Liberty United Methodist Liberty United Methodist ChurchChurch

1909 - 2009

Centennial Celebration

Territorial Governor, Richard Sloan, is campaigning for statehood with President William Howard Taft.

Arizona Territory, 1909Arizona Territory, 1909

Not waiting on Not waiting on Washington..Washington..

Liberty’s pioneer families, already carving out a good life in the rich valley along the Gila River, had been

coordinating efforts to build a church since the summer of 1908.

Nathaniel Sanders donated the land upon which the church would be built along with $500 for construction. Henry Hammels and John Knight

also donated $500 each, while John and Loretta Beloat were among others who donated significantly toward the church’s construction.

SANDERS HAMMELS THE BELOATS

Construction begins..Construction begins..

The Church Doors Open The Church Doors Open WideWide

In the spring of 1909, the Liberty United Methodist Church opened its doors. The Reverend S.G. Rogers, a young, single man, fresh out of Vanderbilt University, was appointed the first full-time pastor.

A Community Grows…A Community Grows…

Many of Liberty’s pioneer families came together each week for worship and fellowship.

Lydia & V.O. Shepard William & Sara McDonald

The E. Carter Hazelton Family The Abraham Charlton Family

And Grows Some MoreAnd Grows Some More

Fred & Beulah Kaufman Frank & Pearl Couch

Peter & Carrie Van Liere The Hubert Kieffer FamilyMildred & Jack Shepard

Regrouping in the 1950’sRegrouping in the 1950’s

Membership declined throughout the 1940’s with the opening of new churches in Buckeye. Minister Gerard Kaye worked with a small but loyal group of members to rebuild membership throughout the 1950’s.

John Beloat, Ralph Wilson & Gerard Kaye

The Next GenerationThe Next Generation

With Daily Sapp serving as pastor, membership continued to grow throughout the 1960’s.

The Balance Family The Brannan’s The Cambron’s

The DeMuth’s The Dunning’s

The Elliott’s The Eckleberry’s

The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years

Kids attending church in the 1960’s were rewarded with a stick of Juicy Fruit gum from Mr. Beloat.

The Gallagher’s The Mancuso’s The Meade’s

The Osborn’s The Romine’s Virginia Jones The Shulz Family

Energy for a New CenturyEnergy for a New Century

In 2003, Pastor Beverly Ritland brought her unique blend of leadership, worship and fun to Liberty United Methodist Church.

Fun at Fellowship HallFun at Fellowship Hall

Few restaurants can match the epicurean delights served up in the Fellowship Hall.

100 Years and Going Strong100 Years and Going Strong

LUMC continues to evolve in order to better meet the needs of the community it serves.

Centennial Worship Service

Leading Worship Today

S. Rogers 1909-1910

T.Ludlow 1935-1937

D.Sapp 1962-1966

R. Fields 1910-1912

W.Porterfield 1937-1938

D. Cummings 1966-1968

B. Mobley 1912-1913

O.Annis 1938-1939

Robert Ray 1968-1972

S. Bockman 1913-1916

A.Bennett 1939-1940

C. Boynton 1972-1973

W. Duncan 1916-1917

A.Kidd 1940-1940

L. Boyll 1973-1978

W. Gaston 1917-1919

G.McConkey 1940-1942

D. Sapp 1978-1983

A. Thomas 1919-1920

E.Kernahan 1942-1944

J. Sommerville 1983-1991

W. Sims 1920-1920

H.Marston 1944-1945

Clair Siple 1991-1994

T. Hughes 1920-1921

H.Severinghaus

1945-1946

S. Marshall 1994-1996

J. Boon 1921-1922

L.O Hooks 1946-1948

D. Escobedo-Frank

1996-1997

Earl Cropp 1922-1922

T.M Pyle 1948-1949

D. Rennick 1997-1998

J. Crutchfield

1922-1925

R.B. Wylie 1949-1951

Rula Colvin 1998-2000

G.Marshall 1925-1927

E.Beauchamp 1951-1953

Vic Hand 2000-2001

B. Glazner 1927-1928

G.Kaye 1953-1955

P. Magyar 2001-2003

L. Carrington

1928-1929

W.Hartley 1955-1956

B. Ritland 2003-

W. Edwards 1929-1931

R. Wylie 1956-1960

G.Western 1931-1935

O. Knowlton 1960-1962

Pastoral Ministry

Liberty United Methodist Church stands ready to provide a place of worship, fellowship and community for many years to come.

thankful for the past,thankful for the past,

celebrating the present,celebrating the present,

an open door to tomorrow.an open door to tomorrow.