Moreau Christian and Fairview Methodist Church (Before 1936-?)

Fairview Methodist Church (By 1885-By 1927)

Approx. 3-4 miles south of California

Near the present junction of Hwy 87 and Rt T

From the October 3, 1889 The Newspaper:

The new Methodist church house in Cram school district is looming up, and will, when completed be a comfortable and commodious house of worship.

From the June 5, 1890 The Newspaper:

Elder Clark, of the M. E. Church, South, dedicated the Fairview Church, Sunday. This church is 5 miles south of this city on the High Point road.

From the November 20, 1890 The Newspaper:

Rev. J. J. Hill and Rev. Sullens are holding a protracted meeting at the Fairview church, 4 miles south of this city, and are meeting with success.

From the October 27, 1892 California Democrat:

B. F. Hill, state evangelist of the Christian church, will preach at the Cram school house or Fairview Methodist church, beginning Thursday, October 27th, at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend.

From the May 9, 1895 California Democrat:

Religious

Rev. Chas. Crum occupied the pulpit at the M. E. Church south, Sunday morning and evening. He also preached at Fairview church, near the Moreau bridge, in the afternoon.

Part of an article from the January 7, 1897 Moniteau County Herald:

There will be preaching next Sunday morning at the Fairview Methodist church by Rev. F. M. Burton.

From the March 4, 1898 Moniteau County Herald:

The members of the Fairview Methodist church four miles south of the city will give a literary and musical entertainment tonight. Everybody invited.

From the August 14, 1902 California Democrat:

There will be a basket meeting at Fairview Methodist church, five miles south of California next Sunday. Rev. Suddath will conduct the services both in the morning and afternoon.

From the December 12, 1907 Moniteau County Herald:

Rev. W. H. Smith is holding a revival meeting at the Fairview Methodist church south of the city.

From the July 22, 1909 California Democrat:

Big Time at Fairview

Sunday was a big day at Fairview Methodist church 4 miles south of the city. It was the day for the regular quarterly meeting and Rev. A. H. Barnes of Marshall the presiding elder for this circuit preached in the forenoon and Rev. R. F. Lyon pastor of the local M E church preached in the afternoon. At noon a basket dinner was served on the grounds. A goodly number of people from this city attended, some going out in wagons and all report an excellent time.

From the July 25, 1912 Moniteau County Herald:

Rev. L. N. Pollock, pastor of the Fairview Methodist church, four miles south of California, will begin a protracted meeting at that place Thursday evening July 18th. Rev. Pollock will be assisted in the meeting by Rev. W. G. Beasley of Jefferson City. The meeting will last ten days or longer - Russellville Rustler

From the December 11, 1913 California Democrat:

Methodist Church

Services at the usual hours next Sunday. At 2:30 p.m. the pastor expects to conduct public worship at Fairview Methodist Church, if is not raining or threatening to do so.

At 7:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. Bushwell of Kansas City, Assistant State Superintendent of the Anti Saloon League is expected to occupy the pulpit in town. Everybody invited. S. P. Cayton, Pastor

From the January 8, 1914 California Democrat:

Rev. S. P. Cayton will preachat Fairview Methodist church south of the city next sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

From the November 14, 1915 California Democrat:

Fairview Revival

The attendance and interest in the revival meeting at Fairview Methodist Church is increasing. Rev. O. C. Clendening the pastor is being assisted by Rev. S. P. Cayton of this city. The people of that community are cordially invited to attend and help.

From the November 14, 1915 California Democrat:

Fairview Revival

Fairview Methodist church south of the Moreau bridge, has had revival services which have put new life into the church and community and added several names to the church roll. Rev. S. P. Cayton of the Methodist church in California assisted Rev. Clendening of Russellville, who conducted the meetings.

From the July 6, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

From the January 11, 1917 Moniteau County Herald:

Californian Holding Fairview Revival

Rev. Nightwine commenced a revival at Fairview Methodist church Monday night. The meeting promises to be a great success, as Rev. Nightwine's escellent sermons are already creating much interest.

From the August 9, 1917 California Democrat:

Quarterly Conference at Fair View

The Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Church was held at Fair View near the Moreau bridge on the High Point road Sunday last - the Presiding Elder A. R. Farris preaching. There was a large turn out, many of the Methodist of this city attending - carrying their baskets with them - dinner on the ground and an old time enjoyment of the day and the occasion was experienced by all.

From the March 7, 1918 Moniteau County Herald:

From the February 25, 1926 California Democrat:

Sale of Church Falls Through

A transaction for selling the Fairview Methodist church and its grounds, consisting of an acre or more, several miles south of California on the High Point road, fell through one day this week when members of the board of trustees declined to sign the deed. Chars. Burlingame was to have bought the property for $500. It was ordered sold by the Methodist conference last fall.

From the April 28, 1927 Moniteau County Herald:

To Preach at Fairview

Rev. Wilson Brown will preach at the Fairview Methodist church Sunday May 8, 1927, at 7:30 o'clock

From Ford's 1936 History of Moniteau County, Missouri:

Two other churches were once in this immediate vicinity. The Moreau Christian church stood south of the Moreau near the present highway, and the Fairview Methodist church at the crossroads at Norman school house.

Part of an article from the November 21, 1935 California Democrat:

There was a time when Friendship was one of three country churches, each within about a quarter of a mile of one of the others.

One of these was Moreau Christian church which stood on the south side of the Moreau creek a short distance below the old covered bridge which was at the location of the present highway bridge.

The other was Fairview Methodist church which stood at the cross roads at Norman school house.

Both of these churches were built some years later than the first of the Baptist buildings (abt 1869) and both flourished in their time. But members died, moved away or lost interest until it was no longer possible to maintain them. The Moreau Christian church was finally torn down and its materials used in construction of Community Chapel at the Sappington cemetery about two miles west of the Moreau bridge. A few years later the Fairview Methodist property was sold and converted into a residence.

From the February 2, 1939 California Democrat:

Chas. Burlingame Dies

Had Spent Entire Life In The Fairview Community

Chas. Phillip Burlingame, 65, died Monday morning at 4 o'clock at his home five miles south of California on highway 87. He had been in poor health for the past five years and was confined to his bed for the past nineteen months since he suffered a stroke of paralysis. He was the son of Asa and Elizabeth Burlingame and was born near Olean February 25, 1874. He was a member of the Fairview Methodist church which was disbanded and he, with most of the members came to the California Methodist church several years ago. Mr. Burlingame purchased the old church building and converted it into a home where the family have lived for the past twelve years. It is across the road from the present Norman school.

From part of an article in the November 2, 1944 California Democrat:

Mr. and Mrs. McCollester were married October 31, 1894 at the old Fairview Methodist church which stands on highway 87 across from the Norman school and is now being used as a dwelling. The late Rev. Perry Long, minister in this community for many years, officiated. The Rev. Long was the grandfather of Neil Newton, photographer here.

The above is the only information found on this Historical Church. If anyone has information on this church, please contact Alan Sparks.

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