It has been said, "No accurate history can be preserved
without a written record. No church can conserve the results of its enterprises
without literature, or preserve a faithful history of its movements without
a record of its acts."
The beginning of Methodist church work at Bay Springs was done when Mr. William
F. Thompson was appointed by Mt. Zion Methodist Church to conduct a Sunday School
at Bay Springs, which he did. Mt Zion was a large church located 2 1/2 miles
north of the Bay Springs Church, where the George Ainsworth home now stands.
The Bay Springs Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in 1905 by W.
W.Moore, Pastor of the Montrose Charge, Forrest District. J.M. Morse was the
Presiding Elder. The Bay Springs Church was on the Montrose Charge at first,
but in the fall of 1905 was made the center of a Charge, called Bay Springs.
Minutes of the Quarterly Conference for several years show that Holder's Church
was one of the churches on that Charge. W.W. Moore was the first Pastor and
following him was A.M. Broadfoot, who served from 1906 through 1909. Rev.Broadfoot
was the first Pastor to reside in the new parsonage.
The first church was a large frame house located on 2nd Street. When the new
church was built, the old one was changed into a home and was used as such until
the 1920's.
The new church was built on Highway 18 and corner of 5th Street. The new parsonage
was built on 5th Street, just 2 1/2 blocks south of the church, (where Bobby
Shoemaker's Law Office now stands). The church and parsonage were dedicated
on May 30, 1909.
Since its beginning, the women of the church have banded together, working for
its betterment. The Ladies Aid Society was the first organization. The purpose
was to work for the church, parsonage and the needy. This was done by many fund
raising events. After years of dedication, the women felt the need of supporting
missions, so the Woman's Missionary Society (WMS) was formed and served until
1940. When the Methodist Church in 1939, a new women's organization was initiated
in 1940. It was called the Woman's Society of Christian Service (WSCS). In 1968
the Methodist Church and the United Brethren united to form the United Methodist
Church. The women's organization had another name change - to the United Methodist
Women (UMW). Many lives have been touched for God by the services of these four
women's organizations.
Through the years, the young people have been led by many good teachers and
leaders. The Epworth League did excellent work for many years. Many people have
been touched by the League's Benediction, "So teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"? (Psalm 90:12). The Methodist
Youth Fellowship has been active since the Epworth League.
Rev. P.O.Nix, in reporting to the 3rd Quarterly Conference in February, 1950,
states, "We have our Methodist Men's Organization and have it chartered".
The 52 year old organization has and is very enterprising and helpful in all
of its many activities of the church. The men's group meets on the 3rd Tuesday
of each month.
The present church building was completed in 1926, when Rev.P.H.Grice was pastor.
The church was built in the same location as the 1909 church. The columns or
posts in the present church, in the educational auditorium, are the ones that
were used in the former church. They remained the same until they were boxed
with plywood when the carpeting and painting were done inside the church.
Before the new church was dedicated, the first service of any kind was the wedding
of Myrtis Abney and Hill Denson on June 17, 1926. Although the present pews
were ordered and were expected, they did not arrive on time. R.L.Abney, father
of the bride, borrowed pews from the Bay Springs Presbyterian Church, which
was then located across the street.
In 1946, it was voted to build an educational annex to the present church. A
finance committee was formed to solicit the membership to take the pledges to
raise money for the building. The quarterly conference reports of May 31, 1950
states, "The indebtedness on the educational annex has been paid in full
and was dedicated.
Other items gleaned from the quarterly conference reports are:
On January 9, 1955, a contract to install a heating and cooling system was made.
In June, 1956, Rev. J.F.Campbell agreed to get a list of members who wanted
to purchase a stained glass window in honor or memory of a loved one. R.R.Abney
was made responsible to get action on the purchasing and installing of windows,
which various members bought.
On September 8, 1957, the motion was made, seconded and approved that the area
west of the church would be made a project for parking space. On March 17, 1963,
Rev.J.A.Williamson reports, "The Methodist Men are having a good attendance
with excellent programs.They have just completed a very fine project, the paving
of added space to the parking lot". The Bay Springs Methodist Church has
built three different parsonages. The first in 1909, the second in 1951. Both
were built on 5th Street in the same location. The third and present one was
planned and constructed on Highway 18 and was first occupied by Rev. Fred Thompson
and family.
On August 2, 1976, the property south of the church was purchased. It consisted
of a home and three lots. The home was painted and used as youth center and
west of this two tennis courts were built and lighted.
The church has weathered the test of two World Wars, the 1920 tornado, the Depression
of the 30's and many technological and social changes and has met them "head
on".
Our heritage is one of sacrifice, witness and service. It is a wonderful privilege
to be a part of this Methodist Church. We look to the future with hope, believing
that our God continues to lead us in his service.
This article is dedicated to the loving memory of Mrs. Myrtis Abney Denson who
worked so diligently to compile a detailed history of our church.
For questions and comments, please contact the webmaster at baysp@gbgmchurches.gbgm-umc.org