First Methodist Church or Church Hill

Rev. Harry Hight exchanged pastorates for three months with Rev. Geoffrey Bell from Berkshire, England.

The Susanna Wesley Circle, under the leadership of Margaret Davidson, established the Community Clothes Closet. People from other denominations joined in support. It was later incorporated and has provided over $1 Million in financial assistance to many needs in the area.

A church preschool was organized for ages three and four.

Neighboring property adjoining the parking lot was purchased. A picnic area with playground was later developed.

The original bell and belfry of the old log church was moved to a bell tower built by Deborah Collins in memory of her father.

Members purchased 150 new Methodist Hymnals.

The Mary Evans Circle was formed in honor of deceased church member.

Hand bells were donated in memory of Jesse C. and Grace Alley by their children.

Dedication service for the sanctuary.

Dedication of the sanctuary steeple, a gift of Marie Smith in memory of her husband, Bert Smith.

The new church was consecrated with Bishop L. Scott Allen presiding, assisted by the pastor Rev. W. B. Thomas, and two former pastors, Dr. Roy C. Davis and Rev. Stanley Harrison.

The Methodist Men’s Club was chartered.

The Women’s Society of Christian Service became the United Methodist Women (UMW.)

The fifth church sanctuary was completed and its first worship service held on July 1.

The 1948 sanctuary was converted into the fellowship hall; an adjoining classroom was remodeled into a kitchen and the basement classrooms were redecorated.

The Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, becoming the United Methodist Church.

Church Hill became a municipality. The City seal includes a log church in its center.

The fourth parsonage was built on South Central Avenue on land donated by Dr. and Mrs. Warner Clark. Rev. C.Walter Martin and family were its first residents.

The church’s dedication service was held.

The Susanna Wesley Circle and Mary B.Hamilton Circle were organized.

The fourth church building was built and became the first brick building on the site. The church became a station church with Rev. John H. Meyers as its first pastor.

The community became the setting for The Reverend Spy WWII novel written by David P. Denton, pastor of the church for 8 months.

The Women’s Missionary Society became the Women’s Society of Christian Service when three Methodist denominations merged.

The church circuit bought a parsonage that the Church Hill church rented and later bought in 1948. This is the white house on the corner of Main St. at the traffic light.

The railroad cut across the private drive to the church and a new road was opened on church land from North Central Avenue.

In its earliest days, this church was on a circuit known as the Holston Region. It included much of the Nolichucky and French Broad Valleys as well as the Holston Valley. Parts of the region were Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia. Later, the North Carolina area and part of the Virginia area were placed on other circuits with much of upper East Tennessee section renamed the Church Hill circuit with eleven churches. The circuit was later reduced to nine and to seven by 1914.

The Women’s Missionary Society originated with monthly meetings at the church. It was organized by Mrs. James W. Dobyns who rode side saddle from Rotherwood in Kingsport to the meetings.