Whitefield United Methodist Church

Built in 1940, Whitefield United Methodist Church has a fascinating, unusual story. It wasn’t always a Methodist church in Savannah. It started its life as the base chapel at Hunter Field. Constructed for $28,000, the chapel served the soldiers stationed there during World War II. Imagine the solace it provided as young men prepared to depart for the European theater. After the war, the chapel became surplus. But its solid construction caught the eye of the Savannah United Methodist Church Board of Missions. In 1946, they purchased the structure for a single dollar. The entire chapel was then sawed in half. It was transported on trailers to its current location at the corner of Waters Avenue and 55th Street. The first service at the relocated chapel took place on October 10, 1948. The congregation officially chartered as Whitefield Methodist Church on January 30, 1949. Whitefield United Methodist Church’s namesake, Reverend George Whitefield, had a strong connection to Savannah. Arriving in 1738, Whitefield became a key figure in the Methodist movement. He served as a minister in the Georgia colony and as rector of Christ Episcopal Church. He also founded the Bethesda Orphan Home in 1740, just south of Savannah. This orphanage continues to operate today, a testament to Whitefield’s legacy. Sadly, after serving the community for decades, Whitefield United Methodist Church saw its congregation dwindle. It eventually closed its doors. The building is now a mission site of the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church.