COLUMBUS COUNTY, GA - CHURCHES  EPWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

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"Beginning of the Epworth Church - December 15, 1886"

"By 1886 a man by the name of William (Shoe String) White, a
member of the Methodist Society in Columbus, started a movement in
the community on Long Street. A place of worship was sought. He
mortgaged his home in Columbus and he and his family built this
church on a hill about two blocks east of Long Street. It was a
one-frame building with three windows on both sides and a double
front door.  He bought a big coal stove that stood in the middle
of the building. It was called a Station and put on the Charge
with the Girard Mission.


The first pastor was the Rev. G.W. Jones, and the church was in
the Montgomery District. At the beginning of the Church there were
about twenty-five members.  The pastor preashed one sermon a month
at 5:00pm, since Girard was the 'Mother Church.' His salary was
$50.00 a year. Other duties of the minister included the marriages
and the burial of the dead. Since the small building did not have
Sundal School rooms, each small class would get together in
different corners of the church, where it would be a little
quieter.  Mr. White would preach on Sunday morning, but soon other
families joined the church and became very active, God-fearing
people. They also helped out with the preaching and acted as
Superentendent of the Sunday School.  


Some of those outstanding pioneer, other then Mr. White were:  Mr.
Henry and Sealy Scott; Mrs. Julia Sharpe, who played the organ;
Mr. E.L. and Sally Richardson (Mrs. Sealy, Mrs. Julia and
Mrs.Julia were sisters. [DE comment-not sure if this is a typo or
not, it does list 2 Julia.].; Mrs. Delia Harris and family; Mrs
Emma Brown and family; Mrs. Nora Hearne; Mrs. Ada Lathern; Mrs.
Annie Best; Mrs Relia Moore and family; Mrs. Lorena Griggs and
Mrs. Clara.  Others included Mrs. Ollie Rice and family; Mrs.
Josephine Veasey; Mrs Frances Davenport and family; and Mrs.
Birdie Clegg. The church at the time consisted mostly of women and
children, because very few men came, except Mr. White, Mr. Scott
and Mr. Richardson.  After their deaths it was only women and
children who cme.  Different laymen from other societies came and
preached some.  

There was a Men's Evangelist Club in Columbus who played a vital
part in keeping the church going  They would come and preach and
sing at least once a month.  They would also hold a revival once a
year.  One man in this group, Mr. Henry Screws, who later became a
preacher, took a great interest in this church.  In 1931 he held a
revival and fifteen people joined the church and were baptized in
the pool at Girard Baptist on Dillingham Steet. In this same year
three Sunday School rooms were built on the back of the church.


In the year 1911 the name 'Mission' was dropped from Girard and
was called Girard Methodist and the name Epworth Chapel was the
name replacing the Station.  In 1915 Alexandria of Ft. Mitchell
was added to the Charge, making three churches for one pastor.
Epworth Chapel still had one sermon a month and Alexandria one
sermon every fifth Sunday.

The Ladies Working Circle


"In all the years of the church no pastor's wife ever visited
Epworth Chapel until 1916. This was the year the Rev. E. C.  Meigs
was appointed to the Charge.  His wife came to Epworth Chapel and
organized the Ladies Working Circle (L.W.C.) in which she attended
each meeting.  Throughout the years the Ladies Working Circle was
the 'backbone' of the church until this day. The other pastor's
wife was active in the L.W.C. This was Mrs. Vanlandingham, whose
husband was pastor from 1939 to 1942, and again in 1963, when the
church was a Four Star Church in its Mission giving. In 1930,
Girard, Epworth Chapel and Alexandria were put in the Troy
District.  In 1943 the Rev. R. K. Jones was sent to the Charge. He
remained on the Charge fro nine years, longer than any other
pastor had stayed.  He was the 'Key' that changed the Charge."


The Moving out of Epworth Chapel


Rev. R.K. Jones took a great interest in Epworth Chapel, and
begged to work in the community. He held a revival and a large
number of people came including men with their families. Mr. D. L.
Cameron, from the Girard Church, came and was appointed
Superintendent of the Sunday School by the request of Rev. Jones. 
Mr. J.E. Franklin married Mrs. Linner Posey and moved his church
letter from Alexandria to Epworth Chapel.  Mr. Franklin was
elected Treasurer of the church.  Worship services were held each
Sunday at 5:00 PM, so Rev Jones could get to Girard from Epworth
Chapel for their 7:30 service.  The little church with its seating
capacity of 50 was very crowded. It was the inspiration of Rev.
Jones that gave members a desire for a new and bigger church. The
Ladies Circle began working harer quilting each week and selling
hot dogs, etc., each Saturday. Mr. Charles Rice made a building
fund box and each week people put what they could into it. Pledges
from the members were made. The Rev. Jones went before the Church
Board of Extension for help and the Board gave $1,000.00 toward
the building fund. Different men pledged their talents in building
the church, as well as the pastor and his sons."
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TBC