Staves' History

Staves History

   In 1916, Douglas Acres was a sparsely-settled section of Northeast Des Moines. There were few autos, no street lights, city water, bus service or pavement ... AND NO CHURCH.
   Some of the people who lived in the area wanted a church. After some planning, they met together as a group in Wright's grove at East 29th and Madison. At this meeting a pastor and a conference superintendent of the United Brethren Church were present, and a Sunday School was organized which later became Galilee Church.
   Meetings were held in homes of members, the John Adams School, and a store building. During this time the dream of a permanent church building inspired the congregation to begin a building fund.
   A site for a church at the Northwest corner of East 28th and Madison was given to the congregation. The group began looking for a building to move to this location.

A brown frame school building at East 15th and University was purchased for $258.00 and was moved. While being moved, it got bogged down in the muddy flats near the corner of Easton Boulevard and Hubbell Avenue and had to be left until the ground dried.
The second building to occupy the Northwest corner of Easth 28th and Madison was built in 1926 at a cost of $8,337.00 and was renamed the Sarah J. Staves Memorial United Brethren Church in memory of a prominent United Brethren laywoman. At the time of incorporation it was shorted to Staves Memorial. Following the Union of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church in 1968, our church became known as the Staves Memorial United Methodist Church.

In 1957 construction of our present building was begun on a site given by Dr. Frederick D. Staves, the son of Sarah J. Staves. Much of the finish work was done by members of the congregation. The dedication was held on April 13, 1958. The Chapel was dedicated in memory of Grace D. Staves on March 8, 1959, to bear tribute to a life of Christian witness. Ground breaking for the Educational wing was on August 30, 1970. The Building was consecrated on February 20, 1972.

The blessing of God and the energy of many dedicated Christians has made possible a place to gather and worship ... and a fellowship in which to find God.