A Brief History of Our Church

     In 1844, the same year that the village of Union Springs was created into a municipal incorporation a Methodist congregation was organized.  However, the Methodist of Union Springs were without a home.  Colonel R. H. Powell gathered together the few Methodist children with their parents and organized a Sunday school.  The meetings were held every Sunday afternoon in his own parlor.
     In the year 1858, the growing congregation held its first scheduled services held by the Methodist in the Presbyterian Church.  The congregation was without a Methodist pastor so the Presiding Elder preached.  In 1859 it was decided that the time had come to build a Methodist Church for the growing congregation.  The Land Company composed of Doctors J. M. and S. J. Foster, Colonel R. H. Powell, Colonel Homer Blackmon and Mr. Arnold Seals gave the lot for the Church and Parsonage.  One year later the church building was completed under the leadership of the first Preacher, Rev. John Williams.  The church prospered and the membership increased gradually.  The first Board of Stewards was composed of Colonel Richard Powell, Chairman; Thomas Pullum; James Jones; J. W. Branscombe and W. Thompson.  In April 1861, Bishop George Pierce dedicated the new church.  Spurred on by Dr. Norman Berkley Powell who pledged $500.00 himself and $500.00 in the name of his son Richard who was with General Lee in Virginia.  By the close of the dedication, money had been raised to pay off the entire amount of the debt for the church.  The wooden structure with its wide double outside steps to the sanctuary stood for 43 years until it was replaced by the beautiful building which stands on the same spot today.
     The original building faced Blackmon Avenue, but it was decided that the present building should face Powell Street.  The building Committee who oversaw the construction was, F. M. Moseley, Sr., Chairman, T. S. Durr, J. B. Hunter, G. H. Harris, and W. R. Bickerstaff, Jr.  In 1949, under the leadership of Rev. Charles Liddell, s two story educational building was erected next to the church.  The old parsonage was torn down to make way for this building and a new parsonage was acquired.  It is now located directly across from the church on Powell Street.  Another educational annex next to the sanctuary was built in 1960.  From late 1963 until 1970, Sunday school and worship services were held in the basement of the Union Springs Public Library while the matter of the church property was in litigation.  It was during these years that some members of the congregation tried to withdraw the church from Alabama-West Florida Conference. 
     Today, The First United Methodist Church of Union Springs is alive and thriving with the Reverend Robin C. Wilson, an energetic, enthusiastic young lady serving as pastor.  If you look over the church rolls over the past 158 years, you will find the names of many of the original members whose descendents have been and still are the backbone of our church.  There have been changes in many things in the church and things have not always gone smoothly, but the people have never wavered their faith in God.  Attendance and participation in all areas of the church's life is on the up swing and with the help of our Lord, we are looking forward to moving ahead with renewed strength and renewed faith.

The Architecture

   
       The present building was erected in 1903-1904 from plans drawn by the pastor, Rev. C. L. Chilton.  The Gothic revival architecture was designed to recapture the romance of medieval buildings.  The front center entrance of the structure is behind a triple arch opening.  Above the door is a large tracery, multi-colored stained glass window.  To either side of the front entrance, towers with paired vertical windows are surmounted with battlements.  Further emphasis on vertical effect is achieved through the use of multiple sharply pointed gables with slender finials topped with a lancet arch.  Multi-colored stained glass windows, some depicting Biblical scenes, dominate the entire structure.  The sanctuary interior features a ceiling of massive cross beams.

"The Old Ship of Zion"
Circa 1890
Photo of the old Church building before being torn down and the present building constructed in
1903-1904.

June 2002
Photo of present Church building as seen from Blackmon street.  The "1890" photo was also taken from Blackmon Street.

Postcard Early 1900's
Photo of present Church Building facing Powell Street.

Pipe Organ History

Table of Contents

     The contents of this history page are from writings by Mrs. Queenelle P. Stone and Mrs. Annie Mae Turner, longtime members of The First United Methodist Church, Union Springs, Alabama.  We thank them for keeping a written account on our history.