History
| History |
 |
 |
 |
The history of Epworth United Methodist Church in Palmyra begins in 1840 with the formation of a Methodist Society that met in the homes of its members. They very quickly found a building to use for a Sunday School near the railroad. On June 15, 1853 the Methodist Episcopal Church of Palmyra became the first organization of any kind in town. On August 23 of the same year the church purchased land and began construction of a church building which was completed and dedicated in 1854. The cemetery behind the church was opened with the sale of the first lot on June 1, 1857. Rev. Edward Page had served the Society before the building was erected, but Rev. C. K. Fleming was the first minister to serve in the new building. Rev. Charlie Soper, our current minister, is the 59th in a long line of men and women who have served God and our congregation. In 1892, only 4 years after the parsonage was built, the congregation decided that the church needed to move its location due to frequent interruptions by trains traveling by. The current church building at 5th and Garfield Sts. was dedicated on September 10, 1893. It was this same year that "Epworth" first became part of the chruch's name. It was not until 1968 that the church's current name came into use. Over the years Epworth's congregation size has waxed and waned, as has Sunday School attendance. At one time Sunday School attendees, around 750, exceeded church membership. The large stone Sunday School Temple was dedicated on October 15, 1916. These major events in Epworth's history do not begin to tell the history of the life of the church. It has had a caring and faithful congregation that has reached out to the neighborhood and the world in many ways. During the Great Depression the church served low cost meals to the public. A mission was established in west Palmyra which eventually became St. Paul UAME church. Today we continue to reach out in many ways and celebrate the opening of the Bread of Life Food Pantry, an ecumenical outreach housed at Epworth Yesterday, today, tomorrow and for many years to come this caring congregation has and will continue to change lives by sharing God's love. |