A stained glass window sparkles in the north hallway leading to the Fellowship Center of Epworth United Methodist Church, tying our past to our future. The brick church built in 1899 with memorable windows was lost to fire on February 9, 1955. Very little was saved from the conflagration, but loving hands rescued this one window.
Hearts aflame with the spirit of the church kept the congregation alive
and the educational building and sanctuary were finally replaced some two years later.
On Easter Sunday, April 1999, an all-purpose addition was dedicated to extend Christian activity and fellowship. In that north hallway, feel the handshake of the past, present and future, God at work in the building.
Methodism came to the Ripley area in 1820, ten years before the town was named. Rev. Frances Wilson, in charge of the Little Kanawha Circuit, preached the first sermon here. Ten years later Rev. Harry Ripley, a Methodist Circuit Rider, drowned trying to forge Mill Creek. The town was named for him.
Issues of slavery divided early Methodists. In 1844, the Ripley congregation followed the Plan of Separation passed by the General Conference. Existing members formed the first Methodist Episcopal Church South led by Rev. Samuel Black in 1845. The congregation met first in the courthouse and later in the schoolhouse. The first Sunday School was established in 1856, with James A. Park as Superintendent.
The first church building built in 1858 for $1400.00 on land donated by J.H. Statts, stood near the present site. The first wedding in the church united William T. Greer and Mary Virginia Bennet in 1869.
A Methodist Episcopal congregation was formed in 1869. St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church was built on Bridge St. and dedicated in 1889 by Rev. E.D.W. King. A later building on South Maple Street was dedicated in 1928 and named King Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church honoring Rev. King.
Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church South built the brick structure with stained glass windows in 1899 on our present site at a cost of $3000 -$5000. In 1900, two dedication services were scheduled, adults in the morning and children in the afternoon, because of overflow crowds. Pfost Memorial Addition, an educational wing, was added in 1914, a memorial to Mrs. Flora Pfost whose descendants are current members of the church.
In 1939, the General Conference combined the three branches of Methodism. Thus, King Memorial combined with Epworth congregation to become Epworth Methodist Church under the leadership of Rev. J.J. Loudin at the current location.
In 1949, property on North Street was purchased and remodeled for a parsonage. The Church Street parsonage was torn down and a four-day financial drive was launched to raise $40,000 for an educational annex. Bishop Lloyd Wicke dedicated the building which was erected for $35,000. This new building was part of the loss in the fire of 1955.
On March 20, 1957 the new sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Wicke. Paul King chaired the building committee for the total building cost of $90,000. A new parsonage was built on West North Street and first occupied by Rev. Paul Beale and family in 1963.
Groundbreaking for a fellowship center on Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 1998, was evidence of many hours of study, planning and heart fund raising by dedicated members of our congregation. Dick Rowe as Committee Chairman and Dale Conwell as Chairman of the Building Committee guided the project. The building was consecrated on Palm Sunday evening, March 28, 1999. On Easter morning, April 4, 1999, just one year following the groundbreaking, the church held morning service in the all-purpose room. Easter 2008 saw the mortgage debt of $500,000 paid in full and a note-burning celebration took place.
Ministries since unification include: John J. Loudin, Garrett H. Evans, Emery R. Ball, Wilson W. Harvey,
Samuel E. Cunningham, Robert W. Fuqua, George W. McCune, Paul R. Beale, Basil A. Hensley - Dr. of Min., Kenneth B. Ball, John Holbert, Ronald R. Brooks, Harold Custer – Dr. of Min., Alvin A. Angle,
Charles R. Echols – Dr. of Min., Kenneth Krimmel – Dr. of Min. , Teresa Deane
Our current pastor is Rev. Dr. W. Ford Price
Rev. Dr. John Hardman ~ Pastor Emeritus
Hearts aflame with the spirit of the church kept the congregation alive
and the educational building and sanctuary were finally replaced some two years later.
On Easter Sunday, April 1999, an all-purpose addition was dedicated to extend Christian activity and fellowship. In that north hallway, feel the handshake of the past, present and future, God at work in the building.
Methodism came to the Ripley area in 1820, ten years before the town was named. Rev. Frances Wilson, in charge of the Little Kanawha Circuit, preached the first sermon here. Ten years later Rev. Harry Ripley, a Methodist Circuit Rider, drowned trying to forge Mill Creek. The town was named for him.
Issues of slavery divided early Methodists. In 1844, the Ripley congregation followed the Plan of Separation passed by the General Conference. Existing members formed the first Methodist Episcopal Church South led by Rev. Samuel Black in 1845. The congregation met first in the courthouse and later in the schoolhouse. The first Sunday School was established in 1856, with James A. Park as Superintendent.
The first church building built in 1858 for $1400.00 on land donated by J.H. Statts, stood near the present site. The first wedding in the church united William T. Greer and Mary Virginia Bennet in 1869.
A Methodist Episcopal congregation was formed in 1869. St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church was built on Bridge St. and dedicated in 1889 by Rev. E.D.W. King. A later building on South Maple Street was dedicated in 1928 and named King Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church honoring Rev. King.
Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church South built the brick structure with stained glass windows in 1899 on our present site at a cost of $3000 -$5000. In 1900, two dedication services were scheduled, adults in the morning and children in the afternoon, because of overflow crowds. Pfost Memorial Addition, an educational wing, was added in 1914, a memorial to Mrs. Flora Pfost whose descendants are current members of the church.
In 1939, the General Conference combined the three branches of Methodism. Thus, King Memorial combined with Epworth congregation to become Epworth Methodist Church under the leadership of Rev. J.J. Loudin at the current location.
In 1949, property on North Street was purchased and remodeled for a parsonage. The Church Street parsonage was torn down and a four-day financial drive was launched to raise $40,000 for an educational annex. Bishop Lloyd Wicke dedicated the building which was erected for $35,000. This new building was part of the loss in the fire of 1955.
On March 20, 1957 the new sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop Wicke. Paul King chaired the building committee for the total building cost of $90,000. A new parsonage was built on West North Street and first occupied by Rev. Paul Beale and family in 1963.
Groundbreaking for a fellowship center on Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 1998, was evidence of many hours of study, planning and heart fund raising by dedicated members of our congregation. Dick Rowe as Committee Chairman and Dale Conwell as Chairman of the Building Committee guided the project. The building was consecrated on Palm Sunday evening, March 28, 1999. On Easter morning, April 4, 1999, just one year following the groundbreaking, the church held morning service in the all-purpose room. Easter 2008 saw the mortgage debt of $500,000 paid in full and a note-burning celebration took place.
Ministries since unification include: John J. Loudin, Garrett H. Evans, Emery R. Ball, Wilson W. Harvey,
Samuel E. Cunningham, Robert W. Fuqua, George W. McCune, Paul R. Beale, Basil A. Hensley - Dr. of Min., Kenneth B. Ball, John Holbert, Ronald R. Brooks, Harold Custer – Dr. of Min., Alvin A. Angle,
Charles R. Echols – Dr. of Min., Kenneth Krimmel – Dr. of Min. , Teresa Deane
Our current pastor is Rev. Dr. W. Ford Price
Rev. Dr. John Hardman ~ Pastor Emeritus
