Varnell UMC History

History
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On June 4, 1860, the Varnell Methodist Episcopal Church South was born. The church was located in the heart of the Varnell community. Seven men were charter trustees for the new church: C.H. Rauschenburg, James H. Huff, M. P. Varnell, Benjamin F. Prater, T.H. Pitner, Thomas Lawrence, and John C. Barnett. Writings state that the original church was quite large and faced to the west toward the railroad tracks. This original building served the Varnell congregation well until the turn of the century. The building also served the community by providing a home for the first public school in Varnell in the year 1891. On June 16 , 1896, Margaret T. Daniel, a faithful church member, willed her house and its lot on Main Street to the trustees to be used for the benefit of the preachers in charge of the church. The first parsonage of the Varnell United Methodist still stands today and is owned by the City of Varnell. Around 1899, the original church structure was replaced with a new building. This building was erected facing south and consisted of one large auditorium-type room. There were no Sunday School rooms, no restrooms, no running water, and no air condidtioning. The only heat was provided by a large pot bellied stove. Except for minor improvements, the building remained in this state until 1952, when a two story addition was added, along with heating and air conditioning. In 1966, a fellowship hall and connector were added. This great building still stands in Varnell today as it has stood for over one hundred years. During the early seventies, the Varnell community began to explode in residential growth and Varnell United Methodist Church was growing at a very rapid rate. The church was running out of space and there was no room on the existing property to expand. After many agonizing meetings, a decision was made to purchase property for the future relocation of the church and parsonage. On December 28, 1977, one hundred and seventeen years after the beginning of Varnell church, seven different trustees stood with a vision for the future as the deed for the new property was signed. They were W. Ralph Morgan, W.M. (Bill) Kinnamon, James A. (Jimmy) Wilson, William (Bill) Daffron, Frank Land, Johnny Johnson, and Doyle Breeden. The process of relocation of the Varnell United Methodist Church was now underway. Under the leadership of the Rev. Joe Buffington, a new parsonage was built in 1980. In June of 1980, the church received its first full time pastor, Rev. David Bevel Jones. The Varnell United Methodist Church continuted to grow in membership and attendance. In 1984, construction began on Phase I of the new church complex. On August 4, 1985, the doors of the new church were unlocked and a consecration service was held. Phase II of the new church complex was dedicated into service on August 4, 1991, exactly six years to the day from the opening of the new church. More land has been purchased since 1977, bringing the acreage to almost twenty acres. Phase III of the church complex, a family life center, will soon become a reality. During the consecration service in August of 1985, the Rev. David Jones asked, “What name shall be given this building?”, and a loud and clear response came from the chairman of the Board of Trustees, W. Ralph Morgan, “The name of this building shall be the Varnell United Methodist Church.” So it was then, so it is now, and so it will be in the future. If the seven men of 1860 and the seven men of 1977 could all stand together, they would proclaim in unison the following: “To God be the glory….Amen and Amen.”

History

On June 4, 1860, the Varnell Methodist Episcopal Church South was born. The church was located in the heart of the Varnell community. Seven men were charter trustees for the new church: C.H. Rauschenburg, James H. Huff, M. P. Varnell, Benjamin F. Prater, T.H. Pitner, Thomas Lawrence, and John C. Barnett. Writings state that the original church was quite large and faced to the west toward the railroad tracks. This original building served the Varnell congregation well until the turn of the century. The building also served the community by providing a home for the first public school in Varnell in the year 1891. On June 16 , 1896, Margaret T. Daniel, a faithful church member, willed her house and its lot on Main Street to the trustees to be used for the benefit of the preachers in charge of the church. The first parsonage of the Varnell United Methodist still stands today and is owned by the City of Varnell.

Around 1899, the original church structure was replaced with a new building. This building was erected facing south and consisted of one large auditorium-type room. There were no Sunday School rooms, no restrooms, no running water, and no air condidtioning. The only heat was provided by a large pot bellied stove. Except for minor improvements, the building remained in this state until 1952, when a two story addition was added, along with heating and air conditioning. In 1966, a fellowship hall and connector were added. This great building still stands in Varnell today as it has stood for over one hundred years.

During the early seventies, the Varnell community began to explode in residential growth and Varnell United Methodist Church was growing at a very rapid rate. The church was running out of space and there was no room on the existing property to expand. After many agonizing meetings, a decision was made to purchase property for the future relocation of the church and parsonage. On December 28, 1977, one hundred and seventeen years after the beginning of Varnell church, seven different trustees stood with a vision for the future as the deed for the new property was signed. They were W. Ralph Morgan, W.M. (Bill) Kinnamon, James A. (Jimmy) Wilson, William (Bill) Daffron, Frank Land, Johnny Johnson, and Doyle Breeden. The process of relocation of the Varnell United Methodist Church was now underway.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Joe Buffington, a new parsonage was built in 1980. In June of 1980, the church received its first full time pastor, Rev. David Bevel Jones. The Varnell United Methodist Church continuted to grow in membership and attendance. In 1984, construction began on Phase I of the new church complex. On August 4, 1985, the doors of the new church were unlocked and a consecration service was held. Phase II of the new church complex was dedicated into service on August 4, 1991, exactly six years to the day from the opening of the new church. More land has been purchased since 1977, bringing the acreage to almost twenty acres.

Phase III of the church complex, a family life center, will soon become a reality. During the consecration service in August of 1985, the Rev. David Jones asked, “What name shall be given this building?”, and a loud and clear response came from the chairman of the Board of Trustees, W. Ralph Morgan, “The name of this building shall be the Varnell United Methodist Church.” So it was then, so it is now, and so it will be in the future. If the seven men of 1860 and the seven men of 1977 could all stand together, they would proclaim in unison the following: “To God be the glory….Amen and Amen.”