We are a grateful people! This church has seen 100 years of ministry in the mis-sion of Jesus and 100 years of lives changed by the power of His Spirit. Being es-tablished as Pierce Chapel in 1914, continuing under the name First Wesleyan Methodist, and growing today as First Wesleyan Church, we’ve always sought to bring the love of Jesus to our city and the world.

Much of the early history recorded here came from precious artifacts provided by members, a “Year Book and Directory” from 1935-1936 and a 65th Anniver-sary “Celebration of Salvation” booklet. Other facts and stories were gathered from current members and from the South Coastal District of the Wesleyan Church.

While the years have brought many changes in buildings and land, ours is not primarily a history of facilities and property. It is a story (actually many stories) of God transforming lives. That is why our greatest days are still ahead!

In the Cause that Counts,

Pastor Joel Gorveatte

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May an intense focus always be on the pursuit of...

Reaching UP

We passionately praise God with our lives and lips.

Reaching OUT

We compassionately share God’s love with our city and the world.

Reaching IN

We intentionally grow in God’s grace through fellowship and

discipleship.

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Historical SketchThe following is from the 65th Anniversary Celebration held in November 1979.

Compiled and written by S.A. Rich, Church Historian,Edited by Louise Rich.

“Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, es-pecially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:25

In the year of 1913, several families from the Friendship Wesleyan Methodist Church area in Bibb County and the Mt. Ivah Wesleyan Methodist Church area in Perry County, Alabama, including the Hartley, Meggs, Johnson, Tubb, Moore, Hobson, and Bamburg families with others, moved to Tuscaloosa for employment with the Kaul Lumber Company, a new plant at the time and with the Tuscaloosa Hosiery Mills. Around these families as a nucleus, a mission work was begun by the homes of the people, with the Rev. R.G. Ramsey doing most of the preaching for the mission work in 1914. The work was organized into a church, called Pierce Chapel, and Rev. L.A. Bamburg was appointed as its pastor by the 1914 ses-sion of the annual conference. The church met in business session in November 1915 asking the Annual Conference to change its name from Pierce Chapel to The First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa with E.R. Tubb as secretary. The First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa met in Church conference February 21, 1916, with the Rev. L. A. Bamburg in the chair. Rev. Bamburg was very faithful and untiring in promoting the work. In August of 1915 he secured the Rev. R.A. French and family as evangelists to conduct a large tent meeting.

The original building consisted only of an auditorium. In 1937, a basement con-sisting of six rooms was built to take care of Sunday School. This was completed and opened for service on January 23, 1938. This was built under the supervision and during the pastorate of Rev. Paul E. Allred, and he is due much credit for its construction. It met the need for expansion at that time, but these facilities were

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soon outgrown. A building fund was started in the Sunday School Classes for the purpose of further expansion. It was first thought to remodel and expand the old building, but as interest grew it was seen that the greater expansion should be made.

The building committee then decided to raze the old building to the basement level and erect a new building. To do this it was necessary to remove the parson-age, which was situated at the rear of the Church lot. A lot (#9 in block 435) for the parsonage was secured on the rear of the block. The parsonage was removed to it and remodeled at a cost of $4,000. The basement of the Church was then prepared for worship services during the construction of the new building. Septem-ber 8, 1952 marked the last day of service in the old building.

On September 22, 1952 the building committee signed a contract with Mr. K.T. Tucker, a building contractor, to supervise the building of the structure to be completed as early as possible. Mr. E.W. Hill was the carpenter foreman. Mr. H.P. Bailey was the masonry foreman. Mr. C.B. Burroughs was the paint fore-man. Mr. C.D. Hawkins, owner of the Harkins Sheet Metal Works, was in charge of the roofing work. All these men were members of the Church and took great interest in their particular part of the work to have it done correctly and as eco-nomically as possible.A great many others donated labor, including brick masons, carpenters, roofers, painters, and common labor. The estimated amount of do-nated labor was $3500-$4000. The facilities of the basement had served very satis-factorily until the new building was completed and opened for service on May 10, 1953. Dr. O.G. Wilson, editor of the denominational paper, was the speaker for the occasion. The service was blessed of the Lord. There were 390 in Sunday School and the offering of $1,342 came through the classes for the building. The auditorium and the balconies, having a seating capacity of 500, were filled during the dedication service, which was held at the afternoon meeting with an overflow crowd.

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The first building was built in 1916 and continued use until 1952.

The second building, constructed in 1952, was used until 1982

Name ChangeThe Formation of The Wesleyan Church

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of America and The Pilgrim Holiness Church began talking about a merger in the 1950’s. The two Churches coming together took the name THE WESLEYAN CHURCH in 1968. Our area is called the Mid-Gulf District of the Wesleyan Church, which includes Alabama, parts of Mis-sissippi and Louisiana, and Rev. M.C. House is our district superintendent.

The following are two statements, one concerning the merger and the other concerning The Mission of The Wesleyan Church, taken from the 1968 Disci-pline.

THE FORMATION OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH

The Wesleyan Church Discipline, 1968, pp. 17-18.

Merger between the Pilgrim Holiness Church and The Wesleyan Methodist Church of America was proposed at various times, and was voted upon by the General Conference of the two bodies in 1958 and 1959, failing to pass in the Wesleyan Methodist General Conference by a single vote. In 1962, The General Conference of the Pilgrim Holiness Church took action expressing renewed inter-est in union with The Wesleyan Methodist Church. In 1963, the General Confer-ence of the Wesleyan Methodist Church took like action, instructing its Commit-tee on Church Union to pursue its work with all due diligence. On June 15, 1966, The Thirty-Second General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church adopted The Basis for Merger and Constitution, and subsequently the annual con-ferences and local churches ratified the action. On June 16, 1966, the Twenty-Fifth International Conference of The Pilgrim Holiness Church also adopted The

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Basis for Merger and Constitution. Thus the formation of The Wesleyan Church was authorized. The General Board of The Pilgrim Holiness Church cooperated in planning the uniting General Conference, and in preparing the new book of Discipline for its consideration. On June 26, 1968, The Pilgrim Holiness Church and The Wesleyan Methodist Church of America were united to form The Wesleyan Church.

MISSION OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH

The Wesleyan Church Discipline, 1968, p. 21

The Wesleyan Church has grown out of a revival movement that has always given itself to one mission – the spreading throughout every land of the gospel of Jesus Christ with its provision for Scriptural holiness. The message which ignited the Wesleyan revival was the announcement that God through Christ can forgive man of his sins, transform him, free him from inbred sin, enable him to live a holy life, and bear witness to his heart that he is indeed a child of God. The message was based on the Scriptures, was verified in personal experience, and came not only in word but in the power of the Spirit. It was dynamic and contagious, and was communicated from heart to heart and from land to land. It adapted itself to and gave new vitality and purpose to various kinds of church organizations.

The Wesleyan Church is a product of the holiness message, and appreciates the rich heritage of spiritual values that cluster around this message. Its declared mis-sion is and ever shall be, as constrained by the love of Christ, to share the exalted doctrines, the glorious experience, and the victorious life of Bible holiness with all mankind, and such is the central objective of all of its evangelistic, missionary, edu-cational, literary, benevolent, and organizational activities.

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Since the 65th Celebration In 1979...

Move to McFarland Boulevard

From 1982 Pastor’s Report, program for the Service of Dedication in

December 1983, and discussions with church members

After several months of research and study, and a few votes to stay on Greens-boro, definite action was taken to relocate and build a new facility. There was much prayer and several searches for the right property. Two local doctors, Dr. Henry Herrod and Dr. Brown, were persuaded to sell the desired land to the church. On January 24, 1982, the Local Church Conference decided by vote to purchase the present land site. The closing took place on March 15, 1982. The church on Greensboro Avenue was sold with six months allotted to vacate.

Construction on Phase I, the multipurpose building/Family Action Center, started July 22, 1982. We began to use the building as a temporary sanctuary Oc-tober 24, 1982. Phase I was dedicated November 21, 1982. We worshipped there from October 24, 1982, until October 23, 1983. The building committee for Phase II, the new sanctuary (now student center), included Rev. Walter Friedley, Tillman Clark, Eural Crocker, Doug Hollyhand as general contractor, Jimmy Meggs, Larry Miles, Talmage Mitchell, S.A. Rich, and E.L. Shigley. Doug Holly-hand remembers that it was very hot having service in the gym while the sanctu-ary was being built.

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Eural Crocker put ice outside and used fans to blow cool air into the church to help make it more tolerable. For both phases of this construction, church mem-bers worked at night and on weekends to save the church money.

Pastor Walter Friedley stated, “On December 5, 1982, we broke ground for our new sanctuary, Phase II. Construction began February 18, 1983. The final touches took place in October of 1983. Our big day came on October 30, 1983, when over 300 people gathered in the Family Action Center and marched to-gether to occupy the all-new sanctuary. As we marched, the carillon chimed and as we entered the beautiful sanctuary, the organist played, ‘Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.’ What a day! There were few, if any, dry eyes. It is a day we will al-ways remember!

From the moment the Lord spoke to us concerning relocation and building, we have planned and worked to that end. We are dedicating more than just a building of brick and mortar – we are dedicating the time, labor, sacrifice and prayers which have gone into the construction of this sanctuary. King David said, “… the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent.” We dedi-cated our efforts to that type of excellence.

We thank God for the sense of urgency He gave for the work that should be done; the direction and timing which were beyond human calculation; the wisdom in making decisions which saved us thousands of dollars; help in advance planning as well as close up decisions which significantly changed our approach ultimately – enhancing the beauty, symmetry and serenity of the finished product; the long hours of labor to accomplish the most menial tasks to the more important matters requiring special skills; for the generous and spontaneous response in giving to every special project mentioned along the way; the intense interest and prayers of hundreds of people in and beyond our own congregation who watched every inch of progress from staking, concrete, plumbing, electric arches, studding, windows, doors, staining, finishing an right down to the installation of carpet, pews and planting of shrubs on an almost daily basis.”

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More Growth and Construction

Compiled from Pastor’s Annual Reports, church records, and conversationswith church members

Due to a need for more Sunday School space and a larger place for the youth to gather, an old double-wide trailer that belonged to the Wesleyan district was se-cured in the late 80’s. It had been condemned but was remodeled and brought up to code. The renovations created several classrooms and an office.

In 1990, a wing was added to the Family Action Center, which included the cur-rent fellowship hall and adjoining kitchen as well as additional classrooms. This ad-dition included 20,000 sq.ft. of new space. Again, church members did much of the labor on this facility. First Wesleyan Academy agreed to assist the church in purchasing the old Shoney’s building in 1995. It was converted into three daycare classrooms and an office space.

The church experienced tremendous growth with the morning worship aver-age attendance growing from 170 in 1985 to over 700 in 1997. Three morning worship services were held every Sunday for quite a while. The church decided to build a larger sanctuary. During the eighteen months of construction, morning services were held in the gym, which allowed changing to two morning worship services rather than three services. Church members developed a system to put up chairs after the evening service and convert the gym from a setup for worship to space to be used by First Wesleyan Academy on Monday mornings. While con-struction on the new sanctuary was taking place, the old sanctuary was converted into a student center. The building committee consisted of General Contractor, Doug Hollyhand, Herman Boyd, Mike Chambers, Eural Crocker, Charles Gann, and Larry Miles. Construction of the new sanctuary would connect the Family

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Action Center with the existing sanctuary building. The space between the build-ings was a parking lot. When construction began, it was discovered that the ground beneath the parking lot had been used as a city landfill. It was filled with debris such as tree stumps and old cars. This caused a huge delay in construction as the debris had to be removed. The removal included digging a hole that was 22 feet deep. In the process, an underground spring was also discovered. Additional, unexpected costs were incurred not only to remove the debris but also for filling the hole.

But God was faithful and construction moved forward. Another delay occurred while waiting for the delivery of the two main steel beams for the sanctuary. Each beam weighed 17 tons. After the beams were installed, the building began to take shape with the sanctuary, music suite, and classrooms becoming visible. Before car-pet was laid and sheetrock was installed in the sanctuary, the church held a service of prayer and dedication. This included having men, women, and children writ-ing scripture verses on the floor. Bibles were also placed in the walls and many, many prayers were lifted up for the ministry that would flow from our new facility.

“We dedicated and celebrated the completion of our new worship center. The task had in-volved years of planning, months of work and sacrificial giving on the part of many people. We

thank God for the beautiful place the He has given us for worship. God has been good to us. Once again, we need to remind ourselves the building is not the church. You are the church. The building is only a tool to help accomplish the greater purpose, which is the building of Christ’s

church. I Corinthians 3:9a states, ‘We are God’s fellow workers’ in this task. Together let us re-new our commitment to this task. May we each open ourselves up with a fresh surrender to God, allowing Him to do in us and through us whatever He desires. As a church family may we strive for a unity that expresses his love and gives a strong witness to the world. May this unity stretch beyond our own local body of believers to other believers and churches across our community.”

Pastor Dick Emery

1999-2000 Annual Report

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In the 14 years since the completion of the Main Sanctuary building, First Wesleyan has continued to reach the lost and share the love of Jesus with its city and world.

In the last 6 years, many areas of the property have been remodeled and up-dated. Technology has taken a prominent role in the ministries of the church and the First Wesleyan Academy.

A commitment to missions and a heart of generosity has marked the hearts of our people. Each year, a Sunday in December is selected for our Christmas Offer-ing. Budgeting on 51 Sundays’ income per year, the entire offering for that Sun-day’s offering is given to partner ministries and needs of families in our city. To this day, 20% of every dollar received at First Wesleyan is given away to ministry outside of our walls (including missions, church planting, charity and more).

In 1997, First Wesleyan began a Spanish Language worship service in the Stu-dent Center. As it grew, reaching the growing Hispanic and Latino population, the vision developed for the service to become a fully established Wesleyan Church. Iglesia Principe de Paz became the first Spanish language church in the region to own a facility, purchasing a building in Northport at the corner of 69 North and Charlie Shirley Road.

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Church Sign welcoming everyone to the property. A wonderful first impression on those visiting FWC for the first time! Installed in 2010.

The church played a huge role when Tuscaloosa hosted the Franklin Graham Fes-tival in 1999, where a vast many were brought to Christ. For years, a large-scale Christmas production reached thousands annually, attracting crowds from all around west Alabama. In 2009 an annual citywide outreach was launched called EasterFest. It has now grown, to over 5,000 in attendance at Snow Hinton Park. Throughout the year, First Wesleyan hosts many concerts and community events because of the large seating capacity we have in the sanctuary (1,100 with chairs).

In the Spring of 2014 First Wesleyan installed one of a kind artwork based on the “Stations Of The Cross.” They now give us a visual depiction, one that has been used by Christians for centuries, of the love that Christ offers to us through his death. We are merely sharing in the experience that “The Way of The Cross” has provided for so many people over the years. We hope this continues to be a powerful experience for years to come in the church.

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Station 8 as a part of the Stations Of The Cross Installation in 2014.

Ministry to the entire family strives to bring glory to God. From the youngest to oldest, we seek to equip Christians to become biblical world-changers who love God and love others.

On this the year of our 100th Anniversary, we do not know what the future may hold. One hundred years from now, the world will be a very different place. But whatever happens, we will be working toward this goal: to reach people with the Good News, seeing them transformed into worshippers, and equipped to be-come ministers who set this city on fire for Jesus Christ!

May our next 100 years bear even more fruit for the Kingdom of God! To God be the glory.

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Pastoral Service Record

Rev. P. C. Ramsey 1914

Rev. L. A. Bamburg 1915

Re. H. Robb French 1916

Rev. J.A. Wood 1917

Rev. H. Robb French 1918

Rev. J.A.S. Anderson 1919 - 1920

Rev. H.F. Pair 1921 - 1922

Rev. R. E. Snipes 1922 - 1924

Rev. E.L. Henderson 1925 - 1927

Rev. J. Fred Johnson, Sr. 1928 - 1930

Rev, Paul G. Marshall 1931 - 1932

Rev. M.A. Medders 1932

Rev. J.L. Averett 1932 - 1936

Rev. Paul E. Allred 1937 - 1942

Rev. R.W. Garner 1943 - 1944

Rev. Charles W. Crowe 1944 - 1945

Rev. E.T. Meachem 1946 - 1954

Rev. Nathan Hoggle 1954 - 1955

Rev. E.L. Shigley Jr. 1955 - 1961

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Rev. E.L. Shigley Sr. 1961 - 1962

Rev. J.M. Byars 1962 - 1974

Rev. Orland. Johnson 1974 - 1979

Rev. David Medders 1979 - 1980

Rev. Walter Friedley 1980 - 1985

Rev. Richard Emery 1985 - 2007

Rev. Joel Gorveatte 2007 -

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Location and Construction Phases

Met in homes 1914

Greensboro Ave. and 26th Street 1915

Greensboro Ave. and 20th Street 1916 - 1953

New building at same location 1953 - Oct. 17, 1982

Dedication of new property on McFarland Blvd. March 21, 1982

Start of construction on Family Action Center (Phase I) July 22, 1982

Began use of Family Action Center October 24, 1982

Dedication of Phase I November 21, 1982

Groundbreaking for Sanctuary (now Student Center) December 5, 1982

Start of Sanctuary Construction (Phase II) February 18, 1983

First service in Sanctuary October 30, 1983

Dedication of sanctuary (Phase II) December 4, 1983

First Wesleyan Academy Preschool opened Fall 1985

Expansion of First Wesleyan Academy 1986

Addition to the Family Action Center 1990

Purchase of former Shoney’s building 1995

Start of construction on present sanctuary 1997

First service in present sanctuary January 3, 1999

Dedication of present sanctuary February 7, 1999

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From the 1935-1936 Year Book and Directory

“This Year Book and Directory has been arranged for the members and friends of the First Wesleyan Methodist Church and to the public at large. In presenting this book, it is hoped it will serve a definite purpose in acquainting you with the sched-ule and working order of the church, and that you may know the officials and members of the church better, and become better acquainted with each other.

We trust the information contained herein will be a means of bringing the members and friends and the public into a closer and more Sacred relationship to each other in the Master’s work, and that we may be loyal to the work of the church in all of its departments.

Truly the field is white for harvest and the laborers are few, and as His laborers, be loyal at least in this fourfold ministry:

1. True Worship to Almighty God.

2. In Christian Education of the youth of today.

3. In Christian fellowship,

4. In maintaining a missionary spirit in the church.

Let us make our Church Services interesting and attractive to everyone, by hav-ing the presence of the Holy Spirit in our services.

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If you are not actively engaged in the work of the Kingdom will you not join with us in this most important and interesting enterprise?

We heartily appreciate the good will of our friends who through their contribu-tions have made it possible for us to present you this Directory without any ex-pense to the church, and trust all may show your appreciation by a generous pa-tronage of the business houses herein mentioned.

Pray earnestly for the church and your pastor, and that this may be a great year in the work of the church and the kingdom of Christ. Be sure to attend all the services of the church unless you have a reason, and may this year find us sharing a richer, deeper, fuller measure of Divine Blessing than ever before.

May the rich blessing of God be with you all.

J.L. Averett, Pastor

1933-1936

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First Wesleyan Church100 Years of Ministry

© First Wesleyan Church

1501 McFarland Blvd. N Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 p:205-752-4251

www.firstwesleyan.com

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