (CHUMS). To help families be able to participate in midweek practices, CHOW was later started serving families supper before the practice. The parsonage was sold and the money went to the building fund. The present sanctuary, narthex, and offices were completed in 1990 with the sanctuary first used on April 8th, 1990. Pastor Bruce Ruggles started serving Champlin on June 28, 1992 as CUMC’s full time pastor.

Return to Top of Page

“Growing” Changes to Better Serve

During the 1990’s, a grand piano is donated to the church, a keyboard added, and eventually the organ was no longer used for worship. Worship services became more blended with elements such as drama and contemporary music added to the traditional style. On Sunday November 2, 1997, two services per Sunday were held. This continued until 2002 when CUMC went back to one service. Faith We Sing songbooks were added around the year 2000. The year 2000 also saw the addition of 2 staff positions: a part-time Youth Ministry director and a nursery care provider. The church struggled keeping these positions filled. A successful Capital Campaign Fund raiser was held in 2001 to pay for many repairs to the roof and church building. The 1st S.H.A.L.O.M. mission (Staying Home and Living Our Mission) was held during the summer of 2004. Over 50 people, children to seniors participated. Other missions that CUMC participated in during this time included Meals on Wheels, Simpson Shelter, Youth Mission Trips, CROSS, school supplies to local schools, and coats/hats/mittens drives. Vacation Bible School, CHUMS, and CHOW continued to grow in popularity and became an outreach for families that were not members of the church. The Fun Fest began in 2005. The next year, 2006, WOW (Working on Wellness) started their first annual challenge for people to improve their nutritional, physical, and spiritual lives.

Return to Top of Page