Ware County Churches Trinity Methodist File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/ware.htm WAYCROSS JOURNAL-HERALD, Waycross, Georgia Monday, April 22, 1974 TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH BEGAN AS UNION FOR ALL DEMONINATIONS Where Trinity United Methodist Church now stands, a Union church once brought people of many different denominations together for worship. The church housed worshippers in 1872 of Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterain faiths. Later the church split and members of the different denominations formed churches of their own. Inheriting the location of Union Church, Trintity Methodist constituted in 1895 with less than 50 members. The church's love feast's were well known throughout the state and became immortalized in a poem written by Frank Stanton, a Smithville newspaper editor. In Stanton's poem, the love feast was described as a "great meetin." Originally, Trinity was remembered for the groves which are said to have formed a root above the worshippers who first settled in Ware, according to the "History of Ware County" by Mrs. J. L. Walker. The first Sunday School formed at Trinity was St. Paul's Sunday School. A new brick building was constructed in 1900, and the Rev. J. M. Glenn served as chaiman. Others on the board were D. B. Sweat, secretary; B. H. Thomas, treasurer; C. C. Buchanan; R. P. Bird; E. M. Cason and Joel Lott. J. B. Strickland was constructor and every morning during the progress of the work, he opened the day's labor with prayer. Trinity's present sanctuary was constructed in 1954 and the social hall building was completed in 1969. Dating back to 1893, the historic First Methodist Church building was a landmark. First Methodist was a breakaway from Trinity, whose growth was more than could be contained in their building in 1893. Those who organized First Methodist were T. E. Lanier, H. Murphy, William Parker, W. J. Smith, Lemuel Johnson, Leon A. Wilson, and S. W. Hitch. The building was erected upon ground that had been sanctified by one of the greatest revivals Waycross had ever known when a tent was spread upon the lot, later purchased from Dr. D. F. Williams, according to the History of Ware County. The Harley Building, an educational unit, was added in 1942; a new educational building in 1962; and the new sanctuary and chapel in 1972. Other Methodist Churches were later formed. Gilchrist Park United Methodist Church was formerly a Waycross Mission in charge with Pierce Chapel and St. John's. On Mar 9, 1910, permission was granted for the construction of a church at Gilchrist Park, in 1912 the church was named. First Stewards of the new church were J. C. McFoy, C. G. Melvin, E. M. Kendrick and J. W. Booth. The history says, "For some reason this church was closed while still young." In 1929, two women, Mrs. M. J. Richards, and Mrs. M. P. Dickson, realized what the church would mean to the community and worked hard to restore the building. In 1955, the Gilchrist Park United Methodist Church became a stationary church and a parsonage was built. Winona Park Methodist Church was founded Sept. 10, 1939, the Rev. J. C. G. Brooks, pastor of the First United Methodist Church and F. M. Gaines, district superintendent, were largely responsible for the founding of the church. Meetings were held in the old commissary at the corner of Augusta and Albany Avenues. The building was started July 4, 1941. The building started with absolutly no money on hand, according to the church history, but the church has grown, and the building located at Ben Hill Street and Augusta Avenue, where the church owns eight lots, was completed. Brooks United Methodist Church was founded in January, 1955, in answer to prayer and "great need for a religious center in a fast growing area in the northeast sections of Waycross," according to the church history. The idea of a new church was conceived in the minds of Methodist ministers and laymen after the Rev. Hormer Summerall had shown the need by holding church services in the home of some of the residents of the Satilla Terrace area. During 1954, the Rev. James R. Webb, district superintendent, enlisted the aid of the Board of Missions in purchasing 5 1/2 lots at the corner of Alice Street and Pinehurst Drive to contain the present sanctuary. The building committee for the church included the Rev. David F. Cripps, chairman, Merrill T. Johnson, Roy McDaniel, H. M. Pafford, Jr., Clyde E. Smith and Earl Spence. The church was named for the late Rev. and Mrs. J. D. G. Brooks. The Rev. Mr. Brooks was a past superintendent. The first church service in the sanctuary was held Jan 2, 1955. The church has built onto their building since then, with seven church school rooms, pastor's study and office added in 1971. Probably the youngest Methodist Church in Waycross is the First Evangelical Methodist Church, organized July 7, 1963, by the Rev. A. A. Williamson, southeastern district superintendent of the Evangelical Methodist Church, who met with severals persons, S. R. Clark, Lee R. Daniles, and W. W. Butts. These men decided to build a church now located on the corner of Tebeau Street and Sunnyside Drive. The location was found by Butts and finally selected after much prayer. The first service in the new church was on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1955. [Contributed by Barbara Walker Winge ] ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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