Church: Holmes, Rev. Virgil & Merle
Contact: Loyal Public Library

----Source: Excerpt from "The Centennial History of the York Center United Methodist Church, 1880 - 1980..

Rev. Virgil Holmes writes from Faith United Methodist Church of Milton, Wis. Dear York Center Congregation:

Congratulations on your approaching Centennial Celebration. The York Center Church has provided a Christian ministry that has touched many lives in the Lord's name. The memories of faith, love, hope, comfort, nurture and fellowship in the community are satisfying today.

I have a warm place in my heart for the York Center Church. It was while I was a senior at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. that I assisted my father, Lee Holmes, and served the York Center and Lindsey parishes. The highlight of that year was the 70th anniversary celebration on August 28th, 1949. Rev. Paul White was the District Superintendent and former ministers returned that day to share in the services. As I recall, one of the former pastors gave a lengthy report on his recollections of the time he was at York Center. Also, a men's quartet sang "Whispering Hope". Naturally we had a wonderful meal and time of fellowship.

The congregation was certainly supportive of me that year. Their faith and love helped me grow in that experience before I went on to seminary. It must have taken a lot of patience to have such a green young man as pastor. I would soon marry a young woman, Lorna Vick, from the York Center-Loyal area. She was completing her nurses training in St. Paul.

Our ministry has included the Argyle-Lamont-Wood- ford parish, Neillsville-Granton, Spooner, Reedsburg and we are completing the sixth year at Milton Faith UM Church. The Lord has blessed our ministry and we have shared in that ministry with so many grand people. We have five children and one grandson, Aaron Miles. Four of the children are now working or in school in Madison. One son is working in Milwaukee.

Thanks for the great memories and May the Lord continue to bless you as you go forward in faithful ministry.

Virgil Holmes