In 1835, the Methodist Episcopal Church sent a Missionary to what is now the town of Clinton to establish a faith community and build a church. A church was built in what is now downtown Clinton and was the first house of worship built in what is now Van Buren County. The church allowed other denominations of the Christian faith to use the building. That building was there until the 1900's when property was given on what is now Joe Bowling Road (Second St.) on School Hill and a white clapboard church was built and used for worship and Sunday School until the 1960 when the present sanctuary was built across the street.