Gadsden's First United Methodist marks 175th anniversary

It was a joyful celebration recently when the congregation of Gadsden’s First United Methodist Church celebrated its 175th birthday.

The city’s first Methodist church has survived wars and depressions, through the terms of 35 presidents (beginning with James K. Polk) and is “doing well” in 2021, according to Sheila Freeman, the church’s director of connectional ministries.

First — an important word for this story. This area was first settled in 1825 and called Double Springs. On July 4, 1845, Capt. James Lafferty piloted the steamboat Coosa to the settlement. He landed near the site where Memorial Bridge was built.

A few influential businessmen suggested renaming the budding town as Lafferty's Landing, but the first use of Gadsden came when residents adopted it in honor of Col. James Gadsden of South Carolina.

According to research by the late Eleanor Kerns, who compiled much of the history of Gadsden FUMC, another major first occurred a year later, on May 10, 1846, when Gen. Daniel Turrentine and others formed a Sunday school. Two years later, a small congregation began meeting in a small log school-house and was served by 15 circuit riders.

More firsts: In 1854, the group’s first church building was erected at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets; Gadsden became a station in the Montgomery conference; the church’s first owned property came in 1869 when Gabriel Hughes deeded the site to the church. Some say it was for $1; others say the price was $100.

And even more firsts: In 1870, church members hosted the organization of the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; in 1893, the church’s first brick structure was erected, recognized as one of the Alabama’s finest.

Between 1916 and 1918, the two-story annex for Sunday school classrooms was added to the sanctuary; in 1936, the church’s first renovation and enlargement of the sanctuary was completed with stained-glass windows installed.

In 1950, the carillon bells were first sounded from the bell tower and three years later, the first air-conditioning was installed in the sanctuary and recreation room.

And the firsts have continued through the years: Kindergarten Day School in 1957 with a playground; the Erwin Medical Fund was begun in 1960; the first organ for the sanctuary was installed in 1967; and the list is endless as FUMC’s list of firsts continued through the recent pandemic and more is on its drawing board. Needless to say, FUMC has grown, and is growing, with the times.

Freeman offered the following quotes from church members:

Mark Condra: “Every significant event of my life has involved the church and reminds me of my life.”

David Gray: “When I moved to Gadsden, GFUMC felt like home. Surely the Lord is in this place!”

Harriet Murray: “My family is deeply rooted in FUMC Gadsden as we are now five generations as members; what a cherished blessing FUMC is for us!”

Keith and Susan Copeland: “The spiritual growth, love and friendships I have experienced at GFUMC during my lifetime mean the world to me. This is a special place.”

John Simmons: “Gadsden FUMC is a place of solitude and tranquility in a chaotic world.”

Lori Corley: “Gadsden FUMC is an affirming faith community.”

In an email to The Times, Freeman wrote: “Although the 175th anniversary celebration continues throughout this entire year, the special worship service was held to celebrate, with the Rev. Terry Bentley, district superintendent of the Mountain Lakes District, joining with Pastor Sam Hayes officiating and preaching by Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett. The sermon topic, based on John 13: 1-35, was titled ‘A Labor of Love.’”

Freeman also wrote, “On a typical Sunday, we have a contemporary worship service (named Celebration) at 9 a.m. and a traditional worship service (Traditions) at 11 a.m. For the 175th anniversary celebration, the congregation joined together for one united worship service at 10 a.m. and worshiped with music from our contemporary praise band and traditional hymns and sacred music, as well as a special visit from John Wesley and Suzannah Wesley.”

The church is located at 115 S. Fifth St. in Gadsden. The church website is www.fumcgadsden.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: First United Methodist of Gadsden marks 175 years