A Brief History of
First United Methodist Church of Knoxville

The roots of our church were laid in a time of conflict. Leading up to the Civil War, the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) underwent a split into two factions. The northern faction upheld the historic abolitionism of John Wesley, while the southern faction supported slavery and secession. In East Tennessee, many laypeople and preachers vehemently opposed both slavery and secession. In the early 1860s, the Holston Conference of the MEC, South expelled pro-union ministers. On July 7, 1864, Knoxvilian "Parson" Brownlow urged in his paper The Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator that a group of lay and clergy delegates convene to organize a conference of the MEC, North, bringing together the pro-Union and anti-slavery factions in East Tennessee. From that point until 1939, there were two Holston Conferences, the MEC, North (to which we belonged) and the MEC, South.

In June of 1866, the Bishop appointed The Reverend J.B. Ford to what was known as ‘Knoxville Station.’ He secured a meeting space at the Old Courthouse on the corner of Gay and Market Streets. On July 8, 1866, First Methodist Episcopal Church North held its inaugural worship service in that meeting space. The church acquired property on the corner of Clinch and Prince Streets, and during the construction of the Clinch Street building, which began in 1868, the church earned its first nickname, Clinch Street Church. The dedication of the church took place on May 9, 1869, under the name First Methodist Episcopal Church of Knoxville. Interestingly, the sanctuary was so elegant that initially, the Trustees hesitated to allow the kids' Sunday School classes to use the space, but the administration relented only after a period of discussion. Many early ministers in the MEC, North conference came from outside the Southern United States.

By the 1890s, with a membership exceeding 600, the church needed additional space. In 1891, Bishop Ninde appointed Dr. Thomas Warner as pastor of what was then nicknamed “First Church, Knoxville.” During his tenure, the church purchased a new lot, also on Clinch Street, sold the old building for $35,000, and erected a new stone church building. The cornerstone of the second building was laid on August 22, 1893, and the first service was held on Easter Sunday, 1894. The dedication ceremony in June of that year attracted over 2,000 attendees. This second building served as our congregation's home until 1965. Here are some notable events that occurred during the time in the second building:

• In 1893, the church bell was cast and installed.

• In 1900, Rev. Dr. Charles Hall introduced printed bulletins in services and oversaw the paying off of the

  building debt.

• In 1905, the church board requested that the Knoxville Journal and Tribune cease using the word “North” in conjunction with the nickname “First Church.”

• In July 1906, the church celebrated its 40th anniversary by inviting the first minister J.B. Ford to preach an anniversary sermon.

• In 1907, Rev. Olmstead led the church in taking part in Knoxville's campaign for prohibition in the city.

• In 1912, Rev. Dr A. R. Lamberts became the first minister to “make use of an automobile.”

• In 1915, Dr. Alvin Goddard became the first East Tennessee native to be appointed as clergy in our church. He was the first pastor to employ a secretary.

• In 1919, the Board unsuccessfully urged the state legislature to oppose a bill allowing movie theaters to open on Sunday.

• In 1924, the church reached 1,000 members.

• In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church North and Methodist Episcopal Church South, together with the Methodist Protestant Church, merged to create The Methodist Church. Making the church officially “First Methodist Church, Knoxville.”

• In 1945, Rev. Mervin Seymour was appointed as pastor. The Bishop assigned Seymour to merge First Methodist Church and Church Street Methodist Church. He reported that First Methodist Church was, “too strong to disband.”

• In 1950, the Boy Scouts were accused of leaving cigarette butts in the church.

• In 1961, a survey committee suggested relocation to Kingston pike between Tyson Park and Sequoyah Hills. This proposal was to avoid being near any other Methodist church (such as Church Street Methodist and Central Methodist).

• In 1962, the quarterly conference voted by 77% to purchase a five acre tract at 3316 Kingston Pike for $100,000.

• In 1965, First Methodist Church decided to move the bell, 3 stained glass arches and the memorials to the new church.