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St. Paul UMC celebrates 165 years of history this month

Posted 10/13/21

St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fayette will host a special service and events the weekend of October 23 and 24 to celebrate its 165-year anniversary.

On Saturday the 23, the church will …

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St. Paul UMC celebrates 165 years of history this month

Posted

St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fayette will host a special service and events the weekend of October 23 and 24 to celebrate its 165-year anniversary.

On Saturday the 23, the church will host a fun Jeopardy history night beginning at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the multipurpose room. On Sunday at 11 a.m., Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson will be the guest speaker during the morning worship service. Special music will be provided. Dinner will follow at 12:30 p.m., and the public is invited to any and all activities.

Dr. Dawson is the Pastor, President, and CEO of Dawson Journeys Ministry, a Christian, multicultural, multigenerational ministry of hope. Dr. Dawson also is associate professor of philosophy at Moberly Area Community College, Columbia Campus, and at Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri. He has served on numerous community organizations, including president of the Reading branch of the NAACP. Dr. Dawson completed his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Missouri-Columbia, becoming the first African American to earn a PhD in Philosophy in the history of the university. He was ordained into ministry September 11, 1977.  

St. Paul was founded before the Civil War, in 1856, and was first known as Burton’s Chapel. The structure was built on land donated by John Ewin. Burton’s Chapel was the original Methodist church out of which the current Linn Memorial United Methodist Church grew.  

Both Black and white worshippers used the first frame building. It isn’t clear whether Black and white parishioners were worshipping together, or two groups were sharing a building, but indications are that they worshipped together. Slavery was still legal, and it is possible that white members were simply bringing slaves to church, but also possible that people of both groups put aside differences to worship together.  

Some time between 1869 and 1874, white members of Burton’s Chapel moved up the hill and formed Centenary Methodist Church, which later became Linn Memorial. By 1875, Burton’s Chapel had become an essentially a Black congregation. In 1870 the congregation joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Burton’s Chapel kept that affiliation. Despite being a predominantly Black congregation, St. Paul opted to remain Methodist Episcopal, in spite of some prejudice within that larger denomination.

The Burton’s Chapel wooden building burned in 1905 under suspicious circumstances. It was replaced by a large rock structure mostly built by members, and dedicated in 1909. That building was used as the host building for denominational meetings. Some time after this, the name changed to St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the 1940s, structural problems in the Old Rock Church began to show up, and finally a large crack on the west side of the structure made the building unsafe. The foundation was not strong enough to support the weight of the rock walls, and the church had to be demolished. This in large part was due to the use of sand from local creek beds, which did not have the needed composition to support the rock walls. During the time the Old Rock Church was being demolished and the new church constructed, worship services were held in the auditorium of Lincoln Public School. If there was any good news, prior to the demolition of the structure, the church had been freed of debt during the pastoral leadership of Rev. W.F. Wharry with the “Penny A Day Plan.”  

The current building was erected beginning with the main part of the sanctuary. The appointed pastor at that time, Rev. J.O. Murphy, was known as a “veteran church builder” who had previously built three other churches during his pastoral career. Also, professors and students at Central Methodist College were instrumental in assisting the church in the construction efforts. Worship services were held in the auditorium of Lincoln Public School, while the church underwent demolition and new construction. The sanctuary officially opened on Sunday, December 12, 1948. From 1948 to 1956 additions and improvements were made. The current building took its shape in the 1990s when the fellowship hall, kitchen, and basement were added.  

Over the years, the congregation has been active in community and received tremendous support from many. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the members spearheaded efforts to purchase Liberty Park (now called Paige-Liberty Park) in the New Addition of Fayette, as a ball field and recreation place for the town’s Black residents. In August 1981, the members, along with other local Black churches, took on a community project to clear and mow part of the Fayette City Cemetery, which had been neglected for years where Blacks were buried. And for the last 20 years the church has hosted the Juneteenth community-wide celebration.

St. Paul is noted for its strong tradition in music ministry, locally and throughout the Missouri United Methodist Conference. There are many fond memories of St. Paul’s ministry through songs. The congregation has been blessed over its 165 years through love and faith. There have been over 50 appointed pastors that have ministered to the congregation at 300 East Davis. The current pastor is Rev. Susan McCollegan.

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