Pleasant Hill UMC Church - Defiance, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 38.060 W 090° 46.712
15S E 693357 N 4278540
Old Methodist Church in a small town, up on the hill
Waymark Code: WM129CV
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 04/05/2020
Views: 0
County of church: St. Charles County
Location of church: 5th St. & Lee St., Defiance
Church built: 1922
Pastor: Christiane Batjer
Architectural Style: Neo-Gothic
The Pleasant Hill Memorial United Methodist Church Cemetery is also known as Parsons Cemetery. The small cemetery has about 60 graves dating to the 1800's including the grave of Revolutionary War veteran Sgt Zachariah Moore. Many of the stones in the cemetery are weather worn and difficult to read.
The property was in the Parsons family for over 100 years. In the book on St. Charles County Cemeteries it is noted that the Burying Ground was now known as the Pleasant Hill Memorial Methodist Church Cemetery.
"The Pleasant Hill Memorial United Methodist Church Cemetery is also known as Parsons Cemetery. The small cemetery has about 60 graves dating to the 1800's including the grave of Revolutionary War veteran Sgt Zachariah Moore. Many of the stones in the cemetery are weather worn and difficult to read. The cemetery continues as an active cemetery." ~ BruceS
"Built: 1922
Style/Design: Neo-Gothic
Building has tri-partite curved arched gothic windows on east and south elevations. Site is directly north of old Parsons Cemetery. Footprint is Square L with entry/belltower in notch.
"Four town lots were contributed to the congregation in 1922 by William L. Parsons. Present church is replacement for a brick one between Howell Road and a dirt road rising from the Darst bottom onto the Defiance bluff. Previous church destroyed by wind storms in 1916 and 1920. Congregation had organized in 1856 and constructed its brick church in 1856 - on property donated by David Darst.
"Building sits on top of bluff looking east across Darst bottoms toward Missouri River." ~ St. Charles County Historic Survey PDF pages 235-239
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