The Corinne Methodist Episcopal Church
Dedicated in 1870, the Corinne Methodist Episcopal Church was the center of efforts to “convert” Mormons to Christianity and to break the power of the LDS church in Utah Territory.
In 1869, when Union Pacific Railroad tracks were laid on the west side of the Bear River, the city of Corinne was established. It was the last Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the transcontinental line. Within a month, the population had reached 1,500. By April, the number had risen to 3,000. In February 1870, Corinne had been incorporated. The state of Utah was full of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, Corinne was not built by its members. Instead, the town was inhabited by people from different religious, mainly Christian, denominations. In September 1870, the Corrinne Methodist Episcopal Church was formed.
The Corrine Methodist Episcopal Church was a samll, one story building. The front entrance has a Gothic arch with a pair of doors under a glass transom bordered with tiny square panes in wood muntins. The Reverend G.M. Pierce had a specific mission in opening the church's doors. He hoped to convert Mormons in Utah and diminish the power that the church had in the territory. However, his grand vision was never realized. As the railroad continued to develop in Northern Utah, the main freight hub moved away from Corinne into the rail yard in Ogden and the city largely closed its doors.
In 1971, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. After church services ended in 1957, the building was used for a wide array of purposes. The building was used as a venue for weddings, funerals, civic meetings, and recitals. The space was also used as a museum. It still has the original bricks which were made in Corinne. The original bell still sits in the small tower atop the building. In 2020, the building was closed due to safety concerns. However, as of 2022, restoration efforts are being made by townspeopel to open the building for activities.
