BONNOTS MILL — Bonnots Mill Community Betterment Association (BMCBA) members recently completed a project to restore the original stained glass windows and paint the former Methodist Church.

“The church sits at the entrance to town and is something we receive many favorable comments on,” said BMCBA member Carol Haslag. “It’s welcomed residents and guests to the town for decades. 

The Methodist Church in Bonnots Mill was built in 1915 and served the community until 1990 when membership became too small to maintain the church. BMCBA took over ownership and maintenance of the church, which is now used for meetings, supply storage, events, wedding rentals, and other ceremonies. 

Haslag and Carol Backes worked closely with other BMCBA members, including Jerry Eichholz, now deceased, and Gloria Hoch, who found an email quote from Koons Glass Company in Columbia.

“They were great to work with and honored the quotes they gave a couple of years ago,” said Haslag. “Koons Glass Company did an amazing job of restoring the color in the panels and repairing chip holes, and putting a protective finish on the windows.”

She added that Wright’s Painting in Jefferson City did a superb job of painting the church, replacing boards, and caulking where needed.

Though the project took quite a while to come to fruition, it was worth the effort, Haslag said. “After many biscuit and gravy breakfasts, bake sales, t-shirt and memorabilia sales, and many other activities, we raised enough funds to complete the project. The Betterment Association is grateful for the donations, those who attended and sponsored the events, and to all who helped us reach our goal.”

The chapel in the upstairs portion of the building has been maintained and is used for weddings, while the downstairs area is used for storage and meetings.

Contact Haslag at 573-897-4231 or 314-852-2340 to inquire about renting the church.