Old Missoula

Methodist Church First Building Erected In Missoula Directly for Worship

Standing on the site where its successor stands today, the First Methodist Church was constructed on the corner of Washington and East Main streets as the first building erected in Missoula directly for church purposes. It was a frame structure constructed by the denomination through the efforts of the Rev. Thomas C. Iliff, who was just beginning his career as a minister of the Methodist faith.

The Catholic St. Michael’s Church was built earlier, in 1863, at Hell Gate, but was moved to Missoula and reconstructed in 1874, after the First Methodist Church had been erected here. The First Presbyterian Church is reported to have had the first church services in what is now Missoula, these in a private home.

The Rev. Mr. Iliff arrived in Missoula in June of 1871 from Ohio. He was accompanied by his bride to whom he was married in March of that year. His first services were in the Missoula County Courthouse and in the Bitter Root Valley.

The edifice, built under the Rev. Mr. Iliff’s leadership, was a small frame structure, 25 by 40 feet. With additions it served for 40 years. Constructed by John Rankin at the edge of village on Main street, the total cost was $2,300, $500 of which was given by the Rev. Mr. Iliff from his slim resources. Another $500 was borrowed from the Church Extension Society and $2,300 was raised by townspeople.

Dedicated in 1872

This was rather remarkable because at that time Missoula had fewer than 200 inhabitants of all denominations and of no church affiliations. The church, dedicated Sept. 15, 1872, by President Elder Van Anda, was the first Protestant church between Helena and Walla Walla. The Rev. Van Anda, who stopped in Missoula before 1871, was the second Methodist minister to visit the Garden City. Reportedly, the first was the Rev. George Comfort who stopped in 1869.

The five original trustees were the Rev. Mr. Iliff, W. H. H. Dickinson, John Cunningham, Warren R. Turk and James H. McKee. Other original members were Mr. and Mrs. Blaine, Mrs. Dana and Mrs. W. H. H. Dickinson. The latter four were the only ones who had previously been members of the Methodist church.

Iliff Leaves City

The Rev. Mr. Iliff left Missoula in the summer of 1873 to go to Bozeman. He later won national recognition during his long stay in Salt Lake City, where he earned the title of Methodist Bishop of Utah. In 1901 he was elected assistant secretary of the board of home missions and church extension, a position which he held until 1909. During this time he visited every state and territory in the Union, travelling more than 300,000 miles. From then until his death in 1918, at the age of 72, he was actively engaged in preaching, dedicating churches and raising funds for the liquidation of church debts.

Brother Van Helps

The Rev. Mr. Iliff was succeeded by the Rev. Hugh Duncan who remained a year. There was no resident pastor for some years afterward, though the Rev. W. A. Hall preached occasionally in Missoula in connection with his Bitter Root circuit. From 1879 until 1882, sermons were infrequently preached in Missoula by the Rev. F. A. Riggin and the Rev. W. W. Van Orsdel (Brother Van).

In 1882 there was only one original member, Mrs. Dickinson, Missoula’s first school teacher, left in town. Her husband was the only trustee remaining. The church was in need of reorganization and the Rev. Mr. Van Orsdel provided the necessary leadership on May 22, 1882.

Dickinson, Harry V. Wheeler and Robert D. Speck were named trustees. In July a resident pastor was assigned. He was the Rev. W. A. Shannon from Virginia City who came to Missoula on the first Northern Pacific engine.

After the reorganization Methodism was firmly established in Missoula.