Greencastle in Putnam County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Putnamville United Methodist Church
Est. 1834
Photographed by Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012
1. Putnamville United Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
Putnamville United Methodist Church. . Built in 1834 as the Putnamville Presbyterian Church, the brick structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits at the intersection of SR 243 and US Hwy 40, also known as the old National Road. It has been used continuously as a church since that time. The site was donated by James Townsend, owner of the Townsend Inn. The bricks were made locally and the foundation stones, the large stone steps, and the broad stones with the ripple marks, which once made the walk in front, were the well-known Putnamville Limestone from the quarries west of town. D.L. Mayle planted the hard maple trees that line the area next to Highway 40 north of the church. The first ministers were Jeremiah Hill, Samuel G. Lowery, James H. Shields, and William W. Woods., In 1849, the congregation split into the Old and New School branches; the Old School kept the building. The church was sold to the Methodists in about 1861 for the sum of $150; the original cost of building the structure was $800. Colored glass windows were added in the 1890's and they are still encased in the wooden frames carved by pioneer carpenter, John Hendrix, as he sat in the window of his log cabin north of the National Road. The windows were designed as memorials with financial help from friends and relatives. Names above the windows include: James Parkes, John Perry, John Cooper, John Haymaker, John Jenkens, John Wills, Jane Layman, Jane Montgomery, Maggie Ford, Louisa Sinclair, and Jane Perry., The Methodist Episcopal church of Putnamville was organized around 1831 at the home of John S. Perry with Thomas J. Brown in charge. The first members were John M. Jenkens, John S. Perry, Luke Davis and wife, and John Swartz and wife. Pioneer pastors, DePauw University student ministers, and part-time pastors have graced the pulpit. Now named the Putnamville United Methodist Church, the small but active congregation is noted for its fine music, dedicated UMW, and mission work on both local and international levels.
Built in 1834 as the Putnamville Presbyterian Church, the brick structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits at the intersection of SR 243 and US Hwy 40, also known as the old National Road. It has been used continuously as a church since that time. The site was donated by James Townsend, owner of the Townsend Inn. The bricks were made locally and the foundation stones, the large stone steps, and the broad stones with the ripple marks, which once made the walk in front, were the well-known Putnamville Limestone from the quarries west of town. D.L. Mayle planted the hard maple trees that line the area next to Highway 40 north of the church. The first ministers were Jeremiah Hill, Samuel G. Lowery, James H. Shields, and William W. Woods.
In 1849, the congregation split into the Old and New School branches; the Old School kept the building. The church was sold to the Methodists in about 1861 for the sum of $150; the original cost of building the structure was $800. Colored glass windows were added in the 1890's and they are still encased in the wooden frames carved by pioneer carpenter, John
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Hendrix, as he sat in the window of his log cabin north of the National Road. The windows were designed as memorials with financial help from friends and relatives. Names above the windows include: James Parkes, John Perry, John Cooper, John Haymaker, John Jenkens, John Wills, Jane Layman, Jane Montgomery, Maggie Ford, Louisa Sinclair, and Jane Perry.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Putnamville was organized around 1831 at the home of John S. Perry with Thomas J. Brown in charge. The first members were John M. Jenkens, John S. Perry, Luke Davis and wife, and John Swartz and wife. Pioneer pastors, DePauw University student ministers, and part-time pastors have graced the pulpit. Now named the Putnamville United Methodist Church, the small but active congregation is noted for its fine music, dedicated UMW, and mission work on both local and international levels.
Erected by Heritage Preservation Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.
Location. 39° 38.634′ N, 86° 51.814′ W. Marker is in Greencastle, Indiana, in Putnam
Photographed by Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012
2. "Heritage Wall"
County. It is at the intersection of South Vine Street and East Washington Street (U.S. 231), on the right when traveling south on South Vine Street. Located on the "Heritage Wall". Top Row - - first on left end. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greencastle IN 46135, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012
4. Other View - - Putnamville United Methodist Church Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 973 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 14, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
