As with most small towns, Bushell, Illinois has a rich history of churches. The earliest forms of preaching were likely circuit riders on horseback or pioneer pastors forming congregations in private homes.
Spiritual fulfillment has always been an important part of life in Bushnell. Some churches started and disbanded, but there are those that started small and are still in existence today.
Bushnell United Methodist Church Just shortly after the town of Bushnell was founded, the Bushnell United Methodist Church (BUMC) began. In the spring of 1856, a group of 10 people met in the home of James Cole. The Rev. William Underwood, a Marietta pastor, preached his first sermon here.
For several years the BUMC was without a permanent home, so services were held in schools, homes, and rented spaces. Finally in 1863, a frame church was built on the corner of Hurst and Crafford streets.
It was eventually replaced by a two-story brick and stone structure that was destroyed by file in February 1923. Services were held in a makeshift building until the present church was completed in 1925. The congregation has continued to worship there for over 100 years.
The Methodist Church prides itself in supporting the entire community, not just its members. Sunday School, worship services, weddings, Christenings, holiday services, and special services provide both spiritual and monetary support for people in emergency situations. The church supports mission projects on the state and worldwide levels.
Services held at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
First Baptist Church The First Baptist Church was organized March 1, 1862, with Elder H.S.P.
Warren as moderator and John F. Smith as Clerk. The charter members were Elder Warren, J.F. Smith, Jonathan Greene, William H. Greene, Moses Wilson, William S.
Hummel, Augustine Kenyon, Jane Fusin, Esther Adams, Laura J. Warren and Lucy P.
Greene.
The congregation met in the German Methodist Church and in Andrew’s and Smith’s Hall until a church was built in 1867 at 241 Crafford Street. The building of the church was delayed pending the decision as to where the railroad was going to go through town. In 1971, a new church building was built at 90 Murphy Road.
Church services begin at 10 a.m. each Sunday.
Bushnell Assembly of God In December 1933, the Rev. Lula Hulett and her family moved from Beardstown to form a new Assembly of God congregation in Bushnell. She began with a prayer meeting in Ben Galloway’s home. As attendance grew, a building of worship was rented on Hail Street between East Main and Crafford Street.
In the summer of 1939, the Huletts purchased property at 295 E. Barnes Street and donated it to the congregation. The members then purchased a vacant church near Browning which they disassembled, hauled to Bushnell, and rebuilt over a basement that the men had dug by hand.
St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Through the years, after Bushnell had been platted in 1857, Father Charles Schilling, pastor at Nauvoo, led mass in the family home of the Hoings, in the north part of the city. Until a permanent church could be established, Bushnell Catholics attended mass in private homes or went to Macomb.
Temporary chapels were used in the 1870s and later the upper floor of the Crane Store (north corner of West Main and Hurst Streets) was rented for services. Priests came from neighboring settlements as often as conditions and time would permit. In 1877, Father James Tuohy was pastor. The old ward school on the corner of West Hail and Washington Street was bought and remodeled into a church called St. Anne’s. In that early parish you might have encouraged these families- Hoing, Litchendahl, Marks, Klein, Begin and Early.
By 1907 the parish had 30 families and was served by Father Thomas Madden.
Madden continued improvements to the building. Father Madden changed the name to St. Bernard, dedicated to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th century theologian and reformer. The change was to honor Father Madeen’s older brother who had died.
A beautiful two-story rectory was built in 1916. On the morning of December 20, 1951, neighbors noticed smoke coming from the church. Father Michael Van Raes was awakened and he rushed into the church and removed the Blessed Sacrament and important sacred vessels. The church was a total loss.
The present building began May 20, 1952 and dedicated on April 19, 1953 by Bishop Cousins. The new church included a pipe organ donated by Dale Demmer, a well-known organ builder.
Bushnell Christian Church
The Bushnell Christian Church was formed in 1953.
Joe Combites, of Bushnell, was attending a Christian Church in Sciota. He shared his wish to have a Christian Church in Bushnell. His thoughts were well-received and the church started meeting in the VFW Reception Hall.
Later, the church obtained a building on Route 9 west of Bushnell. A new building was built in 1962 and in 2001 a new foyer and overflow were added in addition to a remodel of the existing building. In 2004 a new fellowship hall was added.
First Presbyterian Church of Bushnell The First Presbyterian Church of Bushnell began with a petition to organize that was submitted on October 14, 1856.
That church did not thrive and a petition to re-organize was submitted in 1868.
That church had 28 members and met in the Baptist Church until their building was completed on August 29, 1869. The first minister is listed as the Rev. Matthew Bigger in April 1872.
In May 1903, the building was moved from its original location facing the middle of Hurst Street to the corner of Hurst and Dean Streets. The clapboard-sided building was enlarged and covered with brick. When the Dutch Reformed church was disbanded in March 1906, 35-40 members transferred to the Presbyterian church. In 1907, the building was expanded once again to include an alcove for the new pipe organ and choir loft.
In 1917, the church added a Sunday School auditorium, three large classrooms on the first floor and six smaller rooms off of the second floor balcony. Also added was the Smith Memorial Hall in the church basement for social gatherings. The hall included a kitchen, cloak room and toilets.
Over the course of the 1900s, the church continued to grow. In 2002, the church purchased property adjacent to the original location. On September 28, 2003 ground was broken for construction of a Community Christian Center. It opened in 2004 as an outreach center, its purpose to connect the entire Christian community of Bushnell.
Bushnell Church of the Nazarene The Church of the Nazarene had made its home in Bushnell since 1954. The original members met at the home of the Rev. Richard F.
Howard at 126 E. Hail Street.
In 1955 the church congregation moved to its new church at the present location of 360 E. Wells Street. The church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004.
