The Benton Methodist Church was organized April 2, 1887. The church officers were elected as follows: Fred TRIMBLE, Chairman of the Official Board; Clarence BARKER, Superentendent of Church School; and, Marshall BARKER, Lay Leader.

The church building was erected in the summer of 1890.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 18, 1940

Newly elected Sunday school officers of the Benton Methodist Church are Leonard SCHLAPIA, superintendent; Miss Ruth PAGE, assistant superintendent; Iris SCHLAPIA, boys' class teacher; Mrs. Dorcie HILL, girls' class teacher; Mildred DIXON, primary; and, Beulah EAGEN, adults' class.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2015

Ladies Aid Society, 1949

Left to Right: David VANDERPLUYM (boy on steps), Blanch GOLLIDAY, Margaret LANE, Venetta HALEY, Dorothea HALEY, Maude LANE, Darlene VANDERPLUYM, Vi NICKLES and Nancy, Emma HALEY, Anna HALEY, Dorcie HILL, and Dicy BYERLY

Children: Frances LANE, Juliann HALEY, Dean NICKLES, Joan HALEY, Karyn NICKLES, Bobby HALEY

In April of 1976, the Methodist Church began serving the town of Benton as a town hall and community center. The church pews were sold to raise money for a community building fund. The town of Benton contributed many hours in raising funds to remodel and keep up the building over the years.

Photograph courtesy of Mike Avitt, taken May of 2007

SOURCES:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. December 1, 2005.

AVITT, Mike. Pages and Pictures from the Past . . . Ringgold County, Iowa: 1885-2005 p. 23. Paragon Publications, Inc. Mount Ayr, Iowa. 2009.