IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF METHODISM
AND FIRST UNITED METHODIST, HUNTSVILLE
- 1730’s
- Methodist societies formed in England by John Wesley as an outgrowth of the Church of England.
- May 24, 1738
- John Wesley had a heartwarming experience during a society meeting in Aldersgate Street, London. A flame was lit that evening in London which was to sweep the entire nation. John & Charles Wesley and George Whitefield began a great Methodist Revival, preaching to those who were not reached by the established Church of England.
- 1769
- Methodist missionaries sent by Wesley to America.
- Dec. 24, 1784
- American Methodists separated from the church of
England and organized the Methodist Episcopal
Church in America at a conference held at Lovely
Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland. Francis
Asbury and Thomas Coke presided over this newly
formed church.
- Oct., 1808
- Methodism reached Madison county, Alabama, when the Flint Circuit was formed as a part of the Western Conference. James Gwinn was appointed to minister to the people in the great bend" of the Tennessee River, an area which included an organized society at Hunt's Spring (later Huntsville)
- 1812
- Flint circuit became a part of the Tennessee conference.
- August. 29, 1820
- Methodist Episcopal church of Huntsville
received a grant of land (west side of Gallatin
Street between Clinton and Holmes Streets) from
John and Johanna I. Price.
- 1821-22
- First meeting house constructed on Gallatin Street property.
- Fall, 1822
- Huntsville District established.
- Mar. 7, 1832
- Methodist Episcopal church of Huntsville purchased a plot of ground on the corner of Randolph and Greene Streets.
- 1832-34
- Church building erected.
- May, 1845
- Differences over the question of slavery caused the Methodist Episcopal church, South to break from the northern churches.
- Fall, 1863
- Methodist Episcopal Church, South of Huntsville occupied by Federal soldiers.
- Jan. 6, 1864
- Church facilities completely destroyed by fire.
- 1867-74
- Present building and sanctuary constructed in stages.
- May 4, 1870
- Huntsville District became a part of the newly created North Alabama Conference.
- 1923-24
- Three-story Sunday School annex constructed next to sanctuary on Randolph Street.
- April. 26, 1939
- The Methodist Church of America was formed from
the Methodist Protestant Church, the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South at a Unifying Conference held in
Kansas City, Missouri.
- 1959-60
- Educational building and chapel constructed on the recently acquired property north of the sanctuary.
- April. 23, 1968
- The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United
Brethren joined to form the United Methodist
Church at a Uniting Conference held in Dallas,
Texas.
- 1984-85
- Wesley Center constructed across Greene Street from the other church facilities.
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