Talk of beginning a Methodist church in Saraland began in the fall of 1954. Forty-eight Methodists living in the Saraland area decided that a Methodist church was needed. These charter members had to find out what Methodist guidelines to follow, how to seek a charter for the church, city laws, etc. A lot of hard work and prayer followed and the efforts of these charter members paid off.
April 10, 1955, the first service was held in the Saraland Women's Club House (better known at the time as The Community House) on Highway 43 in Saraland. Student pastor Delance Durough conducted the first service.Things went very well for this young church that had now grown to a membership of 58. By August 1955, God blessed them with an opportunity to purchase property on Station Street. There was no building on the property, however, Mrs. Edna McKeough loaned the church a tent in which to hold services. The tent served the purpose until a building could be constructed. It was cold, drafty and sometimes leaky, but the members were undaunted in this desire for the church. A building was built on the property using volunteer labor, loans and donations from members. Reverend Jack E. Ray served the church as a student pastor at this time.
The Reverend John T. Parker followed Reverend Ray and served Saraland UMC from 1956 until 1958. The Reverend Chester Bolton, Jr. served the church for the conference year of 1958-1959. The Reverend Hubert E. McCrary served the church from 1959 -1960.
During the pastorate of the Reverend Charles N. Boland, who served as pastor from 1960 until 1962, the parsonage was built at 412 McKeough Avenue.
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History
Saraland United Methodist Church
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Charter Members of
Saraland United Methodist Church
Living as of our 50th Anniversary
on April 10, 2005
Linda Nell Cook Bain, Susan Rebecca Cook, Thomas Wayne Cook, Judith Edwina Pierce Croxton, Jerry Gene DuBose, Peggy Morgan Strange Freeman, F. Kenneth Gravette, Lollie Gravette, Cecile Mildred DuBose McClellan, Jill Elaine Casey McCullough, Maude Shiver Norris Owens, Ralph Bailey Pierce, Jr., Lee Gravette Racine, Melba Jo Norris Rushing, Dr. Henry E. Sikes, Carol Ann Casey Stephenson, Gloria Morgan Strange, Mr. Lorin E. Strange, Jr., Joyce (Joy) Gravette Thomby, Dorothy Mae Tuggle, Mary Alice Gates Williams, John Henry Wright, Sr.
Deceased as of our 50th Anniversary
on April 20, 2005
Sophie Elizabeth Barnes, Lela Mae Barnes, Harriet G. Bowling, Joseph Harvey Casey, Sr., Doris Coleman Casey, Joseph Harvey Casey, Jr., E. W. Collins, Mrs. E. W. Collins, H. F. Duke, Etta Waddill Duke, Acey C. DuBose, Rozelle Cunningham DuBose, A. H. Cook, Nell Grace Cook, Mrs. R. H. Lee, M. L. Maddox, Sr., Mrs. M. L. Maddox, Sr., Ralph B. Pierce, Sr., Marjorie Gabriella Pierce, Patterson Norris, Joseph Michael Norris, Jacquelyn Norton (Jackie) Sikes, Carl John Tuggle, Jr., Jinnie V. Turnage, Rudolph Richard Turnage, Marguarite Wright
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In 1962, the Reverend Charles C. Hays was appointed as pastor of the Saraland church. During his tenure (from 1962 - 1967) the place of worship was moved from the Station Street location to a nearly six-acre site on McKeough Avenue. The dwelling on McKeough Avenue was converted into Sunday School space, a nursery, and a small existing kitchen. An extension was added on the back of the dwelling to serve as the sanctuary. Church members did the renovation work. The first service conducted at the new location was held on August 11, 1963. This place of worship served the needs of the Methodists of Saraland from 1963 until 1965.
In 1965, a beautiful and impressive sanctuary was constructed. The first service of worship in the new building was on Easter Sunday of 1965. It’s interesting to note that while the walls were not yet erected and much of the work uncompleted, the pastor and people braved a cold Easter morning to worship their Lord at the Sunrise Service.
The Reverend Malcolm Rolen, who faithfully served his flock from 1967 until 1970, followed the Reverend Hays.
In 1970, the Reverend George H. Mathison was appointed as pastor. Under his loving guidance and prayerful leadership, the church prospered. In 1975, Phases II and III of the original church plan were built and completed, thus providing the church with one of the most accommodating and spacious fellowship halls in the conference. Also, the kitchen was equipped with the very latest and most modern appliances and utilities. Because of this, many United Methodist District meetings were held in the Saraland church. Reverend Mathison served the church from 1970 until 1982.
Reverend J. Douglas Williams was appointed to lead the church from 1982 until 1984.
In 1984, the Reverend R. Neil McDavid became the minister of Saraland United Methodist Church and served the church with a special love during the years 1984 - 1988.
The Reverend Joe W. Lisenby succeeded Reverend McDavid. His pastorate spanned the years of 1988 - 1990.
The Reverend Rual W. Morris came to our church during the conference year of 1990 - 1991.
The Reverend Jimmie Spikes was appointed for the years 1991 - 1993.
The Lord blessed Saraland with the leadership of the Reverend T. Grant Parker from 1993 until 1996.
The Reverend Edward M. Cotten was appointed to serve Saraland from 1996 until 2001.
The Reverend Rian P. Kegerreis served the church from 2001 until 2004.
The Reverend Douglas R. Seymour came to Saraland UMC in 2004.
Since the middle 1950's, we have had a food booth at the Greater Gulf State Fair. Our first year at the Fair, Elvis Presley was the featured singer! Of course, his popularity was only beginning, but many at the church can still remember the occasion with notoriety. We have manned the booth each year with church members. Some of those members actually use their vacations to work at and manage the booth. In the early years, we used the profits to help our church programs; however, now all of the profits go to missions. We feel that we are truly a missions church!
Once each year, on Maundy Thursday, we present "The Last Supper", a drama based on the painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The members of the cast are church members and, as part of the drama, we share in Holy Communion. The service is very meaningful and well attended.
We minister to the Saraland community, not only as a place of worship, but through many organizations. We sponsor Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and make our facility available to community groups, such as the Lion's Club and the YMCA, as often as possible.
We have been blessed with many talented ministers through the years. We have a "Wall of Pastors" with the pictures of each past ministers displayed. A couple of our former ministers have gone on to become District Superintendents while others have moved on to larger churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
Within Saraland United Methodist Church there is a continuously growing sense of warmth, a developing spirit of community, and a caring fellowship of people dedicated to a Loving Lord. There is an air of expectancy and a feeling of enthusiasm and awareness that we are His people, being about His business in the community.
This brief history of Saraland United Methodist Church was written for our 50th Anniversary Celebration and can be obtained in booklet form at the church.
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