CHURCH SITE ACQUIRED

While Alabama's first legislature was holding its initial session in Huntsville, an act was passed on December 17, 1819, which empowered religious societies of every denomination to hold real estate. Shortly after receiving this right, many church groups acquired property. On the following 29th day of August, 1820, "The Methodist Episcopal Church or its legal trustees of the Town of Huntsville," received a grant of land from John and Johanna I. Price. The deed for this property, which was located on the west side of Gallatin Street between Clinton and Holmes Streets, stated that the site of this first meeting house of the Methodists was given, "for and in consideration of the many benefits received by them through the instrumentality of the Methodist Episcopal Church," with the desire, "that the religion of Jesus Christ may spread and survive everywhere but more especially in Huntsville and its vicinity." The year after the acquisition of this property, the Methodists of Huntsville completed the construction of their first house of worship on this plot of ground and became a station within Flint Circuit where an ordained minister was appointed by the Tennessee Conference to serve as a resident pastor.