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Polo Methodism may well claim to be the foster mother of all religious work in this vicinity, having an unbroken history stretching back 175 years. The work was established under the supervision of the Illinois Conference, but at a time when this Conference included not only its present territory, but the entire state, and all the territory to the west and north, which is now divided into many states and many more Conferences: at a time when there was no preaching from Rock Island to Galena, and from the Rock River - Byron, Pecatonica and other towns - west to the Mississippi River. It reaches back to a time when the preacher on horseback, with his parsonage and its furnishings in his saddle-bags, covered a large stretch of territory, and held services in many different places, his circuit extending over several weeks: to a time when there were no church edifices, and the grove or tavern or a house or barn or schoolhouse were used for purposes of worship: to a time preceding theological schools and preachers received their training by being sent out as junior preacher under the guidance of an experienced man. So in the list of preachers two names often appear, the latter corresponding to a present day student. The first services here were held in the tavern of Oliver Kellogg, which stood in the grove in the north end of Old Town. Mrs. Martin F. Bassett remembered a service held in that tavern. From there, in 1836, services were transferred to the log cabin of a Methodist family by the name of Wilcoxin, and perhaps in the autumn of that year were again changed, this time, to the school house where they were held uninterruptedly to the completion of the Old Town church, in 1850.
The early Quarterly Conference included members from such outlying points as Dixon and Pecatonica: and the Polo or Buffalo Grove preacher, as he was then designated, held services in all of these various places. All hail! to those pioneer men of courage and brawn, of great heart and sturdy brain, who laid so grandly the foundations of our church. The first class was organized March 13, 1835, with seven members whose names are worthy of record: George Wilcoxon, Nancy Wilcoxon, Stephen Smith, Mary Smith, Oliver Kellogg, Anne Wilcoxon, and Aleitha Hughes. The class grew slowly but steadily as more settlers came, either already Christians or to be won to Christ in their new homes.
The first camp meeting was held in Elkhorn Grove six miles distant in the fall of '36. In 1837 the first Missionary Society was organized and took an active part in the temperance cause. Mr. Wilcoxon was the first class leader, first circuit and district steward, first name on record in the missionary society and for 25 years was the financial stay of the church. From Chicago to Galena his home was known as the "Methodist Tavern." Relief Barber came during the first decade of the history of our church. She was one who stood firm in her loyalty to Christ. Nathan P. Scott and wife, Belford Slater, Abram Sanborn and Joseph Spear were converted and were faithful through the years. Dr. J. H. More was a familiar figure for many years as a Sunday school teacher and Presiding Elder. In 1849 under the pastorate of Rev. Jones, the erection of the first church was commenced. It was slow work, the lumber being hauled from Chicago, and the building was not completed for a year or more. In 1857, with the growth of Polo, during the pastorate of Rev. Denning, services were begun in Polo, being held in Old Town in the forenoon, and in Polo in the afternoon. During that year, a revival of far-reaching extent was held in the Old Town church. Rev. Denning was ably assisted by Drs. More and Allaben. A great number of people were converted during that meeting. The first services in Polo were held in the brick school-house (see picture to the left, now Mrs. Milbrey Mulnix Residence).
In 1860, during the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Smith, the building of a Methodist Church in the town of Polo was undertaken. After the congregation purchased the property which is the site of the present day church, they began construction of a New England style clapboard church (see picture to right). The basement was completed in the fall of 1860 and was put to use at once. The entire building was completed and dedicated in the winter of 1862.
From the years 1857-1898 this white frame building was used by at least three congregations before they became organized churches - the Lutheran, Brethren, and Evangelical. In 1898, though, during the pastorate of Rev. Thornton there were serious questions about the safety of the steeple and the adequacy of the size of the church building. On May 23, 1898 a meeting of the Official Board was held and a motion was passed to start building a larger church immediately.
The old clapboard church was demolished in June of the same year, and the cornerstone was laid the following September. On January 29, 1899, only six months after the building began, the dedication service was held. The 700 to 800 people who gathered for the day-long services pledged the remaining cost of $3,600 out of a total cost of $12,525 for the buildings and furnishings. Christians of all faiths attended and pledged financial support. In those days a pledge consisted of signing a legal note payable on a certain date with ten percent interest.
The resulting building has been the church home for generations of Polo citizens. In 1904 a pipe organ was presented to the church by Brother and Sister Shumway. During the pastorate of Lowell Allen, 1961-1967, the last major building program was undertaken by the Polo Church. Mrs. Neva Kreider of Sterling, a member of the Polo church in her youth, bequeathed the Polo church one-fifth of her estate - approximately $70,000. This money was the start of a fund to raise $240,000 to build a new educational unit and to remodel the entire church building. Durhing the construction of the unit, the house and quarter block area south of the church was offered to the church for $25,000. This parcel was purchased and the house has been used as the fifth parsonage.