From humble beginnings to emerging from the fire, Monroe UMC weaves a right history

For 175 years, the Monroe United Methodist Church has weaved a rich history with the town, its elders and every one who engaged with the heart of the church, the people. Founded by Susan H. Tool, Susan A. Tool, James A. Tool, W.G. Fleenor and Mary S. Fleenor in 1844, the church started at Adam Tool’s house with A. W. Johnson serving as the first preacher.

“Johnson traveled this mission two years and organized a church of five members in October 1844,” Susan H. Tool recounted in her personal account of the first 16 years of Methodism in Monroe. “He preached and made it a regular appointment every four weeks.”

Throughout the years, additional members joined the church but regular preaching was unavailable, Tool said. Frequently, a variety of denominations preached at the house including Presbyterian, Baptists and United Brethren.

In 1848, preacher J.I. Hammond was appointed to the circuit and was feeling discouraged as he traveled the pair, fatigued at the though he would have “few havens and fewer yet who would take interested in the preaching.

“He approached the house and heard the people singing ‘The Old-Fashioned Bible That Lay On the Stand’ with a great deal of animation and he felt encouraged in the ministry and in fair that shortly the wilderness and solitary places would be made glad and the decent rejoice and blossom as the rose,” Tool said.

The first death at the church was W.J. Fleenor in 1850 with a “fine funeral sermon preached by M. Seay.”

The first church in Jasper County was built by the Methodists in 1856, a 30 foot by 40 foot solid walnuts frame building at the cost of about $1,700. It was located on what is now the north side of the downtown square.

A new church was built 16 years later, located on what is now the south corner of the present church. It was a frame building and attracted a lot of attention because “it had a vestibule and a bell tower.” The parsonage was later purchased at $1,400 in 1893.

Just before the turn of the century in 1897, the belfry moved from the west to the south side of the property and the interior was remodeled extensively increasing the seating capacity to 150. A balcony was added to the rear of the main auditorium in 1935 and in 1940 the church underwent extensive repairs and redecoration. A basement was dug for the church between 1947 and 1948 which added a large dining room and social hall to the church along with additional school rooms.

In was less than a decade later on March 27,1953 that church was completely destroyed by a fire.

“What had taken a century to build was wiped away in less than two hours.”

Patty Eilander, an organizer of the 175th anniversary celebration, said within moments of hearing about the fire, people rushed in to save the organ from the building, the only piece that was rescued from the flames. The cause of the fire was never determined

Immediately, efforts started to work toward rebuilding the church.

“There was one young man who sold his lamb to put money into it,” Eilander said. “There was a woman who didn’t buy her Easter bonnet or dress and put the money into it. There was a child who have $6 from his piggy bank.”

The Martha’s and the Mary’s, the name of the Sunday school program also had the children create a “mile of pennies” to help with the fundraising. They thought if they collected a mile of pennies there would be about $800 to go toward the rebuilding effort.

The groundbreaking ceremony for thenew church building was held March 21, 1954 and in October the congregation was able to start regular services in the new church. It was dedicated on Feb. 7, 1965. The total cost for the new church was $70,164.

In 1970, the congregation welcomed the members of Tool’s Chapel to the church, which had decided to close its doors. The two churches had many shared connections, including the family who founded the town.

“The churches were far enough apart that they didn’t do a whole lot together, but when Tool’s Chapel started on a downward trend and in 1970 they closed and it seemed natural, with the same minister for both churches, they came over here,” Dickens said.

Many pastors, members of the congregation and those involved with the church have come and gone throughout the years. With 175 years of memories, the members of the church are excited to celebrate with the kick-off event at the 9:30 a.m. service Jan. 27. A look at the history of the church, through skits, songs and decorations will bring the history to life, in the first of many gatherings to commemorate the anniversary.