History

Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church History

Our church began as two separate churches, Trinity Church and Pretty Lake Church, Both had their beginning with Circuit riders. At one time as many as 13 churches were part of the circuit.

Trinity Church had roots in the area as early as 1853, as circuit ministers made regular visits to the community. Services were held in a log school house and other school houses. Eventually the desire was to build a church centrally located for all members. Thus the Trinity Church was erected in the summer of 1881 near 12th road and Queen. After 85 years Trinity E.U.B (Evangelical United Brethren) Church closed on Easter Sunday 1967 and merged with Pretty Lake E.U.B.

Pretty Lake Church began as an Evangelical church also in 1853. The church was built on the current site in 1868, then later sold to United Brethren society in 1881. The land where the church sets was deeded to the church on Christmas day, 1880. As late as 1939, Pretty Lake was still part of a 4 church circuit. The Evangelical United Brethren Church was formed in 1946 with the merger of the Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren of Christ.

In 1954 a new entrance was put on the front of the church and a basement was added to provide room for Sunday School classes. Then in 1963, because of church growth, the educational unit was added on the east side of the church.

The Northern Indiana Conference was organized on November 9, 1968 joining the Evangelical United Brethren and the United Methodist Church; therefore, the church is now Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church. A parsonage built in 1972 was later sold to help finance a community fellowship hall.

The fellowship hall was completed in 1996 to provide a handicapped accessible place for worship, meals and community gatherings.