In the summer of 1891, Bede A. Johnson, called Gussie, came to this town to organize a Methodist Church. Then called Middletown, half way between Graysville and Terre Haute. He came from Carlisle, Indiana, and was just entering the ministery at the age of twenty-two.

So far as can be learned, these were the dozen charter members: James Blythe, his wife, Maggie Blythe, Cora Jones, niece of Mrs. Lou Sutliff, Charles Rankin, his wife, Mary Haskell Rankin, Albert Sutliff, his wife Laura Sutliff, Mrs. Swift, mother of Laura Sutliff, Lily Swift Buckles, sister of Laura Sutliff, Nelson Sutliff, his wife Lou Sutliff, Evelyn Harper Wilson.

Meetings were held at first in the north downstairs, (or intermediate room) of the old school building. Soon the township trustee objected: so James Blythe, who owned the old flour mill, (now burned down) took the congregation to the upstairs in the old mill. A dinner bell summoned the people to worship.

The church was then in Fairbanks circuit, later changed to Prairie Creek Charge. The circuit then consisted of Fairbanks, Center Hill, which was at Hutton Valley Chapel, and Middletown, as Prairie Creek was then called.

George and Anna Liston, staunch Methodists, were in Nebraska when the church was organized; they hurried home to join, so were probably the first new members. Bernice Thomas Ring and Lennie Beauchamp Trueblood were converted while meeting in the old schoolhouse, so they were likely the church's first converts.

In the fall, September 13, 1893, Leonard A. Peck was sent here by conference. He was a carpenter as well as preacher, and he planned and helped to build the old church in the summer of 1894.

It was built mostly by the pastor and members, and constructed of native timber. The vestibule and spire were built later by George Rice, the old carpenter of the town, whose wife was an early member.

Rev. A.M. Couchman, called Dick, who was on the Farmersburg charge helped Rev. Peck hold meetings in the old mill, and later in the new church. He would often remark that we Methodists finally "ground out" a church.

From 1891 to 1894 this church paid eighty-five dollars per year on the pastor's salary. In the fall of 1894 they began paying Rev. John Furry one hundred dollars a year.

During the pastorate of Rev. Mark E. Coen, 1895-96, a wonderful revival was held in the new church. The evangelist was a woman, Miss Ella Abbott. The church walls were not yet plastered, but covered with boards. Many people were converted and some united with the church and others joined other churches.

Another event, during this same year, was [a] double wedding. The pastor was married to Edith Piety, and John Yeager, uncle of the bride, married Lou Newlin. Needless to say, the church was filled, and people were sitting in the windows.

The fifth pastor was Rev. Gideon Hevenridge, brother of Marian Heavenridge, then called the presiding elder of the Vincennes District. So far as the writer can remember, this was the first family to live in the present parsonage.

The next pastor was Rev. John Strain. During the summer of 1899, a tent meeting was held. The tent was pitched in the southeast corner of the churchyard. The outstanding event was the appearance of a Methodist deconess, dressed in black and wearing a little black bonnet with wide white strings.

In 1901, Rev. Arthur Daugherty came on the charge. This was his first pastorate. He did his own preaching during his first revival and had a wonderful meeting. He was aided by A.C. Payne, the school principal, who was an ardent Methodist. During his ministry here, a new church was built down in Sullivan County and added to the charge. It was called the Douglas Chapel Church.

In 1905, Rev. Aaron and Alice Hogan came on the work. The Dodd Bridge Church was built, which was the last added to the charge. Church torn down year of 1975-76. Other devout ministers have served the church, and good meetings have been held within the memory of the present congregation.

George Liston, one of the first new members, at his death in 1928 left a bond of $800.00 with the stipulation that the interest be used for the upkeep of the church. This is on deposit at the First National Bank in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In 1958 there were only three churches on the charge; Dodd Bridge, Fairbanks and Prairie Creek. The other churches, Center Hill, Douglas Chapel and Valley Chapel were abandoned long ago and the buildings sold.

The old church, built in 1894, was torn down in the summer of 1957, and construction of the new church began. While the new church was being built, the Township Trustee, Warren Chambers, allowed us to have church and Sunday School in the upstairs of the fire house. After the basement was finished enough, we began meeting there.

Mr. Stadler, the contractor, who along with his wife and Goldie Hatcher, joined the church on July 27, 1958. He worked many hours building the new church, along with other dedicated members of the congregation. The first service in the new church was July 13, 1958, and James Lawson preached the sermon. The night service was led by Pearl Sparks. There were two converts, Gail Tarrh and David Vaughn. Formal dedication of [the] New Church September 14, 1958.

The first wedding in the new church as that of Jewell Lawson and Hubert Chambers. The second wedding was that of the minister at that time, Rev. Ron Kohl and Irene Kohl in November 1958. On July 10, 1958, our new seats arrived to be placed.

The first funeral in the new church was that of our only remaining charter member, Charles Rankin, who helped build the first church. This service was held by Rev. George Quinn, a former member.

Several members purchased memory windows for the new church. We are thankful for the many other gifts and bequests for the church. Some of these include; the piano carpet runner in the center of the church by the women's class; The Christian flag made by Lois Burson given along with the American flag and the purchasing and planting of the shrubbery; 25 enamel steel chairs by the Plummers; Little table and chairs for little folks by Mark Plummer; other two sets of little tables and chairs by young people class and teacher Lois Burson; Material and labor cost for the cistern, Alice Quinn with Arthur Rankin and Bill Hodges digging the cistern; The Sutliff legacy of one thousand dollars; the two outside doors in memory of Hubert Quinn and daughter, Juanita Lightner, Arthur Miles; Chas. and Ellen Hayworth by Bertha Starkey; Lennie Trueblood, Harry and Nellie Welch, Hubert Quinn; Maggie donated in memory of Rev. E. Arthur Daugherty; Alice Quinn for George and Annie Liston; Maggie Wilson for father and mother Eveline, and Oliver Wilson. Charles and Mary Rankin, and Vester and Alice Johnson by daughter Nora Johnson; Fes and Frank McDonald for father and mother Thomas and Lorciatta McDonald.

The electric picture on [the] front wall of "Christ in the Garden" was given by Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Jewell Chambers after their wedding. Charles Piety donated the corner stone for the new church. The sink and cupboards in [the] basement by Lois Burson and Mr. Stadler did the work free.

Many baptisms have been held in the church, but perhaps the most memorable to the whole congregation was when Mr. and Mrs. James Hurley dedicated their little triplets: Patricia, Douglas and Thomas.

There was a definite need for a nursery in the new church. In 1962, Alice Quinn and George paid for labor and materials to meet these needs. The work was done by Tony Reed and son. Mrs. Quinn furnished a baby bed and Miss Margaret Wilson and Lillis Stranahan furnished two white chairs, and Trois Hodges furnished a baby bed and play pen.

In 1966, the Men's Bible Class purchased the lot behind the church for $300.00 from Mrs. Pat Powers for additional parking. Rev. Elmo Phillips and some good brethren of the church made new front walls.

August 11, 1969 a meeting of official board and all interested members was called to let bid on the siding for the outside of block. The bid was given to Robert Oxendine of Prairieton for the sum of $4,135.00 for all labor and material. The church had been having suppers to make money for this project and the amount of about $1,764.00 was reported by [the] treasurer of building committee, James Hurley, and $1,500.00 to be given us by Conference. The balance was soon made up of pledges of members and work was to begin very soon.

In 1969, our Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In May was registered at the Court House and will henceforth be known as the Prairie Creek United Methodist Church. During Rev. Field's pastorate, our church, Fairbanks Church, Dodd Bridge Church, Graysville, Kingsley, Merom, Benson Chapel (Quaker Church or Friend's Church), Mt. Tabor all went into what was known as the Mid-Way Larger Parish. An assisstant minister was sent, Mr. Wm. Early, to assist on the Parish. Then Rev. Jolliff came on work [in] 1969 to help Rev. Early in Rev. Field's place. Rev. Jolliff passed away in August rather suddenly. Rev. George Quinn was asked to help Rev. Early by Dr. Hancock, our new Dist. Sup. under our new church setup.

Our parsonage at Prairie Creek was sold November 13, 1967 to John Vaught for $1,200.00. The $1,200 was split three ways; Fairbanks, Dodd Bridge and Prairie Creek. Our four hundred [dollars] was used to pay on our church.

During the Mid-Way Larger Parish under Rev. Fields, a Parish House was purchased for $4,000.000. A young lady was sent by Dist. W.S.C.S. to assist with the youth on Parish named Miss Joan Clark.

In 1968, Dodd Bridge withdrew from Methodist Conference and are building a lovely church out on Route #150 between Sullivan and Route 63 road. The Parish Parsonage was located east of Graysville church. Rev. Early lived in the Merom Parsonage. In 1970, Prairie Creek was moved to Pimento Charge and Fletcher Chapel. The old Dodge Bridge Church was torn down in 1976.

The history prior to 1958 was written by Miss Margaret Wilson whose mother was a Charter member. The remaining compiled by Mrs. Alice Quinn and Lois Burson.