History of First Methodist Church of Brewton By: Barbara Page
Methodism seems to have been around in Alabama since the early 1800’s. A proclamation was issued in 208 recognizing 200 years of Methodism in Alabama. It is probable that in the Mississippi Territory some itinerant Methodist preachers did preach here. Lorenzo Dow, a self-proclaimed Methodist (he was recognized and accepted by the Connecticut Conference where he was born and grew up), probably came through the Brewton area on his way to Spanish held Pensacola. He possibly went on the Conecuh – Escambia River – western side through Century, Florida, area. Dow was ousted from the Pensacola area as he tried to convert the Spanish Catholics. Dow referred to himself as “Crazy Dow”, (He was also an abolitionist).
As the Creek War ended in 1814, the area opened to settlers, many from Georgia and South Carolina. In 1814-1816 Fort Crawford was built to protect settlers from possible Indian attacks. Early Methodist preachers Bradford Cotton and Rev. and Mrs. Shaw seem to have held services in the Fort Crawford area. By the late 1850s a need for a rail connection between Montgomery and Pensacola was needed. The only market was by water from Brewton to Pensacola at the time.
After the Civil Was Escambia County was formed from parts of Conecuh and Baldwin Counties in 1868. Pollard was the most prosperous town with a hotel, banks, stores, etc., so it became the county seat. With the railroad built and timber available, Brewton grew in population and wealth and was able to become the county seat in 1883. By the 1850s the Pollard Methodist circuit was well established with its Methodist Church (current building) in existence during that time period.
Brewton was a part the Pollard circuit from 1873-1882. The Pollard preacher held services in Brewton in a vacant store on the site across the railroad from what is now Weaver’s store, next to Antigone’s. We were a storefront church.
In 1879 a small wooden church was built (near where Comfort Care Hospice and Provalus reside today). Rev. Robert Paine Baker was the minister but he lived in Pollard because the parsonage was located there. Rev. Baker aided yellow fever victims in 1883 and died of the fever in 1883. Many victims are buried in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Alco. Rev. Baker is actually buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, AL., but a memorial to him is in Pilgrim’ Rest Cemetery.
In December 1883, Rev. B.C. Glenn became the first resident pastor in Brewton. A house had been purchased to serve as the parsonage. It was located on Carmack Street behind what is now Camp 31 restaurant. About 1887 a parsonage was built behind the wooden church.
By May 1891 the church had 375 members and plans were made to build a new brick church. It was finished in 1893 and was of Gothic architecture. It had a fine organ, stained glass windows, oak pews and interior columns. Many Brewton lumbermen had become very wealthy and quite a few were generous Methodists. (This was also before the federal income tax was implemented.) This church was on the same property as the old one. Two of the windows are now in the archives room. In 1908 the exterior of the church was cemented and blocked to make it appear to be made of stone blocks.
In 1906, a house on Evergreen Avenue became the third parsonage. (It was located behind the courthouse – where a small office building is now.) The old parsonage became the Sunday School building, kitchen, fellowship hall and meeting area. The women of the church served meals for men’s civic groups to make money for their mission projects. A playground was also located there.
By 1947 floods, noise, congestion, growth, and lack of parking caused church members to make plans for a new building. The Greyhound bus station and Sinclair gas station was right next to the church, and with the windows open it made for a noisy time on occasion. The town had opened new residential areas north of the library which also helped in the selection of the current location on Belleville Avenue and Underwood Street.
Mr. A.E. Kelly purchased the downtown church and property. Replica columns from inside that church are on the porch at 701 Evergreen Ave., which was the Kelly residence at that time.
From 1947-1950 church services were held in Brewton Elementary School which is currently the location of the Brewton City Board of Education offices. It is located across the street from the current church. The fourth parsonage was located next to the new church for a time in 1947-1963 – now downtown. January 29,1950 was the date of the first service in the “new” church. Dr. Frank and Virginia Kerlin Phillippi were the first couple to marry in the “new” church.
In 1952 Sunday school rooms by the sanctuary were finished and in 1953 the fellowship hall was done. The fifth parsonage was purchased in 1963 – on Belleville Avenue across from the current Brewton Elementary School.
On Saturday December 2, 1961 fire destroyed part of the sanctuary. It was quickly re-built. The Jesus stained glass window, in memory of A.T. Hainje given by Mrs. Hainje, had to be replaced. The pulpit Bible was damaged and is now in the archive room.
In 1964 the Sunday school and carport wing were completed. The sixth parsonage, currently in use, was built about 1973 on Escambia Avenue.
Our Methodist Church has been an important part of church history and Brewton’s development. The annual conference of the Methodist Church was held in Brewton in 1894, 1915 and 1954. (Along with a special session in 1954) In 1964 Jefferson Davis Junior College (now Coastal Alabama Community College) held classes in the “new” Sunday School wing while their computer buildings were being built.
The YMCA met in our church (and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church) from 1986-1989 while the “Y” was being built. Aerobics classes were held in the fellowship hall. The Christian Community Benevolent Fund was organized and met in our church for several years. It is supported by several churches and community groups. Currently the Community Food Pantry uses our church to distribute food to the needy.
Habitat for Humanity met in our church for several years. The Wheelchair Ramp Building Ministry was started by the Methodist Men, and built their 500th ramp in 2021. A former Sunday School class, the Men’s Wesley Bible Class, wrote a prayer which was used in the United State Congress. It is in the Archives Room as is a picture of the class. Easter Sunday, April 19, 1939. Photo taken by Carter Studios of Pensacola, Florida.
On May 7, 2023, First Methodist Church of Brewton officially became an independent church and soon joined the Global Methodist Church.
Methodism seems to have been around in Alabama since the early 1800’s. A proclamation was issued in 208 recognizing 200 years of Methodism in Alabama. It is probable that in the Mississippi Territory some itinerant Methodist preachers did preach here. Lorenzo Dow, a self-proclaimed Methodist (he was recognized and accepted by the Connecticut Conference where he was born and grew up), probably came through the Brewton area on his way to Spanish held Pensacola. He possibly went on the Conecuh – Escambia River – western side through Century, Florida, area. Dow was ousted from the Pensacola area as he tried to convert the Spanish Catholics. Dow referred to himself as “Crazy Dow”, (He was also an abolitionist).
As the Creek War ended in 1814, the area opened to settlers, many from Georgia and South Carolina. In 1814-1816 Fort Crawford was built to protect settlers from possible Indian attacks. Early Methodist preachers Bradford Cotton and Rev. and Mrs. Shaw seem to have held services in the Fort Crawford area. By the late 1850s a need for a rail connection between Montgomery and Pensacola was needed. The only market was by water from Brewton to Pensacola at the time.
After the Civil Was Escambia County was formed from parts of Conecuh and Baldwin Counties in 1868. Pollard was the most prosperous town with a hotel, banks, stores, etc., so it became the county seat. With the railroad built and timber available, Brewton grew in population and wealth and was able to become the county seat in 1883. By the 1850s the Pollard Methodist circuit was well established with its Methodist Church (current building) in existence during that time period.
Brewton was a part the Pollard circuit from 1873-1882. The Pollard preacher held services in Brewton in a vacant store on the site across the railroad from what is now Weaver’s store, next to Antigone’s. We were a storefront church.
In 1879 a small wooden church was built (near where Comfort Care Hospice and Provalus reside today). Rev. Robert Paine Baker was the minister but he lived in Pollard because the parsonage was located there. Rev. Baker aided yellow fever victims in 1883 and died of the fever in 1883. Many victims are buried in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Alco. Rev. Baker is actually buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, AL., but a memorial to him is in Pilgrim’ Rest Cemetery.
In December 1883, Rev. B.C. Glenn became the first resident pastor in Brewton. A house had been purchased to serve as the parsonage. It was located on Carmack Street behind what is now Camp 31 restaurant. About 1887 a parsonage was built behind the wooden church.
By May 1891 the church had 375 members and plans were made to build a new brick church. It was finished in 1893 and was of Gothic architecture. It had a fine organ, stained glass windows, oak pews and interior columns. Many Brewton lumbermen had become very wealthy and quite a few were generous Methodists. (This was also before the federal income tax was implemented.) This church was on the same property as the old one. Two of the windows are now in the archives room. In 1908 the exterior of the church was cemented and blocked to make it appear to be made of stone blocks.
In 1906, a house on Evergreen Avenue became the third parsonage. (It was located behind the courthouse – where a small office building is now.) The old parsonage became the Sunday School building, kitchen, fellowship hall and meeting area. The women of the church served meals for men’s civic groups to make money for their mission projects. A playground was also located there.
By 1947 floods, noise, congestion, growth, and lack of parking caused church members to make plans for a new building. The Greyhound bus station and Sinclair gas station was right next to the church, and with the windows open it made for a noisy time on occasion. The town had opened new residential areas north of the library which also helped in the selection of the current location on Belleville Avenue and Underwood Street.
Mr. A.E. Kelly purchased the downtown church and property. Replica columns from inside that church are on the porch at 701 Evergreen Ave., which was the Kelly residence at that time.
From 1947-1950 church services were held in Brewton Elementary School which is currently the location of the Brewton City Board of Education offices. It is located across the street from the current church. The fourth parsonage was located next to the new church for a time in 1947-1963 – now downtown. January 29,1950 was the date of the first service in the “new” church. Dr. Frank and Virginia Kerlin Phillippi were the first couple to marry in the “new” church.
In 1952 Sunday school rooms by the sanctuary were finished and in 1953 the fellowship hall was done. The fifth parsonage was purchased in 1963 – on Belleville Avenue across from the current Brewton Elementary School.
On Saturday December 2, 1961 fire destroyed part of the sanctuary. It was quickly re-built. The Jesus stained glass window, in memory of A.T. Hainje given by Mrs. Hainje, had to be replaced. The pulpit Bible was damaged and is now in the archive room.
In 1964 the Sunday school and carport wing were completed. The sixth parsonage, currently in use, was built about 1973 on Escambia Avenue.
Our Methodist Church has been an important part of church history and Brewton’s development. The annual conference of the Methodist Church was held in Brewton in 1894, 1915 and 1954. (Along with a special session in 1954) In 1964 Jefferson Davis Junior College (now Coastal Alabama Community College) held classes in the “new” Sunday School wing while their computer buildings were being built.
The YMCA met in our church (and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church) from 1986-1989 while the “Y” was being built. Aerobics classes were held in the fellowship hall. The Christian Community Benevolent Fund was organized and met in our church for several years. It is supported by several churches and community groups. Currently the Community Food Pantry uses our church to distribute food to the needy.
Habitat for Humanity met in our church for several years. The Wheelchair Ramp Building Ministry was started by the Methodist Men, and built their 500th ramp in 2021. A former Sunday School class, the Men’s Wesley Bible Class, wrote a prayer which was used in the United State Congress. It is in the Archives Room as is a picture of the class. Easter Sunday, April 19, 1939. Photo taken by Carter Studios of Pensacola, Florida.
On May 7, 2023, First Methodist Church of Brewton officially became an independent church and soon joined the Global Methodist Church.