In 1834, when Independence was a border village of some 300 inhabitants, a few of those pioneers, who believed in the doctrine of Methodism, began to meet in their homes for services. The following year, under the leadership of a young minister named Rev. Wm. Hulse, a “Society of Methodists”, the first in Jackson County, was organized with ten charter members.
The Society met in the Court House for a while, but in 1838 a building site, Lots 34 & 35 Old Town, at the northwest corner of Spring and Rock Street (now Maple Avenue), was purchased for $150, and a church building was begun. The building was complete in 1840, at a cost of $1,000. It was a small one-story brick building, 40x60 feet, with a gale roof whose timbers were hewn from the surrounding forest. The shingles were small oak boards split by hand. It was heated by two wood stoves; one on the men’s side and one on the women’s side of the building, and was lighted by tallow candles set on shelves around the wall.
The congregation did not enjoy their beautiful new church very long before the War between the States began, and for a time during that period, the church and the parsonage were taken over by the Federal military authorities and used by Union military chaplains and as a hospital. In 1864 the keys to the church were taken from officials of the Southern church and were turned over to the Northern church by force of the Federal Army, who then has possession of the town of Independence.
During these dark days when many of the member had to leave the county because of Order No. 11, the church was kept alive by the class meetings which were held in the Wallace store, and in the McCurdy home during the week. On Sunday the members who remained worshiped with the Cumberland Presbyterians because the Methodist pastor, W. Leftwich, was forced to leave Independence by the Union Army.
When peace was restored, a civil suit for recovery was instituted by the church trustees and the property was restored to the rightful owners, that being the trustees of the church.
In 1879 the Independence Auxiliary of the Women’s Missionary Society was organized.
In 1883 gas lighting was installed in the church.
In 1915 the church was closed for eight weeks because of the flu epidemic.
In the 1920s the wooden steeple atop the church was destroyed by a violent windstorm and was taken down due to structural damage and not replaced.
In 1929, the church was remodeled, adding a modern Educational Building at a cost of $56,000. At the same time, a parsonage was purchased at 1001 S. Main.
In the 1930s during the Depression, the church was not exempt from financial difficulties. The church ladies served lunch to the towns-people for 24₵ a meal and made and sold quilts to help pay church expenses.
In 1935 a Centennial celebration was held to mark 100 years of existence. A Homecoming and a pageant depicting the rich history of the church were the highlights.
In 1939, the General Conference united the three principal branches – including the Northern and the Southern – of Methodism. The name of the local church – Maple Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church South, became The First Methodist Church of Independence.
In 1957 the Kepley Funeral home building north of the church was purchased and designated as the “Wesley Center”. The building was used for additional Sunday School classes and youth activities.
1960-1961 – The century-old roof trusses were sagging and another major rebuilding job was begun. Services (including weddings and funerals) were held in the Granada Theater while the roof was removed and replaced. Supported by laminated wood beams standing on new concrete footings below the basement floor, the weight of the roof no longer rests on the bricks made by the Randall family built in 1959. The renovation included all new furnishings. The wood carving of Christ that hangs on the back wall of the sanctuary was done by [ research needed] During the remodel, side aisles in the sanctuary were removed and a center aisle was created. A choir loft and air conditioning were also added. During the digging of one of the ten pier holes for new supports, a partially caved-in tunnel, about 9’ under the floor of the basement. About 4’ in diameter, one could see about 6’ in one direction to about 14’ in another direction. The ceiling show the rough-hewn marks of a spade. The tunnel runs east and west. The knowledge of the part this church played in the Civil War lends a lot of possibilities as to the use of the tunnel. After the issuing of Order No. 11 (It mandated evacuation of residents from four counties in western Missouri, including Jackson, and required all residents, regardless of their allegiance, to leave their homes and farms within 15 days), it is told that ministers with southern sympathies hid out in the bell tower.
In 1964 a new parsonage was purchased at today’s location of 4321 Cambridge, Independence.
