Church celebrates 175 years

LIMA - From the outside, Sugar Creek Church of the Brethren looks much like any number of the churches dotting the Allen County countryside. It's a simple white structure, and a cemetery borders the back of it. The drivers of the cars speeding by on Bluelick Road probably don't even give it much thought.

But if you stop to look and see, this is a church with a rich history.

Sugar Creek Church of the Brethren celebrates its 175th anniversary Sunday with a day full of activities. The regular Sunday school hour at 9:30 a.m. has been suspended for this special day, and worship begins at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon follows. A celebration service begins at 3 p.m., featuring former members and pastors. The descendants of the church founder are also expected, traveling from Missouri. This year also marks the 300th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren denomination.

Pastor Marty Moyer is honored to be a part of the celebration. He has led the church for 11 years.

"I knew when I came here that the church had a rich tradition," Moyer said. "So that was exciting for me to be a part of that, to know that I've had a number of predecessors that were just really godly leaders there."

The church founder was a man named Abraham Miller, explained Larry Alger, church historian and member for 60 years. Miller was from Rockingham County, Va., and set out with his family for Ohio. He founded Stony Creek Church in Bellefontaine in 1827, and shortly thereafter came to Allen County. The church was founded in 1833 in Miller's cabin somewhere near where the church stands today.

It was little more than a home meeting at that time, but the group grew enough that a church building was erected in 1853. German was spoken at first, reflecting the German roots of Miller and the denomination, but services gradually switched to English so it wouldn't be exclusive to people, Alger said.

The current building was built in 1905 and was renovated extensively through the years, Alger said. It originally had two front doors - one for men and one for women. Men sat on one side, women the other to reduce distraction and keep your thoughts on the service, Alger explained.

The latest addition was two years ago, which includes new classrooms and an elevator. Construction crews stumbled across a fascinating tidbit from the church history during that time. Workers hit a water line that they could not figure out how to turn off immediately. The reason? Alger grinned, eager to explain: In 1925, the church worked out a deal with the state for 1.3 acres to the south of Bluelick Road owned by the church and used as a hitching area. Instead of money changing hands, the state agreed to run electricity to the church. When electricity was installed down Bluelick Road in 1945, the state then gave the church water - installing a line from the state hospital directly to the church. And that's what the workers found.

It was luck - or you could argue providence - that there was a worker at the prison that day who happened to remember the location of the valve. They were able to shut it off without damage.

The church now has about 150 members and has two mission churches. Pleasant View Church of the Brethren was started in 1889 on Thayer Road, and Lima Elm Street Church of the Brethren was started in 1902, Alger said.

"It really is an honor to be pastor of this church," Moyer said. "(The goal) is not to just dwell on the past but to look at where God wants us to go in the future," Moyer said. "We do have a lot of potential."

What: Sugar Creek Church of the Brethren 175th Anniversary Celebration

When: Sunday

10:30 a.m.: Worship service

Noon: Lunch

3 p.m.: Celebration service with burial of time capsule and balloon release

• The church is located at 399 E. Bluelick Road