PALMYRA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TIMELINE

  • Broken Back Church of England built by the Anglican Church on what is now US Rt. 15. Stone marker commemorates Conference of 1779.
  • 1829 Fluvanna County Courthouse built. General Cocke commissioned to build it at a cost of $4,440.
  • 1830 Earliest church building erected in the northwest corner of the Court Green with belfry whose bell still rings from our bell tower each Sunday. Bell not only rings but it also tolls. The first pastor was Rev. Walker Timberlake.
  • 1865 Church building used temporarily as a hospital after Civil War battle.
  • 1867 Women of the church founded the Methodist Auxiliary Society. They raised money to purchase three Victorian pulpit chairs, now in the sanctuary.
  • 1871 Ladies Aid Society formed. They met at Mountain View, across Route 15.
  • 1877 Earliest record of a Sunday School – may have been founded earlier. Many of the Sunday School books from that year are now in our lower level.
  • 1889 Walls of the brick church had cracked so badly that the Trustees decided to demolish the building.
  • 1889 Land where present church stands was given by Mary Timberlake Shepherd, daughter of the church founder.
  • Note: Congregation worshipped in the courthouse until the new building was completed.
  • 1890 Plans for our current church included a belfry.
  • 1892 Current church building completed without the belfry due to a lack of funds. The bell was located on church grounds supported by timbers. Thomas Haden was serving as missionary in Japan.
  • 1918 An apse was added to the pulpit area with a Gothic window of opalescent glass. Part of this window is now located in the balcony wall. Balance of window placed in lower level of church at a later date. Mrs. Street raised funds to finance this construction.
  • 1918 Belfry added through the efforts of A.O. Haden. Bell placed in its present location in the belfry.
  • 1920 Basement built under the sanctuary to provide more space for the church school.
  • 1929 Sallie Brown was serving as missionary in Africa.
  • 1932 Large part of Palmyra, south of the church, burned.
  • 1961 Church building remodeled. Stained glass window, depicting Sermon on the Mount, installed.
  • 1969 Our congregation became part of Fluvanna Christian Service Society.
  • 1975 New education facility was built; money donated by Callie Gallery and Clarence Whitman. The breezeway was built connecting the church and education buildings. Parsonage was built and dedicated at the same time.
  • 1978 Church carillon dedicated, presented by the family and friends of Dr. Ayer C. Whitley.
  • 1991 Costa Rica Mission founded by Ann Moshenek.
  • 1994 Church purchased .135 acre lot directly behind church.
  • 2001 Palmyra United Methodist became a station church. Church purchased the portion of parsonage owned by Salem United Methodist.
  • 2002 Church purchased the house and property immediately north of us.
  • 2009 Choir room remodeled by Gerry Brown to add individual cubbies along two walls. Each cubby has room for a choir robe and smaller cubbies for storing a hymnal and a choir folder.
  • 2010 The Choir Loft was redesigned and upgraded by men of the Congregation. The Pulpit was refinished and a new altar constructed with wood from the original flooring.
  • 2012 Church Council and Congregation approved expansion of Fellowship Hall. Architect contracted for expansion. Fund raising campaign initiated to raise funds through pledges from individual members. Construction began.
  • 2013 Expansion of Fellowship Hall completed, greatly enhancing church facilities, and allowing for greater outreach activities.
  • 2018 New organ donated by George & Joann Oss and Robert & Laura Keaton
  • 2022 New windows installed in the sanctuary with protective glass covers.
  • 2022 Fellowship Hall dedicated to George Gorman (Pastor 2013-2022).

Notes:

  • Floors of the sanctuary are original.
  • Original pews were angled from the wall with a center aisle. When new pews were installed parallel to rear of church building, two aisles, in addition to the center aisle, were added.
  • Our pulpit was carved from heart pine over 100 years ago by a local craftsman, name unknown.
  • The Baptismal Font was presented in memory of L.O. Haden, date unknown.