The year was 1908. Theodore Roosevelt was in his second term as President of the United States of America. Automobile pioneer, Henry Ford, introduced the world to the Model T Ford. And in Ellendale, Tennessee a grand experiment in Christian faith and fellowship was just getting started. The day was April 15, a day that many Americans have dreaded for years. But in 1908 that was a day for celebration. On April 15, 1908 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Ellendale, Tennessee was established. The church started out as a group of seven people worshiping the Lord in the old Williams School at the corner of what are now Appling and Memphis-Arlington roads. The original seven members were:

J.H. Randle

Mrs. Junna Randle

Pearl Menasco Owen

Miss Bodha Moore

Miss Bond Beaty Home

Mrs. May Appling

D.A. Appling

The church started out as a circuit church, and was first ministered to by J.M. Hamlin. The little church met for almost twenty years in the schoolhouse, but it wasn't long before it started to generate a rich heritage.

"Know all men by these presents that all said premises shall be used, kept, maintained, and disposed of as a place of divine worship for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...The said grantor does hereby bind its successors, executors, and administrators, to warrant and forever defend, all and singular, the said premises unto the said trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Ellendale Tennessee...In testimony whereof; the said grantors have hereunto set their hands and seals this the 16th day of August A.D. 1917."

By these words three parcels of land at the comer of Central Ave. and Fontaine Rd. were purchased to be the permanent home of Ellendale Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Three years later, in 1920 the construction of a sanctuary was begun with hill completion in 1926. In 1931 active membership in the church had grown to 63 members. In 1935 Margaret Lewis, the future wife of Berry Temple, joined the church, and remained the person with the longest active membership until she moved in 2001. In 1938 the church ceased to be a circuit church and became a station church. The first full-time pastor was Clark Bell, who served from 1938 through 1942. As the church grew it became known as the "community church" because Jews, Catholics, Baptists and Methodists all worshiped inside its walls.

In 1939 The Methodist Episcopal Church North and South reunited and the Ellendale Methodist Episcopal Church, South was renamed Ellendale Methodist Church. During the years 1945 through 1950 Ellendale Methodist Church experienced rapid growth under Pastor James W. Darby. On March 28, 1948 alone 11 people joined the church through profession of faith. They were:

Sara Louise Taylor

Sylvia Gray

Clara Bishop

Jean Jeffries

Jeanette McDonald

Joyce Smith

Billie Jean smith

Peggy Jo McDonald

Frances Merle Steele

David Lee McDonald

Joe A. Finger

In 1954 the parsonage next to the church was completed followed by the fellowship hall in 1963. The current sanctuary was completed in 1967 standing just behind the location of the original sanctuary. Three members were in attendance at the first service in the new sanctuary that were in attendance at the first service in the original sanctuary. They were Mr. & Mrs. P.W. Joplin and Miss Katie Bane. In 1968 the original education building was completed. In that same year the United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church joined to form the United Methodist Church giving our church its present name, Ellendale United Methodist Church.

In 1985 the bell tower on the front lawn was completed. The bell, which was from the original church, is still rung every Sunday. In 1986 the education building was expanded and in 1988 a new parsonage, located on Ethel Rd., was purchased. The church offices were then moved into the old parsonage. The most recent additions to our church occurred in 2000 when new bathrooms and a new handicap elevator were added. The addition of the handicap lift made every floor of the main sanctuary building handicap accessible, an accomplishment that our members are extremely proud of.

In 1996 membership at Ellendale United Methodist Church had expanded to 526 and it is still expanding. Ellendale United Methodist Church has experienced a rich and colorful history full of many joyful moments and many sad moments. Many people have worshiped at this church leaving all who are still here a wonderful heritage. It looks like the little experiment that started in 1908 is still going at full steam and has many wonderful years to look forward to.