The History of

Newbern First United Methodist Church

            In November, 1873, Methodists of Newbern bought land for $416.00 on which was built a rectangular one-room-plus-basement brick church. The first service in this new Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was held on September 13, 1874. W.W. Scott was the pastor.

            The church faced north. Two front doors opened on two aisles that led to the chancel rail and raised platform at the south end, where the pulpit and the choir were located. The section east of the left aisle was the “men’s side” and that west of the right aisle was the “women’s side”.  What is now the rectangular seating area of our present sanctuary is the original building. Heat was provided by two large wood-burning stoves in the middle of the room, and light came from kerosene lamps on brackets and from an ornate chandelier suspended from the ceiling. A wooden bell tower was in the churchyard.

            An 1884-85 Sunday School record book shows that Sunday School enrollment that year reached 130, with twelve classes. The church spent $19.10 for literature for the year and received $23.15 in Sunday School collections. By 1924, fifty years after the church was built, the church had 356 members.

            In 1907, the church was badly damaged by fire. In the rebuilding that followed, the pulpit and choir were moved to a new addition on the west side. The present tower and a classroom were built on the east side. Our beautiful imported stained glass windows were installed. Classrooms were built in the basement. The original front doors were closed in, and two new entrances were built in the recessed areas added to the original building. The exterior was red brick.

            In 1936-37, the annex on the west side was enlarged. The pulpit-choir-chancel area was moved to the east-the present location. Then, in 1949-50, a two-story annex was built on the east, giving office space, classrooms, and a large fellowship hall. The exterior was covered with Permastone. A Hammon organ was installed, and a church kitchen was built in the central part of the basement.

            Internal renovations were made in 1972-73. The recessed area at the back of the sanctuary (once the chancel area) was enclosed as a “cry room”; red carpeting and new pews with three aisles instead of two were placed in the sanctuary; a new church office was built; the kitchen was moved to its present location at the south end of the fellowship hall; and walls were changed to make new classrooms.

            In its 121-year history, the Newbern Church has been served by 43 different pastors, and there have been two name changes. In 1939, when three separate branches of the Methodism became one, we changed from Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to The Methodist Church. Then in 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church merged into one denomination, we became The First United Methodist Church.

            We rejoice in our church heritage. We give thanks to God for all who have had – and for all who still have – a part in the growth and ministry of the Newbern First United Methodist Church.