First United Methodist Church - Elba, AL
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 31° 24.818 W 086° 04.033
16R E 588663 N 3475821
First was the first UMC in Elba, even before the pastor was assigned.
Waymark Code: WMACQJ
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 12/27/2010
Views: 9
Marker Text:
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Earliest Church in Elba
A congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South existed in Elba even before Rev. Robert Shaw Rabb was assigned as the first minister to the Elba Circuit on December 15, 1853. This site was purchased in 1909 and the Church officially opened on February 12, 1911. Large panels of stained glass windows are a memorial to Confederate soldiers from Coffee County. The historic church bell was cast on February 21, 1908 in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Elba United Methodist Church is located downtown at intersection of West Davis St. and Claxton Ave. just off the courthouse square. It was built to accomodate 1,000 people including in the Sunday School area.