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                                              Brief History of the Wyoming M. E. Church

     The Wyoming Methodist / Episcopal church is among the pioneer M. E. Churches in the State of Nebraska. Located about 9 miles northwest of Nebraska City, Nebraska at the corner of Roads 55 and D, Otoe County, the Wyoming M. E. Church was the outgrowth of one of the earliest Methodist circuits to be organized in the territory, known as the Rock Bluff Circuit. This Circuit included nearly all of Cass County and the North part of Otoe County in the state of Nebraska.

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     In the History of Nebraska Methodism by Rev. David Marquett, D.D., 1904, he stated that;

          “In 1875, Rock Bluffs Circuit being connected with the Mt. Pleasant for that year. But the first year there were two very precious revivals, on, at, or near, Old Wyoming, in the J.H. Gregg neighborhood, where there had never been one before, and one at Mt. Pleasant.”

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     It was from the results of this revival at the Gregg farm in 1875, that a Methodist Society was organized.  The Society worshiped in the nearby Giles School House for 3 years and then on April 3, 1878, a meeting was held, and it was decided to build a Church Building.  Land was then purchased next to the Cowles Hill Cemetery. In September of 1878 and a contract was let to Miller and Zimmer for the construction of a 26 by 40 foot building. On December 21, 1878, the church was dedicated. Total cost of the Church Building was $1,308.30.

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     Chairs were used for seating in the first years of the church’s history; they were later replaced by pews which came from the First Presbyterian Church of Nebraska City.

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     In the early part of the twenty century the church building went through a renovation where the plaster and lath on the walls and ceiling was removed and replaced with wainscoting. It was suspected that the roof leaked and that let some of the plaster to let loose and fall off.

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    In 1945 the church then underwent extensive remodeling which included lowering and putting in a new ceiling, new celotex wall coverings, new glass in the windows, new oak floors, and painting of the pews and wainscoting. The cost of remodeling amounted to about $1,400.00. A great improvement in the church was made in 1951 when a basement was added, providing much needed space for social events and Church School Classes

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The church was then closed in 1955 and merged with the Nebraska City Methodist Church. In 1961 the church building and grounds was then sold to the Cowles Hill Cemetery. With the Cemetery not having the funds to repair the Church, it fell in to a state of disrepair. Starting in the early 2000’s a series of grants was secured from the PAUL, JOHN, ANTON, AND DORIS WIRTH CORPORATION to stabilize the building and to restore it to the glory of its pioneer days. Newer and much more stable pews were then acquired from the Unite Church of Christ in Omaha, Nebraska.

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With the Wyoming M. E. Church building being restored it has now been used for weddings and celebration of life. It is now the wish of the owners that the building continue to be used for these and other purposes. For bookings you may contact us by email at Cowleshill@outlook.com.