A centennial celebration

ORAN, Mo. -- As the centennial of the Trinity United Methodist Church building in Oran approaches, the church finds itself in transition. The congregation has existed since 1886 and the celebration of their current location for the last 100 years will go forward in early September, with or without a pastor.

"You know, you take the pastors that the district sends you," said Hattie Bonifield, a lifelong Scott County resident who has been a member of Oran Trinity United Methodist Church since 1946. "You don't have a choice like some churches which go out and find a preacher. We don't have that option. We have to wait until the district assigns us a preacher, and right now we do not have one."

But the congregation has a history. It was organized by the Rev. R.G. Parks on June 5, 1886, and the Rev. F.W. Tatum took over in 1891. Tatum led the congregation in a church building from 1892 to 1909 when the people decided to build a more modern church building. In 1910 and 1911, the church was built. The first services took place in January 1912. Most of the stained-glass windows in the building date back to the early 1900s.

By the Rev. Stella Turner's estimation, it's been almost two years since a regular pastor served Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran. Turner became a member of the clergy in 1973 and was one of the first clergywomen to serve in Southeast Missouri. Although officially retired, on the first Sunday of every month Turner drives from her home north of Marble Hill, Mo., to Oran in order to serve communion, conduct baptisms and oversee aspects of the church that a regular pastor would do.

Turner started the trips last year and visited Trinity every other month, she said. The director of lay speaking asked if she could increase her visits to once a month, and she agreed.

From left, Cindy Shaffer, Cleda Curtis-Neal and Hattie Bonifield are preparing for the 100th birthday celebration of the church.

Turner and visiting lay speakers are compensated a small fuel cost. According to some in the congregation, money is a major reason the church has gone without a pastor for some time.

A lay speaker has been to the seminary and is certified as a lay speaker but cannot conduct communion or perform certain other pastoral duties.

Despite the lack of permanent leadership, Bonifield was still upbeat knowing that there still is a celebration to hold.

"We're planning big for that," she said.

Trinity United Methodist Church will celebrate 100 years in the building at 1010 Main St. in Oran at 2 p.m. Sept. 4. The congregation will hold a celebration that will include music, exhibits, a history presentation, fellowship and refreshments. For more information, call 262-3357.