Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church

Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church

Connect. Grow. Serve.

  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, and Core Values
    • Reconciling Ministries
    • Statement of Inclusion and Welcome
    • Gobin Leadership Team
    • History of Gobin Church
  • I’m New
    • Pastor’s Welcome Message
  • Worship
    • Beginnings at 9am
    • Mosaic at 11am
    • Gobin Worship Collective
    • Current Worship Series
    • Sunday Resources
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • Gobin Connect
    • College Ministry
    • GC Youth Group
  • Grow
    • Group Book Study Resources
    • Alpha
  • Serve
    • Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
    • Transformers
      • Getting Ahead in Putnam County
      • Kids Hope USA
      • Pay It Forward
      • TALKS Mentoring
  • Give
    • 2021 Year End Giving
    • 2022 Commitment Card
    • Why Give?
  • News and Events
    • Gobin Good News!
    • Events Calendar
    • Newsletter
    • GCYG Schedule
    • Reservation Requests
  • Reconciling Ministries

History of Gobin Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The formation of the Greencastle Methodist Episcopal Church in 1924, known today as Gobin United Methodist Church, resolved a nearly 80 year division of two competing Methodist congregations in the Greencastle community. With a combined membership of 1,140 persons, along with the large Methodist-affiliated contingent in the DePauw student body, a newly-constructed larger space was desperately needed. Located at the corner of Locust and Simpson Streets, a cornerstone bearing the inscription “Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone” was laid in July, 1928. A year and a half later the building was complete. 

Architect and Bloomington native Alfred Grindle designed the cathedral-like structure on a cruciform plan, patterned after the cathedrals of Europe and England. The exterior walls were constructed of orange-yellow brick from Brazil, IN and trimmed with Bedford limestone. Traditional Christian symbols may be seen throughout the space. Over the doorways rest the inscriptions “Abide with Me,” Come unto Me” and “Praise the Lord.” The doors were painted red, symbolic of the sanctuary doors of medieval churches providing safety for all those who enter. Above those doors reads 1928, the year construction began, along with the carving of St. Peter holding the Key to the Kingdom. Inside the narthex and over the main entrance leading out of the church is a stone panel bearing the inscription: “Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving.” The Kimball organ, gifted by Josiah K. Lilly, was reported to be the largest church organ in the state. 

The new church was dedicated on Sunday, Dec. 1, 1929 and included a week-long celebration featuring the University Players performing a pageant titled “The Living Church,” a church banquet sponsored by the Women’s League and musical performances by DePauw Orchestra and School of Music faculty. Several former Greencastle pastors delivered messages to the congregation in person or by letter. As well, the presiding pastor wrote a tribute to the new church edifice which read: 

Our dream of years is realized today in brick and stone,

In flying buttress and in massive tower; 

The work of the builders is complete.   

The task remains for us who worship here

To vest with hallowed memories these silent walls 

Until their quiet loveliness shall be replete with power 

To hush our troubled spirits into rest and wake

Our laggard sounds to sense that God is near. 

Five years later the church was reconsecrated in honor of Hillary A. Gobin, former Depauw President. Since its inception, Gobin has hosted numerous lectures, including a speech given in 1960 by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the same pulpit that remains in the sanctuary today.

To hear Dr. King’s speech, click here.

 

*Information gathered from “A History of Greencastle Methodism” publication

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Explore Transformers

                  As a volunteer-led not for profit,  Transformers' vision is to mobilize a broad-based coalition of community members to empower neighbors to build new resources through … Read More

Find It

Contact Us

Contact

  • Here's What You Should Know

    For information on building/room reservations, please visit our Reserve a Room page: click here

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Give Now

Contact

The United Methodist ChurchGobin Church
PO Box 66
Greencastle, IN 46135
Phone: 765-658-6010
Fax: 765-658-6025

gobin@gobinumc.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Get Here

Gobin Church
307 Simpson Street
Greencastle, IN 46135

Our Worship Schedule

Sunday

Gobin Beginnings - 9:00am

Brunch - 10:00am

Gobin Mosaic - 11:00am

Watch online: https://www.facebook.com/gobinchurch

Copyright © 2022 Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church • Website by Tomatillo Design