Since 1993
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Location
Welcome to the Bethany UCC website. We are very glad you are visiting our FAITH BASED Church.
Our Church is located just a few miles east of the Mississippi River, in the sleepy little town of Tioga, which is in the western most part in the state of Illinois.
Where We Are and How To Get Here, follow the link below:
A little of the Rich History of the Church and surrounding area.
Here is a picture of Tioga's main street. 
I don't know what year it was taken, but it must be way back in the late 1800's or very early 1900's, from the looks of the town. Some of the buildings in this picture are still there. Tommy Fuller's store & Kozenburg's store. One house might have been Ed Wollbrink's grandmother's house and to the right of it is a Church steeple which was the brick Church that was east of the school house. That was east of the house that gramdpa & grandma Scheuermann lived.
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This is the Tioga Church way back when. I think all 3 pictures were taken about the same time. I don't have any info on any of the picture. 
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This is the barn at the church, no info on the picture, thought it might be of interest to those of us who were there years later. The Fellowship Hall now stands on that very spot.
History of Bethany United Church of Christ
The church began October 13, 1857 by German immigrants. When founded, it was called "German Lutheran Bethany Church". There were 12 charter members, who were all men.
In June of 1858 the church building was built on 1.25 acres of land. It was a log church and parsonage. At that time services were conducted in two languages, German and English.
The log church was destroyed by a fire February 4, 1859 and a new frame church building and parsonage were built June 1864.
The first constitution was written in 1870 which renamed the church "German Evangelical Bethany Church".
In August of 1881, a new 1.5 story parsonage was built and is still standing today. In 1891 the church became a member of the Evangelical Synod of North America.
A new bell was installed in 1896. This began the custom of tolling on Saturday evenings, and at the death of church members. The church was renamed to Bethany Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1934, and in 1935 German Services were discontinued.
In 1937, the church celebrated its 80th anniversary and the parish hall was built. The church moved to individual memberships in 1942.
The north and south additions of the church building were added in 1949 and a full basement was dug with it. In 1957 the church was renamed Bethany United Church of Christ.
A handicap entrance was added in 2003, and in 2004 air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary.