Gordon United Methodist Church
135 Main St., Gordon, Ga.
Organized in 1850's
The first church in Gordon was a union church
with Baptist and Methodist worshiping together. It was a very small building
and stood where the Gordon Cemetery is now
located. The population increasing, a need for a larger church was
imminent.
Dave Solomon, a Methodist, wanted to give the
land for the new church. The church members wanted the church across from
the present site. The land there was owned by Capt. John Smith. Dave Solomon
owned adjoining land to Capt. Smith so they agreed to exchange land
and the new church was built in 1874. It was located where the present
gas station is across from the Gordon Cemetery. The first service was held
in the church in 1875 with Rev. W. C. Lovett as first pastor.
A campaign was
started by the women and children of the church to get a bell. The goal
of $2,600 met, the bell was ordered from Nashville, Tenn. When it arrived
on the train "Uncle" Jack Stevens hauled it on an ox cart from the depot
to the church with the help of Dennis Barret, a black man, who carried
it up a ladder on his shoulders to the steeple of the church where it was
installed. It was there from 1886 or 1887 to 1909 when it was moved to
the new church. (note: the church bulding and lot were advertised
for sale in Nov. 1907.)
Mr. W. A. Jones, in 1908, gave
the land where the present church sits. The first service here was in June
1909. The church bell was moved here and rang until 1945 when Mr. Lee Pennington
gave the musical chimes to the church as a memorial to his parents of Irwinton.
The church bell remained silent until 1973 when the new pastor, Rev. Willis
Moore, requested a new rope and the bell can be rung again.
The first pastor of the new church
was Rev. W.S. Johnson. Stewards were: W.A Jones, H. J. Myrick, C.C. Johnson,
J. H. Kennington. Trustees: J T. Clements, C. E. Frasuer and J. F. Stevens.
Building Committee: H. J. Myrick, S.W. Lee, and J. W. Hooks. Architect
was F. M. Happ and H. F. Baggett was the builder. Source: Gordon,
Georgia 100 Years 1885-1985
Pictured is Rev. J. S. Lewis and wife
Kate McCord Lewis. He was the pastor here from 1900-1901. From the Atlanta
Constitution, January 1, 1900
Eileen Babb McAdams Copyright 2004-2006