Our History

THE CONYERS FIRST STORY

Conyers First United Methodist Church was founded in 1852 and continues a rich tradition of service to our community.

Conyers First History

In 1852 - 21 people organized the Conyers Methodist Episcopal Church, South at the site of our current Sanctuary on Main Street. The Reverend Caleb W. Key was our first pastor.
1868 – The congregation outgrew the first Sanctuary, so they sold it and rolled it down Main Street to Pleasant Hill. A new white frame Sanctuary with a single tall steeple was erected.
1878 – Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized in the church.
1884 – Local vandals went “berserk” and burned the church. A new, more modern church was built two years later. Iron stoves and kerosene lamps were still the means of heating and lighting, but an organ replaced the tuning fork.
1900 – The church burned again, this time by accident.
1902 – Our current Sanctuary was constructed for $14,000.
1905 - Electricity was brought into the new Sanctuary.
1918 – A mass community prayer meeting was held in our church as World War I was in a most critical stage.
1925 – Conyers First, in conjunction with the Presbyterians and Baptists, conducted a community Vacation Bible School with an enrollment of 26.
1934 – The Conyers “Tent” was built at Salem Campground. It was later sold in the 40s.
1939 – The long struggle of the Methodist Episcopal Church for unification with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was completed and the whole became The Methodist Church.
1942 – A drive was launched to raise $5,000 for a Church School building. By 1949, the building financial campaign was completed with $28,000 and construction began.
1950 – The new Church School building was dedicated. Total church membership was 346. An Adult Choir and Methodist Men’s Club was organized.
1977 – The Sanctuary was remodeled and office space was added.
1985 – The current Fellowship Hall and two story adult education wing were built.
1991 – Outreach ministry in Lakeview Estates began.
1998 – Servant of the Lord Meals on Wheels Weekend Program was established.
2001 – Conyers First votes to initiate a building program for additional children and youth space.
2001 – Contemporary Worship service was established.
2002 – Angel Food ministry was established.
2002 – Conyers First celebrated 150 year anniversary and kicked off fund-raising campaign for building program.
2004 – Sunday Evening Vespers service was started.
2005 – Connect Group ministry with Lay Pastors was implemented with 30 groups for the purpose of nurturing and caring for the congregation.
2008 - Conyers First opens the new two-story Children's & Youth Building, remodels the Narthex with elevator access and accessible restrooms and opens the new Administrative Office Wing with Conference Room.