Although Mrs. E.E. Rogillio
has evidence that the church existed as early as 1896, the first church
record dates back to 1901. The Methodists were worshiping with the
Presbyterians. When the Presbyterian congregation declined, the property
was given to the Methodists. That 1901 record is from the Conference
Journal, where Rev. W.H. Nelson notes that there were 16 members at Ethel
and 2 infants were baptized that year.
On January 4, 1909, a storm
damaged the Ethel church and destroyed a nearby black church. The
materials from the Ethel church were given to the black congregation so
that they could rebuild their church. Though there are no records
of the construction of a new Ethel Methodist Church, Mr. and Mrs. W.W.
Worthy gave the church 2 lots of land (worth $200) on February 6, 1909.
There is still a bell on the property titled the WIlliam W. Worthy Bell,
noted as being given in 1909. In 1927, under the leadership of Rev.
J. Henry Bowden, an addition was made to the church.
In 1978, property was given
to the church in memory of the Dobrowolski family.
SOURCE: "Ethel Methodist Church,
A Heritage" by Mamie J. Moody and Elaine W. Roddy |
