St. Mary’s Mission began in 1848 and served a part of Adams, Huntington, Wells, and Whitley Counties.
The first church in Ossian was built in 1853. The center section of the sanctuary was built in 1877, and the foyer and overflow area were added in 1898. In 1915, the part built in 1853 was replaced by the present sanctuary platform, fellowship area and kitchen.
In 1960, the present educational wing was built. In the 1970’s, the sanctuary was remodeled by adding a cathedral style acoustical tile ceiling, upholstered pews and six panels across the front of the sanctuary.
Four different parsonages have served as dwellings for the church’s ministers. The present parsonage was built in the the early 1970’s in Rose Ann Heights under the donated services of contractor Richard Donaghy.
In 1985, plans were made to add a second floor to the educational wing and reroof the entire building. This project took nearly five years to complete.
In 1968 the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church merged forming the United Methodist Church. This merger saw two United Methodist Churches on West Mill Street (First and Faith). These two congregations merged in October 1985, forming the Ossian United Methodist Church.
In the spring of 1991, a new Allen Digital Organ was installed.
In 1992, the sanctuary platform was extended, walls painted, and the floor recarpeted.
In 1993, additional property was purchased just south of the church and was paid off in just one years time. Part of the money for this property came from the sale of the Faith Church and parsonage. In 1994, the house that was on the property purchased in 1993 was sold and moved to County Road 100 East.
In 1994, the church received a generous gift from the Helen Johnloz Estate. It was decided that a part of this gift would be used to air condition the sanctuary and replace all of the church’s exterior doors. This work was completed in 1995.
Also, in 1995, additional electrical power was added to the church so that all of our future needs for electrical power would be met. This was done in conjunction with the master plan. The newly acquired property was developed into a parking lot.
In 2001, the Family Fellowship Center was built. The kitchen became the office, the dining room became the hall, the council room and the office closet.
With the master plan and our mission statement ever before us, we entered into the 21st century.