The first site of Sadlers Chapel Church was located in the valley West of Sadlers Chapel Cemetery. The land was homesteaded by Henry Sadler. He received the land from the U.S. Government as compensation for his war service. After his homestead was registered, it was learned there was a log building on the property, which was used as both a church and school. In 1859, when the state was divided and numbered into school districts, the Sadler’s deeded a one-acre tract to school district number five, valued at five dollars. Church services continued to be held in the school. Rev. Ransom Ladd was the earliest known minister. Descendents of Rev. Ladd believe that he and his brother-in-law, Rev William W. Norman, were preaching in the log building as early as the 1840s. However, the first known minister of record was J.L. Batten who served in 1879.

     The Civil War disrupted attendance of many individuals at church services, but by the early 1870s many of the displaced families had returned to their farms. Services were again being held in the log church. In 1874, the congregation formally organized as Methodist Episcopal Church South.

     On July 29, 1876, Henry and Sarah Sadler deeded four-acres to the Bloomfield Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church South for the building of a new church.

     Due to the settlement patterns and roads, it was felt that it would be to the advantage of the church to move. So on April 4, 1904 one-acre of land was donated by W.A. Neal. It was his request that the church not be moved till after his death. Therefore, it was in 1905 before the original church building was moved to this land, which is the present land for the church.

     When the church did move, the building was raised onto skids, oxen were hooked onto the building, and it was pulled over logs that were placed across the road in front of the building. As the building passed over logs, men in the back carried those logs ahead of the building and re-laid them across the road. In that manner, the building was moved approximately 1/2 mile up hill to the new location on the former Neal property. The logs were then notched and used as joists and sills for a new church foundation and floor. Those logs are still visible today in the old part of the church basement.

     The next big change in the church came not in the building, but in its name. On May 10, 1939, The Methodist Episcopal, The Methodist Episcopal South, and The Methodist Protestant Church combined to form the Methodist Church.

     In 1951, church members decided to move the building 60 feet back from its roadside location. Before moving back, a basement was dug using horses pulling shovels, and one tractor. A coal furnace was also installed.

     In 1968, our name changed again when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church combined to form The United Methodist Church.

     In 1969 more room was needed. A foyer, four classrooms, and indoor restrooms upstairs was added.

     We celebrated our centennial in 1974 with many special activities, and the church was featured in the “Sermonette” section of Today’s Farmer Magazine for the events.

     On November 20, 1983 a dedication was held for the completion of an enlarged basement fellowship hall and five more classrooms on the North side. In 1990 vinyl siding was added. In 1995 a wheelchair ramp, in memory of the late Pansy Book Farris, the pouring of a concrete pad in the back, and a remodeling of the sanctuary was done. The most recent change was in 1999, when a pavilion was built over the concrete pad, in memory of the late Geneva Book. Both Book sisters were World War II nurses whom attended church there as small children and were dedicated members for many years.

     Sadlers Chapel Church is today, the oldest church building and church organization to be in continuous service in Stoddard County, Missouri. Our building and name have undergone many changes since the 1850s, and attendance has ranged from an average of four , during the war, to over a hundred in peak times. The lord is evident in our past and our future. The building and its name are only outward evidences of the church. The true church is Jesus Christ as the head, and the people who make up the body.

The information contained in this page is hereby word from members of the church; therefore, some information may not be completely accurate. We apologize for any errors.