The Loretto United Methodist Church had its beginning in the early 1900′s with services in an old building which was located on what is now Fairfax Street on the land now owned by the Mitchell Vines family. The building was used for school during the week and for church services on Sunday. The people gathered there for Sunday School and for the message of God’s word by visiting preachers.
In 1908, after a revival held in a brush arbor, negotiations began and plans were made to build a church at Loretto. Since most of the Masons were Methodists an agreement was made to join forces and build the church building together. Prior to this, the Masons of Loretto had their meetings at Pleasant Point and wished to have a building nearer in Loretto.
The building was a wooden two-story structure which had an outside entrance to the second floor, with a tall steeple on the top. The Masonic Hall was on the second floor. Not only Masons and Methodists worked at building the church, but people of all faiths as well. Money, materials, and labor were contributed by many people in the community. At that time according to our historian a day’s wages were $1.00. This church was known as the Loretto Mission and was part of the Lawrenceburg District.
The Loretto Methodist Episcopal South, was the first protestant church in Loretto and people of other faiths attended. The church later became a circuit charge and in 1920 there were 55 members in the churches.
By 1935 the church was on a circuit with St. Joseph and Iron City. The pastor preached at Loretto the first and fourth Sunday mornings and third Sunday night. The parsonage was at St. Joseph at that time.
In 1936, the old elemntary school burned to the ground, the LUMC and the Church of Christ were used for classrooms. One special day in the old church, a tradition started early, was Children’s Day and Decoration Day. The children had a program in the morning, followed by decoration of the graves. After lunch on the grounds, there was singing in the afternoon. This continued until shortly after we moved into the new church, located on Commerce Street which is now the church fellowship hall. Decoration Sunday is still held on the First Sunday in June but no longer is there a church or services held there.
In 1950′s the people of Loretto UMC began to talk of a more comfortable church. There was a great need for more Sunday School rooms. The building was old, the ceiling high, and it was difficult to heat. Also parking was inadequate, there was some hesitancy in moving from the location because of move from cemetery, but it was agreed upon to move to new location.
In 1958 Loretto was put on a charge consisting of only Loretto and Bishop’s Chapel which gave the minister more time with each church. In 1960 the church was strengthened with new membership. The church at Bishop’s Chapel disbanded and many of the leaders of that church moved their membership to the Loretto United Methodist Church. The record shows an increase of 72 during the conference year, making a total of 282 members, the largest membership in the history of the church. The church added chimes which were given by the Ladies Society or now known as the United Methodist Women. In 1961, the Loretto Chuurch officially became a station church with a full-time pastor and in 1969 our church became the Loretto United Methodist Church because of the union of the Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Churches.
In 1971 we ceased to be a station church. We joined with the St. Joseph United Methodist Church to share a minister on the same charge. The minister preaches at St. Joseph at 9:30 and Loretto at 11:00am.
In 1995 we moved into the new church building located on 213 West Commerce Street. We are now a one charge church with services as follows:
Breakfast and Fellowship Sunday morning 7:30am
Prayer Services Sunday morning 9:20am
Sunday School Sunday morning 10:00am
Worship Services Sunday morning 11:00am
