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Anderson United Methodist Church began as a
mission in 1914 under the leadership of local ministers from the Central
and Pratt Methodist Episcopal Churches. One of the ministers, the late
Rev. R. L. Pickens, then pastor of Central, helped organize the
Cloverleaf Methodist Episcopal Mission. During the 1920s, the first
group of members met at the home of William Harper on Woodrow Wilson
where they worshiped until a specific location was secured.
Page Street
By 1928, a temporary house of
worship for the Mission had been obtained —
an old abandoned store on Whitfield Mill Road (now Martin Luther King
Drive). In 1936, a lot on Spring Street was purchased, and the first
church building was constructed. It was named for the
Rev. R. L. Anderson, the first conference appointed minister.
Rev. Anderson died in 1930.
The Rev. I. R. Kersh, Sr., was the pastor at the time Anderson Chapel,
as it was known then, was constructed.
During the next fifty-five
years, the following ministers pastored Anderson:
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Reverends J. C. Bell
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Golden Price
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S. L. Webb
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W. J. Banks
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N. W. Ross
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R. D. Gerald
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Whalon Blackmon
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T. S. Davis
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A. L. Holland
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F. P. Leonard
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S. L. Webb
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C. P. Payne
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H. C. Clay, Sr.
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John L. Baker
In September 1952, under the
leadership of Rev. Blackmon, a new structure was built on Page Street
and given the name Anderson Memorial. In 1968, under C. P. Payne,
Anderson Memorial became
Anderson United Methodist Church.
In 1972, Rev. Jeffery A. Stallworth was appointed pastor at Anderson. It
was under his leadership that the church moved to 485 West Northside
Drive.
Northside Drive
Because of its tremendous
growth, Anderson relocated to I220 at Hanging Moss Road in November,
1994. At this time, membership was over 1,600. After being at this
location for only two years, in December 1996 the membership at Anderson
surpassed the 3,000 mark. In June 2002, the Reverend Joe W. May became
pastor of Anderson United Methodist Church.
Hanging Moss
As membership continues to
rise, Anderson United Methodist Church works diligently to provide a
friendly worship atmosphere. Anderson is a body united in God’s grace.
Our programs are designed to reach out to all mankind by serving,
sharing, teaching, and witnessing through the giving of time, talents,
and gifts. Anderson seeks to involve and utilize the talents of its
entire membership as the church works to carry out God’s program.
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