Dale County AlArchives News.....Universalist Church Donated to the town of Ariton March 1992
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Christine Thacker CGT714@AOL.com February 14, 2005, 12:25 pm

Ariton Alliance
March 1992 - Ariton Alliance  ( the Newspaper was a Monthly Newspaper, 
Established 1991, by Dr.Charles W. Gann , the Paper is no longer in business , 
All articles from this Newspaper are from the files of Mary Vic Paramore of 
Ariton. )

Written by Mary Vic Paramore

   The Universalist Church building in Ariton has recently been deeded to the 
town. It will be used as a Community Center as the town and its citizens see 
fit.
  Former members and friends of former members have made possible a new roof 
and other repairs. These repairs are to begin immediately.
  The Ariton Universalist Church has a long and interesting history. The first 
church was organized on January 1, 1876, at Mossy Grove just off Highway 11 in 
the Peters settlement  A profession of faith and form of church government was 
drawn up and the church was called the Universalist Church of Mossy Grove, Dale 
County, Alabama. The old cemetary is still there between County Highway 11 and 
Highway 231 South.
  In 1891, the church was moved to Ariosta near the site of the Universalist 
Cemetary.
  A storm blew this church down, or at least damaged it to the point of not 
having services in it and in 1913, a new building was erected on the present 
site. There was no resident pastor, but once each month services were held. The 
pastor from the beautiful Universalist Church in Camp Hill came, also the 
pastor from Brewton came to hold services for us, some times even on Sunday 
afternoon. The last pastor was Rev. Leonard C. Prather who traveled to be with 
us with his lovely wife each fourth  Sunday of the month from December 1945 
until October 1954. Mrs. Prather died and Bro. Prather went to Texas to be near 
his brothers and sisters. He now lives in Florida with his daughter.
  There were no regular services in the church after Rev. Prather left but once 
each year, usually at Easter, the former members, present members, and friends 
gathered for a homecoming. This annual event was continued until 1988, when we 
discovered vandalism had turned the beautiful old church into a place which was 
no longer enjoyable for the meetings, filled with the love and fellowship we 
had known.
  There are only six members left in Ariton. Most of them attend other 
churches. The love and respect they feel for this old church where they were 
taught the love of God and Christ and where true and loving Christian 
fellowship gave them many happy years will never be forgotten.
  Fomer members of this Church hope that it can be made into a lovely place for 
the community to enjoy for many years to come. They will contribute when and as 
they can for the upkeep of the building.


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