Piedmont First United Methodist Church

1867-1999

Gerald Whitton, Church Historian

On September 13, 1850. Mr. James Price. an early settler and large land owner in Cross Plains, gave the community land for constructing an academy. Citizens of the fledging settlement erected a two story wood building for a new school which contained a large auditorium. The auditorium became the meeting place for all public functions winthin Cross Plains because no other facilities were available. A small group of Methodists rejoiced when the building was completed because it gave them the opportuniry to come together and worship God when the circuit rider minister would arrive. The Sixteen members of the Methodist movement were able to establish a Church in the summer of 1867. The Academy served these devoted Christians with a place to worship untill a church was built.

Three of the original members, Wilson L. Johnson, Neil Furguson, and W.P. Harbour. were chosen trustees for newly obtained property and the church was constructed on North Church Street. Mr. Wilson L. Johnson.a native of Statesville, North Carolina, was the prime mover to motivate building the Cross plains Methodist Church. His love and devotion to the church continued through the remaining years of his life. On February 19,1884, he was killed in a cyclone in Goshen. His Funeral was conducted from the church he had helped to build and his body was laid to rest in the Cross Plains Cemetery.

In the fall of 1868 work was begun on a small wooden frame Church, and was completed early in 1869. Rev. Theophilus Moody was assigned as the first minister. In the summer of that year Rev, Moody and the Rev. A.C. Ramsey of Gadsden had seventy-five conversions and sixty five new members joined the church.

Growth of membership continued but it was not until the Coosa Manufacturing Company began operation in March 15, 1892, that the church required an expansion Rev. I.Q. Melton was the minister serving when the second church was constructed. With heavy hearts, the older members witnessed the removal of the building where their parents had taken them to learn about Jesus and to worship God, where family members had been united in marriage, and where funerals of their beloved ones had been held.

A spacious, white wood building was constructed on the original location of the first church and in 1898 the building program was completed. Within seventeen years, the membership had grown so much that plans were implemented to construct the present church sanctuary. Construction began February 1, 1916, and in mid-summer the handsome brick building was completed at a cost of $10,000.

In 1950-5I the two story T Ben Kerr building was completed. In 1968 the J Cliffton Draper building was added at a cost of $100.000. In 1993, two class rooms were added between the Kerr and Draper Buildings At a cost of $50.000 plus. In the fall of 1995, major structurual repairs were performed on the interior and exterior of the sanctuary at a cost of over $250.000.