Prior to the establishment of our church, Presbyterian churches had been organized at West Bethesda and West Eagle Creek.

On April 20, 1886 a petition was presented to the Maumee Presbytery, meeting at Hicksville, "praying for the permission to organize a church in the village of Montpelier."

On the 13th of June, 1886 at 3 o'clock p.m. in "Louden's Hall" it was resolved to proceed at once to organize.  Rev. P. C. Baldwin preached a sermon and afterward, the following persons united in the proposed organization:

• James K. Young from Eagle Creek

• Jacob Hoffer from West Bethesda

• Mrs. N. L. Hoffer from West Bethesda

• David Gillis from Edgerton

• Mrs. Jane Gillis from Edgerton

• Mrs. Mary Brundage from West Bethesda

• Mrs. Mary Carpenter from Eagle Creek

Jacob Hoffer was elected ruling elder.  Ten more members were joined at the first meeting when communion was held on June 27, 1886:

• Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Hill

• Mrs. Nancy Brown

• Mr. & Mrs. S. B. Miller

• Mrs. Sidnia Gillis

• Mrs. Sarah Allen

• Charles Brundyge

• Mr. & Mrs. D. C. Bigbee

A lot was purchased from I. M. Snyder on Washington Street and a building erected by W. S. Boon. The building was dedicated in February 1887. The cost was nearly $1800. The building was a frame structure 30x50 feet in Gothic style. There was a small front entrance and spire on top of the belfry. The pews were placed on each side of the center aisle. There was a round hot air register from the furnace. There was a semi-circle altar rail and two pews on each side of the pulpit.  The windows were first plain clear glass, later transfer paper imitation stained glass and finally the stained glass windows. Later a full basement was dug and the church raised up about 3 feet. This necessitated enlarging the front entrance so another small front entrance was added.  During this time the congregation met at the Montpelier High School for service. A fireside room was added in 1933 with the floor about 4 feet higher than the church floor with additional basement area beneath.  Steps leading to the fireside room from the church were up front near the organ.  It was used as overflow seating during church and also for meetings. The church was initially served by appointed ministers:  Rev. G. M. Miller, Rev. M. L. Tressler and Rev. G. A.  Mitchell.  The Rev. D. M. Marshman was the first formally called pastor and he was installed on June 17, 1889. No major changes were made in the building after the additions of the fireside room.  In 1958, during the pastorate of Rev. John Pack,  a building committee was formed to begin the study of a possible new church to meet the needs of the growing congregation.  

Prior to construction, conversations were made several times about possible mergers with St. Paul's and West Bethesda and West Eagle Creek Presbyterian churches.  There was never enough support from any of the congregations to pursue a merger so construction went ahead.  

The building program was approved in April 1960 and the ground breaking ceremony for the educational wing of the present building was held on Sunday, May 7, 1961 (the last worship services were held in the old church). During construction of the new church in 1961 - 1962 church service was held in the primary school and also with the St. Paul's Methodist Church congregation. The educational wing and fellowship hall was dedicated on February 18, 1962. From this time until March 27, 1966 when the sanctuary was completed, the congregation held church in the fellowship hall.

In June of 1983, one year ahead of schedule, our officers made the final payment on the indebtedness on our church building.  On Sunday, September 18, 1983 we celebrated this achievement with a special ceremony and mortgage burning during our worship hour. 

Early events of the church were all different types of socials such as strawberry socials and the usual ice cream social.

In 1961 the first annual Presbyterian Chicken BBQ was held at the Williams County Fair and has been a familiar eating place ever since during fair week.  It was begun by the men's organization and they cooked all the chicken's on an open pit.  For many years now, Port-A-Pit has provided the cooked chicken for us to serve.

In the summer of 1974, the Presbyterian church entered into an agreement with Northwest Ohio Community Action Center, making church facilities available to GALA - Golden Age Luncheon Association, a government nutritional program.  The church facilities were used daily by GALA for about 5 years prior to the opening of the Senior Citizens Center at the fairgrounds.

From about 1974 - 1984 our church presented youth musicals with the first performance always at Easter. After that they presented it to local as well as out of state churches, once going to New York state to perform.  Nearly from the beginning it also included youth from other churches. Dee Balser was the director most of the years and we weren't able to find a replacement when she decided to call it quits.

For about the last 15 years we hold a family advent night the end of November to decorate the church and made ornaments for our narthex tree and everyone to take home for their own tree.  We also have a Chrismon tree in the sanctuary (decorated with different religious ornaments). It is a fun night for all painting windows, pull taffy, etc. 

On June 15, 1986 we celebrated our 100th anniversary with a noon dinner and special program following. Jacque Whetro made a scrapbook as her contribution that will belong to the church with photos for members to enjoy in the future. Each family was asked to make a quilt square representing their family and they were all pieced together into 5 wall hangings which are proudly displayed in Fellowship Hall. The church has been and is still used by many community organizations including the Boy Scouts and the Red Cross Bloodmobile. There have been many full-time and many interim pastors who have led the congregation of the Montpelier Presbyterian Church through the years.

The ministers who have served this church are:

Information on this page has been gathered from past church directories and from a presentation by Jacque Whetro to the Williams County Historical Society June 4, 1987.