1. The settlement of this area by farmers was known as Sugar Grove. Later it became known as Mapleton.
   
2. In 1843, a Methodist Circuit Rider called at a log home to preach to 5-6 families who lived among the maple trees.
   
3. Later, as the number grew, the congregation met in the log schoolhouse.
   
4. In 1855, a revival was held in the maple grove and whole families were drawn into the fold. This group was established as the Sugar Grove Mission.
   
5. A church building was erected on what later became 38 th Street between Illinois and Meridian Streets.

   **Men sat on one side and women on the other.
   In the summer, acres of cornfields were seen between Sugar Grove and Fall Creek

6. In 1869, some members proposed supplying their church with an organ. Some said that “was the work of the devil.”
   
7. In 1884, there was a remodeling program. Now, there was no center aisle in the sanctuary, so the men began to sit with the women.
   
8. In 1900, there was a new structure erected and dedicated. The old bell was moved to the new building, and the church changed its name to Mapleton Methodist Episcopal Church.

Organization of North Church

1. Two men, John Esterline and Fred Hoke, had a dream for a new Methodist church north of Indianapolis.
   
2. In 1920, Bishop Frederick Leete was assigned to the Indiana area. He was an expert on church location.
   
3. The Bishop advised that the lot on the northwest corner of Meridian and 38 th Streets be the site for the new church. This was only 50 feet from the Mapleton Methodist Church.
   
4. The church was organized at a meeting held at the home of C.F. Lesh on May 8, 1921.
   
5. On May 8, 1922 , the name of the new church was chosen. Three names were proposed-Lincoln, North Meridian and North.

Building North Church  

1. Mr. Charles Hopson of Atlanta , Georgia was selected as the architect for the new building. It was to be in the English gothic style. When he began his work, Mr. Hopson, who had designed many fine churches, was instructed to make North Church his masterpiece.
   
2. In 1924, the church hired its first secretary. It was recommended “that a good woman be employed”, wages $12.50 per week, to take care of collections, statements, etc.” The first secretary was Miss Ethel Brown.
   
3. Over a 15-year period, some $90,000 was raised by the Ladies Aid Society.
   
4. In 1925, the foundation of North Church was laid. There were insufficient funds to begin the superstructure. For three years the bare foundation stood as the only sign of the church of the future.
   
5. In 1928, the walls were erected. Again, there was not enough money to complete the building, so the stately walls stood for another 2 years as a reminder that one day a complete church would be on that site.
   
6. Many people were interested in seeing the church completed:
   
• The president of State Life Insurance Company informed the building committee that his company would be willing to lend North Church $250,000 to complete and equip the church.
  
• An almost daily visitor to the site was Quaker-born Arthur Newby, a retired bicycle manufacturer and one of the four owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

One day, Mr. Newby was missing. The pastor of North Church went to visit him during his illness. Mr. Newby bequeathed $52,300 to the building fund. A bronze plaque was set in the church narthex in appreciation of this gift.

7. Early in 1931, the sanctuary was completed.
   
8. The building committee employed an organ architect to work with the Kimball Company in designing the Holt Organ for North Church . The Kimball people sent an organist to play a concert on the new organ. There was only one person in the audience-Sterling R. Holt, the donor of the organ.
   
9. Josiah K. Lilly, a Presbyterian and founder of the drug company, made possible the Italian amber travertine chancel rail.
   
10. Sunday, May 10, 1931 , was the Day of Dedication.
    
11. In 1951, the Christian Education wing was completed.

Sanctuary Windows  

The 12 art glass windows that bring the light of the sun into the sanctuary represent the Twelve Apostles. High in the gothic stone arches of each window is a distinctive Christian symbol. Beginning with the one to the west on the north side, we follow around the sanctuary:

LAW Two Tablets of Stone on which were carved Roman numerals I-X, representing the Ten Commandments.

MISSIONARY The Cross and the Orb speak of the world conquest of Christ. “Go ye into all the world” was the commission He gave to His disciples.

CREATION The oldest symbol known is the 6-pointed star. This is the Creator’s Star. The six points suggest the attributes of God – Power, Wisdom, Majesty, Love, Mercy, and Justice.

ETERNAL LIFE The golden crown is the age-old reward for faithfulness.

HUMILITY The turtle dove was commonly offered among the sacrifices in the temple. This humble peaceful bird typifies constancy and devotion.

LIGHT The oriental lamp holds a burning wick. “Ye are the light of the world,” said Jesus.

SECURITY Early Christians used the Anchor as a disguised cross so as not to attract the attention of their persecutors.

RESURRECTION The Lily with its pure white petals and golden heart has become The floral symbol of the resurrection.

COMMUNION The chalice has become the symbol of the holiest Sacrament in the church.

HOLY SPIRIT The descending dove has come to represent, in the symbolic language of the church, the coming of the Holy Spirit.

BIBLE The Greek letters on the Bible pages teach us that in Him we have not only the beginning and ending letters of the alphabet, but all the letters in between. Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.”

VICTORY The Cross symbolizes suffering and death; the Crown symbolizes victory and life. The Cross and the Crown remind us that victory sometimes comes through suffering.

Colors

For many centuries colors have suggested qualities of character and Christian teaching. The windows in our sanctuary are beautiful and meaningful in their colors:

BLUE A deep rich blue is dominant in the windows, and that blue speaks of consistency and truth. It is the color used in portraying the mother of Jesus.

RED Zeal, creative force, and the love of God

YELLOW Beneficence

VIOLET Humility and sympathy

GREEN Immortality and victory

PURPLE Devout suffering and martyrdom

GOLD Power

1. It was in 1843 when Rev. Lucien Berry, Methodist Circuit Rider, called at the log cabin home of Delanson Slawson and preached to six families.
   
2. In 1855, Rev. H.J. Meck, assisted by a local preacher, George Havens, held a revival meeting. Enough persons made commitments to justify building a one-room church called the Sugar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. The bell, currently housed in our courtyard, rang from the belfry.
   
3. In 1869 the first organ was installed, though some opposed this action. The popular songbook Pure Gold was the source of enthusiastic singing.
   
4. The original building was remodeled and expanded in 1884.
   
5. North Church was organized by 8 founders and Bishop Leete. The preset lot was adjacent to the Mapleton Church and was purchased in 1921. The Mapleton Church voted to merge with the new church. To show good faith, families interested in the new church joined the Mapleton congregation, which served as a church home for about 350 members from 1920 – 1931.
   
6. The foundation was poured at a cost of $40,000. Because the committee agreed to operate on a “pay as you build” policy the foundation stood for 3 years before building could continue. The church was dedicated in 1931. The education wing was completed in 1951 and the beautiful courtyard was developed in 1962.

Since the compilation of these facts the courtyard was remodeled in the fall of 2001.

Interesting Facts about the Building
From the Dedication Booklet, 1931

• The building is fireproof throughout, of concrete, stone, brick and steel. It was built by Mschanr. Leslie Colvin of Indianapolis .

• The grounds are 209 feet on Meridian by 290 feet on 38 th Street . Twelve years ago the site cost was $25,000.

• The exterior walls are of Briar Hill variegated sandstone, with trim of cut Bedford limestone. The roof is slate and copper.

• Chancel and chancel rail are amber travertine marble; communion table and pulpit are white Vermont marble. Interior decoration is Italian Gothic by Schanbacher of Springfield, Illinois, one of America ’s leading decorators.

• The sanctuary symbolism includes more than 1000 crosses.

• Actual building cost: $315k Equipment and furnishings $60k. All but the final one-fourth of the cost of the ground, building, and furnishings was given or pledged prior to the dedication.

For info on United Methodist History, click here.

For Membership Info, click here.