First United Methodist Church - Wetumpka, AL
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xptwo
N 32° 32.427 W 086° 12.692
16S E 574035 N 3600617
The First United Methodist Church of Wetumpka was added to the National Register in 1973. The congregation traces its history to 1837 and its current Sanctuary Building to 1853.
Waymark Code: WMHRMC
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 08/09/2013
Views: 5
While the building was constructed in 1853, there has been some maintenance, remodeling and restoration over the years. Yet the main core of the structure remains intact. The last major work was done in 1972.
The following from the church history on their web page, provides information:
"The construction of the present Sanctuary Building began in 1853 and it was completed in 1854. It is essentially the same as when built. The bricks were donated and the work was performed by slave labor. In the Sanctuary, there was one center aisle with two side aisles. The men and women sat on opposite sides of the sanctuary, which had a seating capacity of 500, since there was no chancel area. In the front, there was a small organ on the left and a large stove on right. The Lancaster Memorial Bell was installed in the steeple in May 1901. The building was remodeled in 1909. Where there had been two front doors, one center door was installed. Beautiful stained glass windows replaced the old clear glass and new light fixtures were added. Mosaic tile was laid in the Vestibule. The cracked walls and painted columns were replaced with new plaster and pilasters of semi-Doric design. The pulpit, chancel rail and all woodwork were finished in a dark oak. The golden oak organ was moved to the basement, a new heating system was added, and, in 1910, a lovely pipe organ was installed. The plain, straight back pews were replaced with curved, embellished oak pews. A brass rail framed the choir loft and, later, a pleated maroon velvet curtain was hung from the rail."
"A major renovation to the Sanctuary was undertaken in 1972. The striking results were evident: sunlight, softened by the stained glass windows, shone on newly-painted woodwork and walls, highlighted the gold carpet and was reflected in the warm glow of the refinished oak pews. The chancel was remodeled to make it more functional and provide room for a larger choir. The pulpit was moved from the center and was balanced by a lectern on the opposite side. The communion rail was divided, giving direct access to the altar, which, properly, became the dominant feature of the Sanctuary. Apart from replacing the gold carpet with maroon, the Sanctuary remains the same today as it has been since 1972."
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It is significant that we can see basically the same structure seen by those who gathered in the years before the Civil War. As is noted in the application form, "The Wetumpka Methodist Church, with its heavily pilastered Greek Revival exterior design and suggestion of Italianate influence is architecturally unique for the period in which it was built. According to the architect, James Seay, the architectural values of exterior scale and interior detailing is of considerable significance." source: (
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