History of PUMC

On February 22, 1790, Colonel Henry Skipwith deeded one acre for four shillings to be used by Episcopalians, Methodists, and members of the Church of England. "Charity Chapel" as it was called, was thought to be near where Wachovia Bank is today.

On April 7, 1843, Benjamin L. Meade conveyed for $10.00 one acre of land to trustees of the Methodist congregation if they would move to the vicinity of Macon. This site was about four to five miles west of the Charity Chapel. The name was changed to Meadville Methodist Church. There were three sites used by the church, the last being the Macon Public School which burned in the 1930's.

May Memorial Baptist Church offered our "homeless" church the use of their sanctuary for preaching appointments. Sunday School was held in the old community house on the site of the old post office building in the village.

The Board of Church Extension offered $500.00 if the church would move to Powhatan. On October 1, 1934, a deed was recorded for Meadville Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This is the building currently owned by Powhatan Church of God. About 1937, the name was changed from Meadville to Powhatan by a vote of the church conference.

In 1957, we bought a small plot of land from the Rossons. It was directly behind the church property. On this, we erected a cinderblock education building. It contained four classrooms and a fellowship room in the basement.

Under the leadership of The Reverend A. H. Franklin, our membership had grown to 192. On November 10, 1978, eight acres of land was bought from Mrs. Rosson for a future church and parsonage. Our membership had grown to 376 by the end of the conference year 1981.

The Reverend Ralph Stalter led the congregation in breaking ground for the new sanctuary on December 19, 1982. On the last Sunday before conference, in 1983, The Reverend Stalter led the congregation as they marched from the old building to their new home. This new house of worship was consecrated on October 30, 1983 and was dedicated in April of 1988, debt-free.

On March 21, 1993, the congregation broke ground for an education wing that includes six classrooms, a multipurpose gym, commercial kitchen, and restrooms. The building is built on three acres of land that was purchased in 1992 and brings the church's property to 11.323 acres.