THE GARDENDALE METHODIST

EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH

 

The Gardendale Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized about 1860 by Reverend John Shugart and was first called Shugart’s Chapel.  It is said the first congregation worshipped in a brush arbor and then in a log house.  Later the name was changed to New Bethel.  Mr. J.O. Regan was the first Sunday school superintendent and served until 1896.

 Mr. Jim Massey donated the land for the church site on November 18, 1885.  George Brewer and others cut, hauled, and sawed logs to build the first plank church.  This church served the community as a place of worship until about 1914.  It was sometimes used as a school.   It was torn down in 1914 and a new building erected. 

 In 1913 Mrs. Dobson from Birmingham met with the ladies and organized the First Aid Society.  The ladies would meet in the various homes to make handmade articles which were sold to help build and finance the work of the church.  The name was later changed to the Women’s Society of Christian Service.

The church for many years was on a circuit which at times included as many as five or six churches.  Preaching services were held only one Sunday a month for many years.  During the time of revival meetings, people would come from many miles on horseback, buggies and even by ox-wagon to attend services.  In 1916, Bishop Jim McCoy dedicated the church.  Rev. H. G. Whitehead was the pastor and Rev. George Boyd the presiding elder.  The Sanctuary was the only building and was also used for Sunday school classes.  The four or five classes met together scattered around the Sanctuary.  Later the building was extended on the back, and the basement was dug and fixed for Sunday school rooms. 

After this was done the Sunday school classes were much better organized, and the departments were established from the primary through the adult classes.  The Epworth League was organized and other departmental work for the young people was carried out. 

The growth of the church made it necessary for more space.  In June 1952 Rev. R.L. Caufield, a missionary, shoveled the first dirt of the foundation for the new sanctuary.  The opening service was held November 29, 1953.  Reverend Gus Buttram was the pastor.

In later years, the old wooden structure was torn down, and an educational wing was erected in its place.  God continued to bless the church with a thriving ministry, and the town continued to grow as well.  On May 6, 1972 at a special Charge Conference, the Gardendale United Methodist Church approved the purchase of a tract of land on Crest Drive just off Highway 31 North for the future relocation of their church.  It was understood that the coming new interstate highway would take the old church structure.  Within a week of the approval of the purchase, the total cost of the land had been pledged by the membership of the church.   

 

Former Gardendale Pastors

John Shugart

O. A. Bonner

O. N. Holmes

G. W. Alley

George Bickley

Bob Wilson

J. T. Noland

J. C. Johnson

J. M. Jenkins

H. G. Whitehead

J. M. Holland

J. C. Francis

J. N. Davidson

E. B. Redus

T. B. Jordan

W. W. Morris

J. A. Gann

Charles G. Hamby

B. F. Smith

A. W. Gregg

A. L. Mathison

J. B. Kaylor

J. A. Clark

Robert Westbrook

George W. Elliott

Chester D. Dabbs/T. L. MacDonald

T. L. McDonald

Gus Buttram

Charles P. Adams

Chester Raper

George Creel

Henry Segars

James D. Bailey

Franklin Phillips

Vandon Windsor

 

 

THE MOUNT VERNON METHODIST

EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH

 

In 1878, there were no churches in the north area of Birmingham.  A small group of people decided to meet in a home.  Then, a small frame store building was rented and served for a while as the temporary church.  In 1884, a lot was purchased and a frame building erected on 33rd Avenue and 22nd Street.  This church was then on the Birmingham circuit. 

The church became a station in 1902 and the Reverend J. W. Johnson was appointed the pastor.  On May 4, 1904 ground was broken and work on a new church was begun.  Under his ministry a new brick building was erected and the church moved to 34th Avenue and 24th Street.  In 1909, a two-story brick Sunday school annex was erected.  Even then, Sunday school members filled every available space.  Dr. W. M. Harris served the church from 1923-1930, and under his ministry a new church and parsonage were erected at a total cost of $160,000 with an indebtedness of $60,000.  In 1923, plans were approved for a new Sanctuary.  The entire membership contributed time, money, energy and effort until the new church and a parsonage were completed in 1928.

In the fall of 1930 Dr. Harris was made Presiding Elder of the Gadsden District.  After serving there four years, he was again returned to Mount Vernon.  When he returned he found the debt still on the church with an accumulated interest.  Under his leadership, the church was able to liquidate this indebtedness, and Bishop J. L. Decell dedicated the church.  Following the service, a basket lunch was held on the church lawn with a short afternoon service.  Mrs. R. M. Johnson was the only living charter member.

In later years, as God continued to bless the ministry and work of Mount Vernon with growth, the church sought new ways to serve its members as well as its community.  In 1962, the church’s activities building was erected.  Mount Vernon was one of the first churches in the area to construct such a building.  Though the practice is common today, that building demonstrates the vision of the Mount Vernon church and its commitment to fostering a sense of community. 

As time passed, much of the Mt. Vernon church family moved to the outlying suburbs.  So, with visionary foresight in seeking the best direction to continue its ministry, the church began contemplating moving their congregation to a location in the nearby community of Gardendale.

Former Mount Vernon Pastors

John B. Gregory

W. M. P. P. Pippey

J. B. Stevenson

Evan Nicholson

N. H. Self

J. L. Copeland

G. L. Jenkins

E. L. Mabry

G. W. Reed

W. O. Waggoner

T. W. Ragan

J. W. Bradford

Jesse Wood

George Stoves

J. L. Ferguson

J. W. Johnson

Hoyt Dobbs

F. W. Brandon

J. S. Glasgow

J. S. Britian

L. F. Stansell

E. M. Glenn

G. E. Boyd

W. M. Harris

W. G. Echols

A. H. Nabors

W. M. Harris

L. D. Tyson

J. Grant Parris

Claude Whitehead

Harold C. Martin

McCoy Gutherie

Albert Kaylor

James Chestnutt

William R. Blount

Thelmer Vaughn

Dan Kilgore

 

 

THE GARDENDALE-MT. VERNON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 The Gardendale-Mt. Vernon United Methodist church is the product of the merger of two former churches whose history dates back to the 1860’s.  The Gardendale Methodist church was located on the old Fieldstown Road in Gardendale and was sold in December 1986 as commercial property.  A new mall was built with a Wal-Mart and Delchamp Grocery Market as the anchor stores.  The Mount Vernon Methodist church was located in North Birmingham and was sold at the time of merger.  It is now occupied by an African American congregation and regular weekly services are held there.  To fully appreciate the heritage that is part of the Gardendale-Mt. Vernon church, one must acknowledge a joint history which spans over a century in the two parent congregations.  That is what we have tried to convey in the previous pages.

On May 6, 1972 at a special Charge Conference, the Gardendale United Methodist Church approved the purchase of a tract of land on Crest Drive, just off Highway 31 North, for the future relocation of their church.  The church had already been made to understand that the new Interstate highway would take the old church structure.  Within a week of the approval of the purchase, the total cost of the land had been pledged by the membership of the church.

As stated before, the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in North Birmingham was also planning to relocate in the Gardendale area.  Negotiations between the two churches resulted in a special Charge Conference on May 6, 1974, at which time a resolution calling for consolidation of the two churches was adopted.  Soon afterward, ground was broken for an educational building, administration offices and a fellowship hall on the tract of land on Crest Drive.  The fellowship hall served as the sanctuary.  The two congregations moved to the new church in 1976.  The ground breaking service for the new sanctuary was held on April 8, 1979 with Bishop Carl J. Sanders, Reverend John Perkins and District Superintendent Gordon McKinney in attendance.  In June of 1979, the Reverend William H. Bostick, Jr. was appointed  as Senior Pastor, and the Reverend John Simmons was appointed as Associate Pastor to succeed Reverends Windsor and Screws.  On September 14, 1980 the Gardendale-Mt. Vernon Church consecrated its new sanctuary.

In the fall of 1982, an addition to the Children’s Department was finished below the sanctuary.  Future plans included the development of a Fireside Room, a Bride’s Room and additional classroom space. 

Also in 1982, the P.E.P. (Preschool Education Program,) the predecessor of our Child Enrichment Center, opened as a half-day preschool education program through the efforts of Penny Bostick, wife of Rev. William Bostick. 

In June of 1983, two new staff persons were added to the church.  Anne Horton became the Director of Christian Education and Reverend Arnold Hunt became the Assistant Pastor in charge of visitation and evangelism.  In June of 1986, Reverend Bostick was assigned to the First United Methodist Church, Tuscaloosa, and later, Anne Horton accepted a position in a church in South Carolina.  Reverend William D. Prickett was assigned as Senior Minister of Gardendale-Mt. Vernon, coming from Central Park United Methodist church in Birmingham.  Greg Foust joined the staff as Director of Music and Youth.

Those who worship weekly still enjoy a part of the Mount Vernon Church through the beautiful pipe organ that came from that church.  Upon entering the sanctuary, you are surrounded by the beauty of the stained glass window with scenes beginning with the birth of Jesus and ending with his crucifixion.  Over the balcony is the biggest window of all depicting Jesus’ resurrection.

The church has continued to grow and flourish as its ministries have expanded to reach the community in new ways.  In 1997, the Family Ministries Building was constructed that houses a regulation-size gymnasium, a weight room, and a game room to serve the recreational needs of our church and community.  Underneath the Family Ministries Building, the basement area was completed to be used for our child care ministry.  This phase of the construction would not have been possible without the generous donation of Mrs. J.H. Berry. 

Known today as the Child Enrichment Center, the mission of the CEC is to provide a Christian environment and variety of learning and play experiences that contribute to the spiritual, physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of each child.  The church strives to provide a safe and loving atmosphere so that parents feel secure leaving their children in the program.  This ministry now serves 350 children with more on the waiting list.  The long-range building plan for the church includes the construction of a new children’s ministry building.  The facility will allow expansion of the Child Enrichment Center program and other children’s ministries.  This overall expansion will also provide additional space for the other ministry programs on our campus.  As we continue to grow, we are trusting God to guide us as we seek ways to serve our members and our community so that all may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

From the Gardendale and Mt. Vernon churches, two rich and glorious heritages of gospel ministry have become one.  The accomplishments of the past, as impressive as they may be, are now overshadowed by the tremendous opportunities and responsibilities of the present for those of us who have inherited this great tradition and mission.  May God continue to guide us in our work for His glorious Kingdom for another 150 years.

 

PASTORAL TEAMS OF GARDENDALE-MT. VERNON CHURCH

            Senior Pastor                                                          Associate Pastor

 

            Vandon Windsor                                                    Dan Kilgore

                                                                                                Steve Screws

            William H. Bostick, Jr.                                           John Simmons

                                                                                                Robert Fletcher

                                                                                                Arnold Hunt

            William D. Prickett                                                 Arnold Hunt

                                                                                                Dwayne Harper

            Billy J. Reding                                                           Dwayne Harper

                                                                                                Lawton Higgs

                                                                                                James D. Bailey

            J. Clinton Busler                                                      James D. Bailey

                                                                                                Brian Drawhorn

            C. Rudy Guess                                                         Brian Drawhorn

                                                                                                Brad L. Kimble

                                                                                                Judy Shepherd