The Lydia church was begun largely because of the foresight of one of the early pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Heins, originally from Burlington, Iowa, who traveled to Sand Creek Township and settled on a farm about one and a half miles west of Lydia. The Heins were known as inporters. They paid for passage from Germany to the new land in exchange for tow years of labor or a watch. They helped the immigrants to make a way for themselves. Some built sod homes or small log cabins for dwellings. They were aa closely knit community, and they felt the need for a place to worship. It was at the Heins home that they met for thirteen years before the first church was erected.

The first sermon was preached in 1855 by a true circuit rider in every sense of the word, Reverend Zollman, who was stationed at Salem, just south of St. Paul. He spoke in the German language, and covered an area from Red Wing, Hay Creek, Cannon River, Jordan, St. Peter, Henderson, and Lydia, a distance of about 250 miles. This was pure didication for travel was made on horseback. Between visitations of the circuit rider, services were held by local layleaders.

The Lydia church was organized in 1856. The farm home of Henry Heins served as a meeting place for the first Methodist church for thirteen years, growing into a strong church, until it was decided that the congregation needed a church building. Another Methodist church was taken down and moved in sections by oxen during the winter of 1869. Poor roads through the heavy frost made for a long, hard task. The building was then constructed on the Heins fram on a knoll about a half a mile west of County Road 79 on the left side of what is now County Road 10.

The first church was a one room building of firm construction. It had a low steeple, but no bell. A board fence encircled the churchyard. The building faced east with three windows on the south and north sides. The foundation was of mortered fieldstone. An evergreen tree stood on each side of the approach about fifteen feet from the front of the church. Wooden steps and platform completed the approach to the double paneled doors which opened directly into the sanctuary.

Inside we find a pulpit centered church with a circular elevated platform. The organ stood on a separate platform against the wall to the right of the preacher, against the north wall stood two benches used for singing and Sunday School classes. On top of the west end of these two benches was a small cupboard used for storing supplies. The pulpit was a flat table covered with black velvet with fringe on four sides. Two chairs stool toward the back, one for the preacher and the other for a visiting preacher. A German bible lay on the pulpit. Flooring was of rough soft wood. The walls were whitewashed plaster. Wall brackets held kerosene lamps for light at night. For seating the people there were about 7 benches on each side of the aisle. There were no hymn racks on the pews and there was no communion rail.