Rochester United Methodist Church History
1851 – 2008


The history of the Rochester United Methodist Church goes back to Cornwall, England. Samuel and Anna Maria James came to the Rochester-Grand Mound area in 1852 from Cornwall. Their descendants have contributed much to our church and still do today. Anna Maria's father was William Foxwell, who assisted John Wesley in the founding of Methodism in the 1770's. Three fires have destroyed many historical records of the Rochester United Methodist Church (UMC) which was first listed in appointments of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the Methodist Church with Gate City in 1891. The first fire was in 1912, the second fire was in 1924, and the third fire was in 1959.
After the second fire an old two-room school building was moved to the present site on Corvallis Street in Rochester. It was remodeled and used for a church building. In 1930 an annex was added. More Sunday School space was added in 1950. Shortly after having been painted and a vestry added the building burned to the ground in 1959.

In 1960 churches in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference helped RUMC rebuild the church debt-free, except for the furnishings. The building was dedicated on August 28, 1960. The church was built entirely with volunteer labor and it stands as a tribute to the men and women who possessed far-sighted determination that their church would not only continue but constantly improve.

The church bell, being saved from the fire of 1959, was put on sawhorses, painted red, white, and blue and rung for the USA bicentennial in 1976. A new bell tower, designed and built by the Charles James family, was dedicated on March 1, 1987. The bell is still in use today.
The Rochester UM Centennial had some 175 people fill the sanctuary on September 8, 1991 for the celebration. A time capsule was packed and is to be opened in 2091. A centennial banner was displayed. A potluck dinner was enjoyed by friends, members of the church, and three former pastors.

- Marian James

Until the summer of 2008 the pastor's ministry included both the Rochester and Oakville churches. Beginning July 1, 2008 the two churches decided to operate independently.

Our present pastor is Reverend Alta Smith. She began a one-year term as the interim pastor on July 1, 2008, as the members of the Rochester UMC and the Pacific Northwest Conference seek to find a permanent pastor.