Add an Article Add an Event Edit

Union United Methodist Church


Union United Methodist Church History:

In 1845 when the Joshua Draper family moved to what is today the Union Community because of a drought in South Carolina, he was soon followed by the Joseph Phillips family from Union S.C., there already was a church of some sort at the present site of the Union United Methodist Church. In 1847, a log cabin was built that served as both a church and a school. The school had two trustees; James Webster and E.W. Clemins, who hired Lizzie A. Broyles as school teacher on February 13, 1865.

The log cabin was replaced by a frame building which served as a community church for all denominations, but was later taken over by the Methodist members a a Methodist Church. From the beginning this church was associated with the Alexandria Methodist Church by sharing the labors of the same pastor. Later these two churches were joined by other churches - Weaver and Four Mile.

As a Methodist Church, its organization dates before the War Between the States with such families as: D.P.P. Lindel, George Broyles, James Kirby, Joseph Phillips, Treadwells, Burgess, Blackburns, Websters, Powers, Harveys, Drapers and others. some of the  pioneer families who have been associated with the Union Church, are still represented by their descendants:

Pastors: According to the oldest record on hand, the first pastor listed was McCloud in 1851 and the last Pastor on this list was S.R. Tiler in 1901.

Another list continues from 1901 to T.R. Ferrel in 1936.
Still another list continues from 1936, with J.A. Smoake as pastor for 27 years - from 1959 until 1986. Many improvements were made during the time Brother Smoake served as pastor. 

Tom McMinn became pastor in 1986 and served until June 2006.

On July 15, 1945, Pastor Robert C. Mooney, Jr.,held a special service dedicated to the 22 service men from the church who had fought in the war just over. Coporal Clifford Nunnally, just home from a prisoner of war camp in Germany was the speaker.

The Sunday School Rooms were added to the church building when Robert Maxwell was the pastor (1956-57).

There was a fire in the church on Sunday, September 9th, 1975, but not much damage was done.