The year is 1898. Reverend J. B. Gregory can barely contain his excitement as he watches workers lay the first of over 300,000 pressed bricks. Here in Decatur, a new Decatur First United Methodist Church is rising, a testament to the growing congregation and their unwavering faith. The history of Decatur First United Methodist Church is almost as old as Decatur itself, dating back to the early 1820s when circuit riders brought Methodism to the newly established Alabama Territory. The first church, a humble brick structure, was built in 1835, its gallery bearing witness to a segregated South. Sadly, the Civil War left it in ruins, forcing the congregation to share a log house with local Presbyterians. But the Methodist spirit persevered. In 1868, a new church was built, only to be moved across the street to make way for the grand structure now taking shape under Reverend Gregory’s watchful eye. The new Decatur First United Methodist Church, with its stained glass windows crafted by local artisan A. G. Bethard and pews from Jackson, Tennessee, was dedicated on April 2, 1899. It stood as a beacon of faith, its 350-seat sanctuary a testament to the enduring spirit of the Decatur Methodist community. Over the next century, Decatur First United Methodist Church continued to grow and evolve, adding a Sunday School annex, fellowship hall, classrooms, and even undergoing renovations to accommodate its burgeoning congregation. But through it all, the heart of Decatur First United Methodist Church remained the same: a place to worship, to learn, and to share God’s love.
Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching Museum
“What if museums could talk?” That’s a question I often ask myself. Today, standing before the Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching