From a history written by the History Committee 1950-1951 
Star City was platted in 1859 by Postmaster John Nickels and Andrew Wirick. Originally, it was called Two Mile Prairie, from the name of the Post Office serving the farmers in the vicinity. The name was changed to Scarboro, but this name did not find favor among the people. It was later changed to Star City upon petition by the citizens.
Before the town was formed, the first church came to town. In 1856, a Methodist church building – Mount Zion – was moved from the southwestern part of Harrison Township to the northwestern part of Van Buren Township. Eleven years later, in 1865, the old church was condemned as unsafe. It was sold and moved into the village where it was used as a warehouse until it was destroyed by fire. In the meantime, the congregation met in a one-room frame school house until 1867, when the church was constructed at the present location.
This site was given by Andrew Wirick and his wife Mary for the consideration of $50.00. The church was dedicated in the fall of 1867. Built for around $2,600, the lumber used was cut from native yellow poplar sawed at the mill that stood near the place where the Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the Tippecanoe River south of the county seat town of Winamac. It was hauled to a kiln erected near the church where it was dried before being used in construction.
Records in the 1870s noted that pouring, sprinkling and immersion in the Tippecanoe River were common methods of baptism.
The Church was remodeled in 1895 but burned in January 1904. It was rebuilt and dedicated July 17, 1904. A new parsonage was built in 1906 (a Sears house). A sentiment regarding a larger and more modern church which had been growing a number of years took definite form early in 1912. Work started on July 22 and steadily moved forward until the new church was ready for dedication on April 20, 1913.
The following comes from the dedication program. “The building cost a little over $12,000, and measured 61 feet 10 inches wide by 83 feet long. It was made with auditorium, Epworth League room, Sunday School Auditorium, 5 class rooms, balcony and choir room. The basement which extends under the entire building his high ceilings, is well finished throughout and contains a kitchen, social and dining rooms, boys’ room, etc., These features together with the art glass windows, frescoed walls, steam heating, all contribute to the making of a thoroughly modern and well-equipped church of which the congregation is justly proud.” The ten art windows of stained glass give a history of the individuals, classes and organizations who gave them. The three largest windows cost $85.00 each.
During World War I (The Great War), the Church had 27 stars on the Service Men’s Banner. Eventually came World War II, which took many of the older boys into service. One of the first to enlist was the young man who had been the first President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), Richard Reed. The Service Flag for World War II held 69 stars. When Lt. Richard Reed became a war casualty, one silver star was changed to gold. A navigator on a Flying Fortress, he, with his crew of 10, went down over the Mediterranean in November 1943.
The women of the church were organized in some kind of a Ladies Aid Society long before records give such information. A cook book published in 1906 and old minutes reveal they were organized to raise money for the church and parsonage and included every woman in the church. To make money they worked hard serving meals without equipment, they served lunches at sales, held bazaars, sold small merchandise items, and worked for people. In 1940, all the Methodist Woman’s organizations came together as one group under the name of Woman’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS).
The History continued to be updated by the History Committee.
In 1956, the Church became known as The Church Of The Lighted Windows, as, in celebration of the Centennial year of the Church, the three large windows were bathed with light from the interior every night. The Church’s Centennial preceded the Centennial of the town of Star City by three years. The practice of lighting the windows every night continues, albeit with lights that are now on timers.
Anecdotes: Remembrances of long-time members, compiled by Larry Cunningham and Linda Leasure
Several personal stories were told of pastors throughout the years, but this writer will mention only two. From 1968 to 1974, Pastor Ron Covey ministered to a church divided. This was the period of time in which the schools were being consolidated, and Star City School had started the process of closing, sending students to Winamac. The church held both a member of the School Board and a member who had signed onto a law suit to stop the consolidation. Pastor Covey weighed in on the side of keeping the school in town. That did not go over well.
From 1993 to 2002, Pastor Jeff Jones, a “resurrector,” a pastor charged to minister to a church that was struggling, ministered the congregation. During his tenure, a major renovation took place with the addition of a new kitchen and fellowship hall on the west side of the building. An elevator was also added. Some talk was held at the time of building a new church, but the final decision was for the addition.
In more recent years, the Church acquired property nearby, added a parking lot, green space and a community garden, added a bocce ball court and has tended to a township park nearby. Between 2008 and 2012, the church opened up to the community, starting a kids club and adding regular summer gatherings for the community.
Moving forward, the church added a monthly food pantry for citizens of Pulaski County and hosts community food banks several times a year. Moving through COVID, services are now live-streamed on Facebook and on a local radio station, bringing services into the 21st century.
Star City United Methodist is the only Church left in Star City.