Central United Methodist Church Celebrates 175 Years

October Named 'Homecoming Month' for Fayetteville Congregation

Last updated Friday, October 12, 2007 10:46 PM CDT in Religion

By Bettina Lehovec
THE MORNING NEWS

The celebration culminates with Homecoming Month in October. Three former senior pastors and the Rev. Charles Crutchfield, bishop of the Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches, will speak during Sunday services.

Below is a timeline that hits the highlights of church history and a brief selection of reminiscences by a few longtime members. The timeline is based on a church history compiled for the new church directory.

175 Years Of History

1828 -- Fayetteville was established. By 1830, the population has grown to 75.

1832 -- Sixteen people organized the Fayetteville Methodist Episcopal Church. They first met in a log cabin off the square, the home of Lodowick Brodie. As the congregation grew, they moved their meeting site to the "new" Washington County Courthouse in the square. The church was pastored by rugged circuit riders, who covered more than 100 square miles on their routes.

1840 -- A one-room frame building was erected on what is now West Center Street. The population of Fayetteville now stood at 420. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church split over the issue of slavery. The Fayetteville church affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

1857 -- The church had grown to 58 members and welcomed its first full-time minister. College Avenue was a tree-lined residential dirt road.

1863 -- The church building was burned during the Civil War, along with most homes and business around the square. The war years were tough, with most of the men in the military and members divided in their loyalties.

1872 -- The Arkansas Industrial University was started, bringing many Methodist families to town. A one-room red brick church was built on the same site as the original frame building. By 1874, church membership reached 178. Eight to 10 Sunday school classes met with 75 to 100 people in one room. Several popular women's aid groups began.

1899 -- The church, now called Central Methodist Episcopal Church, reached a membership of 365. A new building was erected on the corner of Dickson and Highland streets. The "Akron plan" brick church featured a curved altar rail and large stained glass windows. People entered through the corner bell tower. A parsonage north of the church was acquired at the same time.

1914 -- The North Arkansas Conference was formed. The parsonage was moved one block north to make room for a Sunday school annex. Mt. Sequoyah Assembly was built in 1920. The ministerial school is still used as a training and retreat center.

1924 -- The Wesley Foundation was formed and a minister appointed to work with students at UA. Wesley Hall was completed in 1925, with offices, a kitchen and a fellowship hall.

1939 -- The church was renamed Central Methodist Church, after the unification of three leading branches of Methodism.

1946 -- A prayer chapel was added between the sanctuary and Wesley Hall. The post-World War II years saw a lot of growth, with people being turned away from the 600-seat church for lack of space.

1953 -- The present day sanctuary was built with a seating capacity of 800. The New England style building is in the shape of a cross. Architects Paul, now deceased, and Clarence Young were church members. Clarence still attends services. A new parsonage was built on Highland Street in 1954, with an addition to Wesley Hall completed in 1955. The children's education building was added in 1961.

1968 -- The church was renamed Central United Methodist Church. The Women's Society became United Methodist Women.

1969 -- The first of two fires destroyed the sanctuary. The church rebuilt, only to suffer the same trauma in 1971. There was talk of arson by the same disturbed person, but nothing was ever proved. The art glass rose window above the altar was destroyed. The original artist came out of retirement to make another one. The wooden sculpture of the Last Supper were added at this time.

1997 -- The multi-purpose Central Activities Center was completed. The building seats 500 to 600. Contemporary worship services began here on Sundays. They had been held on Saturday evenings since 1994.

2007 -- Construction began on the corner of Highland and Lafayette streets for a 35,000-square foot student ministries building and a five-floor parking deck for 275 cars. Church membership totals more than 3,600. Between 1,400 and 1,500 people attend church in four services each week.

In Their Words Children's Programs

* "The friendships that I made in MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) meant a lot." -- Louise Sager, who grew up in the church in the 1950s and 60s. Peggy Ford recalled the youth choir, which traveled as far away as Disneyworld in Florida. Other youth programs include the handbell choir and vacation Bible school. The daycare program has been in existence for more than 20 years.

* "It's always been a lot about children. There's no question. The programs are so vibrant for little children and all the way up. My children have fond memories from the very beginning of coming to this church." -- Nancy Bittle, a member since 1982.

Bittle remembered coordinating the vacation Bible school program one year. The theme was old Jerusalem, complete with tents, live camels and currency made of pebbles spray painted gold.

Hospitality

"My family moved here in 1963, when I was 2. My sister, who wasn't even 1, became very ill. She had a high fever, and the doctor didn't know why. He said we needed an air conditioned room for her, to bring her fever down. This was in the middle of the summer. No one had air conditioning back then.

"My mom heard a knock at the door. Someone from the church showed up with an air conditioner. The pastor had arranged it. Church members helped in a variety of ways.

"You can go to any Sunday school class in this church today -- or any group -- and experience the same care."

-- Greg Gibson, director of student ministries.

The fire of 1969

Members remembered the shock of the first fire in their sanctuary, which occurred on Dec. 14, 1969 -- a Saturday night.

"The fire was not out and we met for worship," said Peggy Ford. "We had church Sunday morning at Mount Sequoyah. That year's Christmas Eve service was particularly poignant, Martha Agee added, marked with a candlelight service in the fellowship hall.

The people

"My grandparents were Methodists, and my parents too. My father was head usher for more than 40 years. My mother sang in the choir. It was natural that we (younger generations) stayed." -- Hugh Kincaid, a member since 1944.

Kincaid's children and grandchildren remain involved with the church, making five generations of Kincaids at Central United Methodist.

He still remembers one of his Sunday school teachers, Miss Katherine. "I can still see that beautiful smile of hers waiting for me as I trudged up those stairs."

Community Outreach

The church has always had a focus on helping those in need, members said. Outreach programs include Community Meals, Good Sam/C.E.O, WorkMatters, jail ministry, Faith In Action, LifeSource International and more.

"Our basic purpose as Christians is to act as disciples of Jesus Christ -- to try to reach out to the community through acts of love. We want to make Christ central to life for the people of Northwest Arkansas and around the world, to help people relate to God in a meaningful way." -- The Rev. Tony Holifield, senior pastor since 1995.

Central United Methodist Church

Mission: Making Christ central to life for the people of Northwest Arkansas and around the world.

Tenets of discipleship: Connect to Christ, grow in Christ, serve with Christ, reach others for Christ.

Services: 8:30 and 11 a.m., traditional; 9:40 and 11 a.m., contemporary.

Ministries: Sunday school classes and Bible studies for children, youth and adults, child care, music and worship, small groups, large groups, community service and much more.

Prayer line: 582-HOPE

Information: 442-4237, www.centraltolife.com

Source: Central United Methodist Church

"Homecoming Month"

Former pastors at the church and the bishop of the Arkansas Conference will speak at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville this month.

Last week: The Rev. Ben Jordan, senior pastor from 1984 to 1987.

Sunday: The Rev. Joel Cooper, senior pastor from 1967 to 1980.

Oct. 21: The Rev. Jack Wilson, senior pastor from 1987 to 1995.

Oct. 28: The Rev. Charles Crutchfield, bishop of the Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches.

Source: Central United Methodist Church

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