The first Methodist service in Springhill
was led by Rev. R.W. Vaughan. He preached in a planning shed of the
Pine Woods Lumber Company in 1895. The next year, he returned to
start a Sunday School. A small building was built by the lumber company
in 1896. Methodist services were also held in the area at Blockers
Chapel. Over the next couple of decades, Blockers Chapel grew smaller
as Springhill grew larger.
When Rev. William Martin was appointed
to the charge in 1897, the church was organized. Services were
held in the small building until it was destroyed by a tornado on March
9, 1902. For the next five years, services were held at an old school
at the east end of Boucher Street.
In 1907, the lumber company built
a new church. In those days, all of the denominations shared the
same building. The site faced south towards Church Street.
By 1918, the Methodists wanted to build a church of their own. The
1907 structure was sold to the Baptists for $500 and moved elsewhere.
The Methodists built a new church structure on the Church Street location.
The lumber company gave the land to the church and also provided a house
to use as a parsonage.
In 1931 and in 1940, additional space
was added for classrooms. A new education building was constructed
in 1950-51. |
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