Methodists and Friends Gather to Celebrate 200 Years

By Claudia Koch, Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE – May 6th,  a sunny Sunday afternoon, folks gathered at the Charlotte Court House Methodist Church to celebrate 200 years of church history.

A brief capsule of the history of the church revealed that the Charlotte Court House Methodist Episcopal Society organized on May 1, 1818 after years of controversy over the structure of Methodism. It was not until 1841, however, that a parcel of land on the southwest corner of the old tavern lot in town was conveyed to nine trustees of the congregation for $500 for the construction of their church.

Charlotte Court House was known as Smithville from 1841 till 1899 and the church was known as the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1920 a two-story tower with crenelated battlements was added to the façade to accommodate a vestibule. At this time, the entire structure was bricked and the beautiful stained glass windows added.

Over the years, more land was purchased for the addition of an educational building. Other improvements included a new floor laid in the sanctuary, a fresh ceiling and new chandeliers. In recent months, a larger kitchen and storage area over a basement have been added on the back of the educational building on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Watkins, Jr.

Sunday’s service, delivered by Pastor Justin Hicks, included a time for attending members to relate their fondest memories of growing up in the Methodist Church, being married in that church, and activities over the years. Residents of the community, while perhaps having attended other churches, spoke of the part the church had played in their lives as the young people of the Baptist and Presbyterian churches in town joined with Methodist youth for Bible School in the summer. Others credited their Sunday School teachers with shaping their lives through the teaching of the Catechism and enforcing the closeness of family in the church.

It was a credit to that teaching that all the adult children from some families attended the celebration on Sunday, remembering their upbringing in the Charlotte Court House Methodist Church.

*Historical information is from “A Brief History” compiled by Winnie Morris, Church Historian

Photos by Claudia Koch