The congregation in Fulton began in the late 1840s, when a group of homesteaders of various denominations met together in the schoolhouse for worship. By 1851 they formalized Fulton Church and in 1857 began work on the original red brick structure with the belfry.

 

For many years, the church was an integral and influential part of the community. However, by the 1960s, the church dwindled and members considered closing its doors. Instead, they voted to build the Fellowship Hall (now removed to make room for Phase II) to allow for putlocks, nursery, and indoor plumbing. Next, they hired a new, part-time pastor.

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Merlyn Bilhorn brought two things that changed the course of Fulton Church. First, he taught the theology of grace: that salvation is God’s gift to us because of His goodness and not ours. Second, Mer brought the Awana program. Awana helped kids and leaders alike to learn biblical truth. It galvanized the church to reach out to the community, and our congregation still includes multiple generations of families who, over the years, first met God through Fulton’s Awana program.

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Fulton’s youth ministries played a role in the church’s ongoing growth, and by the early 2000s, the church had long outgrown its facilities. In 2003, “Phase I” was completed, which added a much-needed new sanctuary.

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Meanwhile, members continued planning and saving for “Phase II,” completed Dec, 2017. This addition houses a large multi-purpose room, kitchen, youth room, and several classrooms.

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From its roots approximating the statehood of Wisconsin, to its renewal in the 1960s, through the steady growth of the past two decades, it is clear that God has been at work in this out-of-the-way church in the tiny village of Fulton. We at Fulton Church are overwhelmed by God’s goodness to us—as individuals and as a congregation—and are eager to see how He will lead next.