Our History
The Woodlawn United Methodist Church is
considered the second oldest Methodist Church in the state of
Kentucky, and was the first church in the Bardstown area.
Joseph Ferguson, Founder of what is now know as
the Woodlawn United Methodist Church, moved to Nelson County from
Virginia in 1784, making his home "Popular Flat." He
started having services in his home in 1790.
The first
building, known as Ferguson's Chapel, was erected in 1792, of
round logs with clapboard roof. Ferguson's Chapel was later to
become known as Poplar Flat Methodist Church. The second
structure was built between 1816 and 1822, about fifty yards from
the log building. A brick structure was erected in 1844, about
fifty yards from the second structure, and was used until 1908,
when the present building was erected in the village of Woodlawn,
about three-quarters of a mile from the site of the old church
building.
Joseph Ferguson died November 28, 1828 and is
buried in the Poplar Flat Cemetery, where his tombstone stands
today. The cemetery is located at the site of the original
buildings.
Many changes have been made in the present
structure since its erection in 1908, including digging a
basement under the sanctury, complete remodeling of the interior,
addition of beautiful art-glass windows and erection of a Sunday
School addition.
On January 1, 1990, Woodlawn merged
with its sister church, Beech Fork United Methodist, and the name
became Woodlawn/Beech Fork. Beech Fork was founded about 1842, as
a camping place, and was also known as Campground
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