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The
Bible says "Faith can move mountains" and the members
of Park Memorial United Methodist Church say "Faith can move churches".
Just look at us!
Our
ministry began on January 20,1952 as Community Methodist Church
in the Reynolds Holston Canning Plant building on Smith Street.
The
first pastor was Rev. William Griggs, a student at Troy State.
The District
Superintendent was T. S. Harris.
The first Sunday School Superintendent was
Mr. A.L. Jackson.
The first treasurer was Mr. Ed Revill.
The first person received
by profession of faith was Mrs. Bob Smith.
In June 1952 Rev. Leo
Brannon was appointed as Pastor.
Bill Turley as Music Director.
Doug
Newsome as Pianist.
October 5,1952 was Charter Sunday.
W. S. Price, T.W. Goolsby, A.L. Jackson and Mrs.W. M. Williford were elected as Stewards.
Jim Morris, Ewell Hattaway and J.L. Howard were elected Trustees.
Mrs. Jim Morris was named Treasurer.
The Women's Society of Christian Service was
organized on October 19,1952
under the guidance of Mrs. Lora MacTalley.
Margaret
Price was the first president.
Mrs. Talley also served as pianist for the Church
until 1969.
The Women's Society was divided into two Circles in September 1953.
In
1953 the property from Park Street to South Brundidge Street was purchased.
The house facing South Brundidge Street was used as an Educational Building
and a Chapel was built facing Center Street midway between Park and Brundidge Streets.
In June 1954 Rev. Thomas Sowell another Troy State
student was appointed pastor.
June 1955 brought Rev. P.A. Lynch as pastor.
Gerald Maddox, a young college student, as Associate Pastor.
A dwelling was purchased on Second Avenue to be used as a parsonage.
The house on South Brundidge Street was sold and the mortgage on the Chapel
was paid.
Plans were being made to build a brick Church on Park Street.
Rev.Ray Lane was appointed pastor in June 1957.
On September 29,1957 at the 11:00 services, the membership voted to change the name from
Community Methodist Church to Park Street Methodist Church.
All Conference Claims were paid for the first time in 1957-58.
In June 1958, Rev. Bill Rhoads was named as pastor.
The church was built on Park Street.
The Building committee was Ray Brock, Welton Connor, Fred Ellis, J.W.Law
and Marvin Scott.
Laying of the Cornerstone Ceremony was held with Bishop Hardin presiding.
Mrs.Margaret Price was named Associate Pastor and served while Rev. Rhoads attended Emory University
in Atlanta.
He served the Church on weekends.
June 1960 brought Rev.Joe Bates to our church as pastor.
He organized the Men's Club with E.C. Oswald as the first president.
This club has been a great asset to the Church.
Their annual spaghetti suppers have been enjoyed by the entire community.
Proceeds are used for projects in the Church and also in the community where needed.
Rev. Bates started the first children's church.
In June 1962, Rev Bob Cruikshank was assigned as pastor.
Our first Homecoming was held on November 18, 1962.
Rev. Rayburn Waller came in June 1963 and served as pastor for
three years.
The mortgage on the Parsonage was paid in August 1963 and dedication was held in September 1963.
On August 29, 1965, our second Homecoming was held with Rev. Joe Bates as speaker.
In 1966 the mortgage on the Church Building was paid from monies received from the estate of Miss Myrtle Moore.
Dedication services for this building was held on May 1, 1966 with Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson presiding, assisted
by Rev.Torrance Maxey, District Superintendent.
Rev. Gerald Maddox returned as Pastor and Director of the Wesley
Foundation at Troy State in June 1968.
In 1969 the parsonage on Second Avenue was sold and a new parsonage
was built on Woodland Circle.
A choir was reorganized and directed by Mrs. Pat Dillard. Pat served several years as the director.
In 1973 Jim Posey came as Pastor and Director of Wesley
Foundation.
Also in 1973 a third circle of the Women's Society was formed.
They became the Circle of Benevolence.
In 1977 Wesley was placed under the auspices of the First
Methodist Church of Troy.
On
June 29, 1975, our third Homecoming was held with Rev. Joe Bates as speaker.
On April 24, 1977 our first organ was dedicated as a memorial
to Ray Brock. Ray died in 1976 and an organ had been a long time dream of his.
We celebrated our 25th anniversary in 1977 with Gerald Maddox as speaker.
Rev. James A. Belcher came as pastor in 1978.
Edith Synco was named Choir Director. She has served faithfully since that time and has produced some
outstanding productions. Her Choir is known throughout this area and has added a great blessing to our Church.
A metal building was constructed in 1978 to be used as an Educational Building and Fellowship Hall.
Dedication for this building was held on April 29, 1979, Rev. Jim Belcher was the speaker.
Fellowship dinner was held in the new building.
In June 1982 William A. Parsons was appointed as pastor.
Our congregation was growing and we were limited for space to expand.
In December 1985, a five acre lot was purchased on the Elba Highway for future building.
In June 1987 Bill Leavins came as pastor.
In 1988 three of our charter members died, Mrs. Ruth Tillery,
Mrs. Beulah Roberts and Mrs. Fannie Bell Jackson.
Rev. Leavins was very active in the community and under his direction the Pike County Christmas Program was started
to help the needy of Pike County.
In 1991 the property on Park Street was sold to the New
Shiloh Baptist Church.
Our last Homecoming at that location was held on July 7, 1991 with Gerald Maddox as speaker.
Final services were held on July 21, 1991.
Our name was changed to Park Memorial United Methodist Church.
We moved into temporary quarters in the old warehouse building on the railroad on South Three Notch Street.
The first services were held at that location on July 28, 1991.
Ground Breaking was held on October 18, 1991 for the new facilities on the Elba Highway.
The Building Committee is Hugh Finley Jr., Steve Brown, Tom Cain, Jerry Deloney, Randy Hale, Nell Hanson, John
W.Law, Jr. and E. C. Oswald.
The final services were held in the warehouse on
September 20, 1992 and the first service and Consecration ceremony was held on September 27, 1992 at the
new church with District Superintendent Ben Sawada directing and Marvin Vickers and Bill Leavins assisting.
Steve Rascoe came as pastor in June 1994.
During his ten years we have continued to grow, both in number and spiritually.
He introduced the Discipleship Program and at present there are Discipleship I, II, III and IV classes
underway along with a youth group and refresher group.
Rev. Kevin Krist came in 1997 as Associate Pastor and Youth
Director.
A
Pre-School was started in 1998 and has been a huge success.
It is presently under the direction of Ruthie Arnold and Jan Hendricks.
Two Mission groups have traveled to Mexico to work.
A new organ and piano was purchased and dedicated in 2000.
The piano was given by Barbara and Charles Synco.
The lot behind the Church was purchased to provide for future expansion.
Over the past years a drama group under the direction of Larry Jarrell has join with choir under the direction
of Edith Synco, to provide outstanding productions each Easter and Christmas.
Thank you Larry and Edith for your hard work!
Dr. John Crosby established the Katie Lou Crosby Scholarship Fund, a scholarship fund for High School Seniors in
memory of his Mother.
Aaron Rascoe, Emily Christian, Jared McLendon and Christine Haug have been recipients.
Randy Bruner was employed as Youth Director and Brandon
Fricks was employed as Children's Director.
Both of these young men are doing a wonderful job leading our younger groups.
On August 21, 2001 a Church Conference was held with Paul Wolfe, District Superintendent, presiding.
Plans were presented for the new Claudia Crosby Family Life Center.
Approval was given to proceed with obtaining bids for the construction.
The Building Committee consists of Jerry McLendon, Chairman; Johnny Law, Vice-Chairman; Steve Rascoe, Pastor,
Dr. Wayne Curtis, Jerry Deloney, Hank Jones, Mark Motes, Robert Newman, Frank Talbot and Yvonne Wise.
Partial funding will come from the Crosby Estate.
Additional funding to come from a Capital Fund drive headed by Dr. Steve Grice.
In the past fifty-three years we have witnessed great growth in our
Church.
One of the greatest thrills and blessings is to see our "Second Generation" step forward and continue
to do our Lord's work that was begun so many years ago!
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