Carterville United Methodist Church History
The St. John Methodist Episcopal Church South
was organized in the spring of 1876 by the Rev. Jasper A Smith. The
edifice was nearing completion and was soon to be dedicated, but was entirely
destroyed by a terrible tornado that which visited this vicinity on the evening
of May 13, 1883. It was a substantial frame building, sixty feet long by
thirty-six feet wide, with an arched ceiling eighteen feet in the center. It had
not yet been received from the hands of the contractors, but the society we
understand, which sustain the entire loss. Notwithstanding the above unfortunate
circumstances a new church building would be erected. On the evening of May 16th,
a meeting of the building committee and trustees was held for
the purpose of taking steps toward rebuilding. The new church-house will be
after the pattern of the former and will cost probably, building and furnishing,
three thousand dollars. There is an interesting Sunday-school in connection,
with an average attendance of seventy pupils. Several important revival meetings
had been held. One conducted by Rev. J N Moore in October and November, resulted
in one hundred and twenty conversions, and ten accessions to the church.
The earliest authenticated record on the Methodist Church site in Caterville the
deed made on August 11, 1882. Although this deed was made on August 11, 1882,
it was not notarized and signed until April 2, 1891 and the present brick building was constructed and completed by October 18, 1891, at a cost of $4,868, but because of
the faithful performance of the contract $5,000 was paid. It was named
St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On December, 1891 a bell was purchased for the church. It was a tone “A” bell,
weighed 775 lbs., and cost $142.45. The freight and metal mountings cost $22.50,
coming to a total cost of $165.06. It is interesting to note that the bell is still in use today. Around 1910 a pipe organ was installed, and was one of the finest in the area. Fifty years later,
in 1960 the organ was replaced an Allen electronic organ but the pipes were not
removed until 1964. The building had plain glass windows originally, but around 1910 the lovely stained glass windows we have today were installed. They were each in memory of or in honor
some individuals or members of the church family. This was completed by 1914.
The church had a steeple which was above the bell area. The steeple was destroyed by lightning sometime between 1918 and 1930.
The first licensed broadcasting station in
the area was built in the church parsonage by Linn Stewart, the pastor in
1925. By 1926 through 1930 the
church was without a pastor, but a Sunday school was maintained most of the
time.
In 1954 Annex was built. It has been a great addition to keep activities going and
folding doors wereinstalled to enable it to be partitioned off easily for Sunday school rooms.
In 1970 the Narthex Area was done over and new doors and a new entrance with a
porch and steps entering from the old west entrance on Kentucky Street were
completed. The Main street entrance was bricked up, a white cross was centered
on it and the steps were removed from that area. New furnaces and air
conditioning were installed in the old organ room in back of the Altar.
Paneling, a new Altar table, new brass candlesticks, crow and offering plates
finished the area of the Altar. An office was also built in the southeast corner
of the Annex. In 1972 storm windows were put over the windows to preserve them.
In 1973 an illuminated Wooden Cross was centered on the paneling above the
Altar. In 1980 the Methodist Women raised enough money to carpet the Annex and to
add air conditioning. Donations supplied funds to put new tops on the table and cabinets,
a new sink, and a garbage disposer and tetragonal flooring in the kitchen. In 1982 new lights were put in the Sunday school rooms and the Annex. One year later the pews were
upholstered and new carpeting was installed in the Narthex over the front of the
church.
The spirit of love and the unity among the
members has remained steadfast and harmony prevails in all areas of the church,
both in worship and other areas.
The St. John Methodist Episcopal Church South
was organized in the spring of 1876 by the Rev. Jasper A Smith. The
edifice was nearing completion and was soon to be dedicated, but was entirely
destroyed by a terrible tornado that which visited this vicinity on the evening
of May 13, 1883. It was a substantial frame building, sixty feet long by
thirty-six feet wide, with an arched ceiling eighteen feet in the center. It had
not yet been received from the hands of the contractors, but the society we
understand, which sustain the entire loss. Notwithstanding the above unfortunate
circumstances a new church building would be erected. On the evening of May 16th,
a meeting of the building committee and trustees was held for
the purpose of taking steps toward rebuilding. The new church-house will be
after the pattern of the former and will cost probably, building and furnishing,
three thousand dollars. There is an interesting Sunday-school in connection,
with an average attendance of seventy pupils. Several important revival meetings
had been held. One conducted by Rev. J N Moore in October and November, resulted
in one hundred and twenty conversions, and ten accessions to the church.
The earliest authenticated record on the Methodist Church site in Caterville the
deed made on August 11, 1882. Although this deed was made on August 11, 1882,
it was not notarized and signed until April 2, 1891 and the present brick building was constructed and completed by October 18, 1891, at a cost of $4,868, but because of
the faithful performance of the contract $5,000 was paid. It was named
St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On December, 1891 a bell was purchased for the church. It was a tone “A” bell,
weighed 775 lbs., and cost $142.45. The freight and metal mountings cost $22.50,
coming to a total cost of $165.06. It is interesting to note that the bell is still in use today. Around 1910 a pipe organ was installed, and was one of the finest in the area. Fifty years later,
in 1960 the organ was replaced an Allen electronic organ but the pipes were not
removed until 1964. The building had plain glass windows originally, but around 1910 the lovely stained glass windows we have today were installed. They were each in memory of or in honor
some individuals or members of the church family. This was completed by 1914.
The church had a steeple which was above the bell area. The steeple was destroyed by lightning sometime between 1918 and 1930.
The first licensed broadcasting station in
the area was built in the church parsonage by Linn Stewart, the pastor in
1925. By 1926 through 1930 the
church was without a pastor, but a Sunday school was maintained most of the
time.
In 1954 Annex was built. It has been a great addition to keep activities going and
folding doors wereinstalled to enable it to be partitioned off easily for Sunday school rooms.
In 1970 the Narthex Area was done over and new doors and a new entrance with a
porch and steps entering from the old west entrance on Kentucky Street were
completed. The Main street entrance was bricked up, a white cross was centered
on it and the steps were removed from that area. New furnaces and air
conditioning were installed in the old organ room in back of the Altar.
Paneling, a new Altar table, new brass candlesticks, crow and offering plates
finished the area of the Altar. An office was also built in the southeast corner
of the Annex. In 1972 storm windows were put over the windows to preserve them.
In 1973 an illuminated Wooden Cross was centered on the paneling above the
Altar. In 1980 the Methodist Women raised enough money to carpet the Annex and to
add air conditioning. Donations supplied funds to put new tops on the table and cabinets,
a new sink, and a garbage disposer and tetragonal flooring in the kitchen. In 1982 new lights were put in the Sunday school rooms and the Annex. One year later the pews were
upholstered and new carpeting was installed in the Narthex over the front of the
church.
The spirit of love and the unity among the
members has remained steadfast and harmony prevails in all areas of the church,
both in worship and other areas.