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Taylor Avenue Methodist Church

In the month of February, 1900, a group of Methodist people, under the direction of Rev. A. R. Williams, then pastor of Desloge Circuit, met in the home of A. J. Norwine and organized the Taylor Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, South, with thirty members. Plans for building were discussed, a building committee was appointed consisting of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Covington, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Evans and Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Dollar, and in a few months a $2500 frame building was erected, the lot having been donated by the Doe Run Lead Company.

On the day of the dedication of the new building, June 3, 1901, a Sunday School was organized with 100 members. Henry S. Evans was elected superintendent and J. W. Covington, secretary.

Plans for the present building were started by Rev. H. L. Taylor in 1913 and the building was completed during the ministry of Rev. A. S. J. Baldridge in 1914.

The church made rapid growth from the beginning. In six years after the church was organized it became a station with 167 members, Rev. L. F. Aspley being the preacher in charge. At the end of his pastorate (1903-1907) the membership totaled 350. At present we have a membership of 725, a nice stone building valued at $10,000, and a spacious comfortable parsonage valued at $2,000. The parsonage, which is largely the work of the Woman's Missionary Society, was erected in 1906, remodeled in 1911 and has been well kept by the Society through the years.

The Missionary Society of the church was organized in June 1902 and has been active through all the years. During the five years of depression (1930-1934 inclusive) the society has raised $2160.04.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, in a special edition for FLAT RIVER DAY, Saturday, Aug. 1, 1936.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. June 10, 1938:

Prior to 1900 members of the M.E. Church, South living in Flat River worshipped in the M.E. Church here or in the Methodist Church in Desloge. As the numbers increased there came an increased demand for a church of their own located in Flat River. Consequently, in February, 1900, they assembled in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Norwine, and under the guidance of Rev. A. R. Williams, pastor of the Desloge circuit, organized the Taylor Avenue Methodist Church. The following were Charter members: Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Covington, Miss Beulah Covington, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Covington, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Covington, Mr. and [Mrs.] J. R. Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Evans, Bolling Evans, Jesse Evans, Mr. and Mrs. John Knowles, Mrs. Catherine Mitchell, Miss Maude Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Murrill, Mrs. M. S. McGee, Mrs. A. J. Norwine, Miss Bessie Norwine, Mr. and Mrs. Shipton Strong, Miss Della Strong, Dr. J. T. Sherry, Mrs. John Murray and Miss Mollie Vaugh.

Of the above, the following are still living: Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Covington, Miss Beulah Covington (now Mrs. Parker), Miss Maude Mitchell (now Mrs. Robert Dixon), Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Murrill, Miss Della Strong (now Mrs. Fred Wunning), and Mrs. John Murray, all of Flat River, and Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Dallas, now in California; Mrs. H. S. Evans, now in Columbia, Mo.; Bolling Evans, now in New York; Mr. and Mrs. John Knowles, now in Farmington; and it is believed Dr. J. T. Sherry is still living, but his whereabouts is unknown.

The M.E. Church soon dissolved its organization and became a part of the Taylor Avenue Methodist Church.

The lot on which the church now stands was donated by the Doe Run Lead Company and the congregation erected its first building at a cost of $2,500. The dedicatory services were held by Dr. T. E. Sharp June 2, 1901.

During the first three years the church was a part of the Desloge circuit. In 1903, during the first year of Rev. Ashley's pastorage, a parsonage was purchased, which was remodeled in 1911 and again in 1926.

To meet the needs of a growing congregation, a new church building was erected in 1914, made of concrete blocks. Beautiful memorial windows were installed by Dr. Barber, Dr. Reaves, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thomasson, W. P. Hovis, Mrs. H. W. Buckley, Phillis Perkins and sister, Mrs. Bran and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Trauernicht.

During the 28 years of its existence more than 1200 members have been received into its communion. The present membership is approximately 700.

From old records several interesting facts may be gleaned. The first wedding was performed by Rev. A. R. Williams in Dec. 6, 1900, the happy couple were John Murry and Miss Iris Taylor. The first adult to be baptized and received by vows was Dr. M. B. Barber and his daughter, Jessie L. Barber, was the first infant baptized. This was recorded as taking place March 24, 1901.

The following ministers have served since the organization of the church:

Reverends A. R. Williams, J. A. Collings, L. F. Aspley, R. E. Adkins, John Cox, A. S. Coker, J. P. Stubblefield, H. L. Taylor, A. S. J. Baldridge, M. H. Markley, Del Longgrear, William Stewart, Pat Casey, Sam Robinson, A. C. Johnson, F. L. Wilshire, Edwin P. Walker, R. F. LeGrand and the present incumbent, Francis Love.

METHODIST PARSONAGE SOLD TO BROOKS

A two-story frame building, the former Taylor Avenue Methodist Church parsonage, has been purchased by B. T. Brooks of Elvins, who is tearing down the structure and moving it to Elvins.

Until recently, when Sunday School classes were moved into the new educational building, now nearing completion, the house was used for classrooms. The lot, which will be vacant when the building is cleared away, will provide parking space for the new church building, which is being planned for construction later this year. The Rev. Harold Nance is church pastor.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Wed. Jan. 11, 1961.

In September, 1964, the old rock church (pictured above) was torn down to make ready for a new structure to be erected on the same site.  Thereafter, all church services were held in the Fellowship Hall which had been constructed earlier and dedicated in 1961.

Sketches and plans for the new sanctuary having been submitted  by the architects, and studied, corrected, and accepted by the building committee, with the help of the Division of Church Architecture of the Board of Misions of the Methodist Church, and the District Committee on Church Building and Location, the contract was let for the new sanctuary to Walter Brockmiller of Farmington, Missouri, for $156,000, on October 1, 1964.   Construction began at once.

In September, 1965, the Board of Trustees, after having used the funds on hand, borrowed from three local cooperating banks, the sum of $140,000 to complete the building program of the church.

Throughout this building program, many many members and friends of Taylor Avenue Methodist Church gave unstintingly of their time, talents and their monies.  There has endured a wonderful "closeness of fellowship," and a fine feeling of "having a part of oneself in it,"- a spirit which has become a permanent one at Taylor AVenue.  A cornerstone laying service for the new sanctuary [pictured below] was held October 24, 1965.    

I believe that the picture below of the congregation of the Taylor Avenue Methodist Church was probably taken at one of the last services to be held in the old sanctuary before it was torn down in 1964 to make way for the new sanctuary.

The following are pictures of a "Tom Thumb Wedding" which was held at the Church as a fund-raiser in the mid-1940's.  [Note: If you can identify any of these children, please e-mail me.   Thanks!]

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