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The Methodist church was the first one organized in Moultrie. The influence of Methodism was felt in this area as early as 1856. The name of Moultrie is found in the very first 1868 listing of South Georgia Conference appointments. The 1869 appointee to Moultrie was the Rev. Mather H. Fielding. Appointments to "Moultrie" appear annually up to 1880; then it seems that the name of "Greenfield" replaces it for 1881-1883 and again for 1889-1892. The 1897 appointment to "Colquitt" also seems to be the Moultrie appointment. Before 1898 Moultrie is found in no fewer than 5 different districts: Brunswick (1876-1880), Waycross (1881-1889), Valdosta (1890-1894), Thomasville (1895-1897). Since 1898 Moultrie has been in the Valdosta District.
It was in 1878 that the church was permanently established under the leadership of Mrs. Caroline Culpepper Cooper, grandmother of Mrs. Elkin Taylor. Present at the organizational meeting was Lawrence A Hall, grandfather of Hall Collins, Mrs. J. T. Cox, Mrs. Bob Dupree, Miss Zadie Hall and Miss Nan Hall. Methodist meetings were held in the homes and in the courthouse until the first church, a crude wooden one, was built in 1883 in the second block of Second Street N. E. In 1895 a large two-story wooden church was completed on the southeast corner of the city hall lot, and a handsome organ was placed in the church. The late T. E. Lewis, father of Edward H. Lewis, Miss Martha Lewis and Mrs. Joe Norman, was first organist. A parsonage was built on the west side of the church in 1897. The Epworth League was organized in 1898 and the Rev. W. H. Budd, described in news columns as the "pick of the South Georgia Conference", and who was instrumental in getting saloons closed in Moultrie, was pastor. A handsome church, the first brick one in Moultrie, was erected in 1900 on the site of the 1895 frame building. The lovely stained glass window, that now graces the front of the church, was secured through the efforts if the late Mrs. T. E. Lewis, and moved from the original brick structure. The cornerstone was laid on August 16, 1900 with Masonic rites. A photo of this imposing edifice can be seen in South Georgia Conference Minutes for 1901 facing page 32. The present beautiful church was built in 1916 and was dedicated by Bishop Warren A. Candler. The church was built on land donated by Mr. & Mrs. M. M. Kendall on the site where the old Piney Woods Hotel once stood. The frame parsonage built south of the present church was later replaced by a two-story building adjacent to the present sanctuary. The pipe organ was installed in 1920 at a cost of $8,210. During the flu epidemic in 1918 the Sunday School was converted into a temporary hospital. Under the leadership of Miss Elizabeth Tharpe the first "A" standard Cradle Roll department in Georgia was established in the church. In 1953 the sanctuary was redone, air-conditioned, and the balcony added. The Rev. Woodward Adams was pastor and during the renovation church was held in the Colquitt Theatre. In July 1956 the education building was finished and formally opened on September 9, 1956. Wednesday night suppers were begun on September 12, 1956 with Mrs. Paul Watts as hostess. The church bought the old Taylor home-site and dismantled the house in 1958. Taylor Memorial Chapel, built on the site of the old Taylor home, was dedicated by Dr. Guy Hutcherson on July 11, 1962. It was a gift from the children of Dr. and Mrs. G. F. Taylor. A nursery was opened in 1962. A beautiful parsonage was completed in the fall of 1970. on Fairview Drive. Dr. and Mrs. David Duck were first to occupy it. Rev. Don Youmans was the first associate pastor and began his ministry with Dr. Duck. His wife, Mercedes, was organist, and they occupied the parsonage adjacent to the church. On December 6, 1970 the church celebrated its 100th anniversary. Dr Pierce Harris of Atlanta was guest speaker. The church was incorporated in February 1971 as First United Methodist Church of Moultrie, GA., Inc. The porte cochere was added to the south side of the social hall in 1971 and in early 1972 the south-side parking lot was paved. George Tucker was added to the staff for the summer and 80 of our young people attended the 1972 Youth Rally in Dallas, Texas. Dr. David Duck was moved to Valdosta in August 1972 when Dr. Frank Robertson was elevated to Bishop. Rev. William H. Hurdle from Cordele First Methodist succeeded him. The Church kindergarten opened in September 1972 with classes for 4 and 5 year olds. Mrs. Raymond Waits became the first president of United Methodist Women under the reorganization of church structure. In 1973 the Red Cross began using the Social Hall for its bloodmobile station; Lay Mission Week resulted in four prayer and sharing groups; Miss Julie Stanaland was summer worker with youth; and Rev. Troy Holloway and his wife, Mary Jane, come in June. He replaced Rev. Don Youmans as associate pastor. The Taylor property across from the chapel was purchased for a parking lot. New members added to the church roll during the first 13 months of the Rev. Hurdle's pastorate numbered 123. Following are those who have entered the ministry from First Methodist: Charles A. Britton, Jr., Joe Smith, John Ellington, Harry Beverly, Carlton Kenney, Charles Humphreys, Jimmy Humphreys and Nancy McPhaul. The church celebrated its 103rd anniversary on September 30, 1973. Rev. Albert Hall of Savannah was homecoming speaker. Church enrollment was 1158 and property valuation, $543,375.00. |
As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time.
Two considerations are central to this endeavor: the sources from which we derive our theological affirmations and the criteria by which we assess the adequacy of our understanding and witness.
Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason.
Two considerations are central to this endeavor: the sources from which we derive our theological affirmations and the criteria by which we assess the adequacy of our understanding and witness.
Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason.