St Pauls Methodist Protestant Church Culbertson Nebraska

St. Paul's Methodist Protestant Church, known as Stone Church, is located south of Culbertson, Nebraska, on Highway 17. Built in 1900, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The church traces its history to 1885 when a sod structure was erected near Driftwood Creek to serve the growing population. Methodist minister M.H. Noe conducted the first services there.

Construction of the Stone Church involved community effort, with labor and materials donated by parishioners. Limestone was quarried locally, hauled five miles by wagon, and shaped by church members under the guidance of Jim Flynn and stonemason James Lewellyn Hoyt. Hoyt's sons, aged eight and ten, assisted by setting dynamite charges in the quarry. Rebecca Hart donated the land for the church.

Dedicated in 1900 by Reverend J.E. Darby, the church served as a social hub, hosting Sunday school, an orchestra, and community events. It also functioned as a polling place. In 1904, the congregation merged with the United Brethren in Christ, reorganizing under that name in 1907. Regular services continued until 1951.

By its 75th anniversary, the church had deteriorated, prompting restoration efforts. Repairs included a new roof, wall reinforcements, and removal of faulty wiring. Lacking plumbing and electricity due to its era and remote location, the church is maintained by the Stone Church Community Association as a settlers' memorial. Annual gatherings celebrate its history and significance.