Services in Vivian began in
1893/4 when the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built. Other denominations,
including the Methodists, took turns using the building. In 1904,
the Methodist church was organized. The itinerant pastor would come
by to hold services once a month. When the Baptists built their own
church in 1905, the Methodist pastor gave more services at the church.
As the Presbyterian membership dwindled, the Methodists became the only
denomination meeting at the church at that time. Rev. Robert Harp
was the pastor then. The first full-time pastor was Rev. J.A. Alford
was the first full-time Methodist pastor from 1912-1915.
Construction on the first Methodist
church began in the summer of 1916 and took a year due to bad weather.
It was finally completed in the fall of 1917. After renting a home
for the pastor, the church bought its first parsonage in 1917 while Rev.
B.F. Crews served as pastor.
By 1924, a lot was purchased
and the home on the property used for the parsonage. The former parsonage
was used for Sunday School classes and was later sold and moved off the
property. In the mid 1930s, Rev. L.N. Hoffpauir had the old parsonage
connected to the church, creating a large room in-between. In 1936,
the lot between the church and parsonage was purchased from the Long heirs
for $800. A new parsonage was constructed in 1938.
Bishop Martin gave the message
when the cornerstone was laid on September 3, 1947 for a two-story education
building. The building was completed the following spring at a cost
of $35,000.
In April 1948, demolition of
the sanctuary began. The pastor at that time was Rev. J.C. Sensintaffar.
The annex was sold and moved. The new brick Colonial-design church
was completed at a cost of $50,000. The first service was held on
January 15, 1950. When classroom space ran low in 1955, the church
began using the parsonage for Sunday School and a new parsonage was built
at 709 West Arkansas Avenue. The garage was later (1960) converted
into a classroom for young adults.
In the early 1960s, the W.C.
Burr Memorial Library was set up. An activities building was completed
under the leadership of Rev. Terry Willis in 1989-90.
Source: His Story: 1904-1966; Lillian Horton |
