RICHMOND — Residents and visitors alike seem to agree on one thing about the United Methodist Church on Central Avenue — it doesn’t seem like it’s been 50 years since it was built.

The congregation and friends plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church building Sunday, marking the exact day it was dedicated in 1962. A special worship service is planned for 10:30 a.m. followed by a fellowship lunch.

RICHMOND — Residents and visitors alike seem to agree on one thing about the United Methodist Church on Central Avenue — it doesn’t seem like it’s been 50 years since it was built.

The congregation and friends plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church building Sunday, marking the exact day it was dedicated in 1962. A special worship service is planned for 10:30 a.m. followed by a fellowship lunch.

The 1962 building committee included Cecil Vining, Alfred Sigler, Dorothy Dunbar, Charles Edwards and Robert Gault. Dunbar is the only person from the original committee still living.

The planning committee of Sunday’s event includes Ron Dunbar, Lorene Stockard, Dennis Peters, Dorothy Dunbar and Pat Vining.

Some of the second and third generation of church families taking part in this year’s service include Ron Dunbar, Gene Vining, Ed Horstick, Melvin Stockard, Larry Cox, Todd Mildfelt and Cathy Parsons. Another longtime member is Dorothy Cooper, who now resides at Vintage Park in Ottawa.

The Rev. Jerrald Harnden, Ottawa, who served the church for 12 years, will be the guest speaker. He first served full time from 1966-70 on a three-point charge with Princeton and Greeley, and returned part time in 2004, retiring in July 2012.

The choir is expected to perform special numbers, and Ron Stockard, Lenexa, a former member, will sing “Bless This House,” as he has for other special Sundays. Another former member, Shawn Kelsey, Olathe, plans to play organ-keyboard music with Parsons.

Lorene Stockard plans to relate some of the church’s history as she gives “Reflections,” and Mary Hall is expected to present the names of those deceased persons whose memorials have not previously been recognized. Gene Vining will read his father’s part of the 1962 service.

When the structure, which cost $70,000 to build, was dedicated and consecrated in 1962, it was the only Methodist church in the conference to be fully paid at the time of its first service. The building was designed by architect E.D. Skidmore, general contractor was Hubbard Lumber Co., and brick mason was Dan Rohl, all of Ottawa and all now deceased.

Early Methodists in Richmond attended services in the first school house in town, a log building, starting in about 1872. They later built their first church in 1882. After the Presbyterians and Methodists combined in 1953, the former United Presbyterian Church was used until the current Methodist brick structure was built in 1962.

The current pastor, the Rev. Butch Ritter, and the congregation, have invited former members and all friends to join them for this special event and stay for visiting and looking at albums of photos and history after lunch.