"Baldwin Methodist Church earliest records show the Methodist meetings were held in the Baldwin Public School building in the year 1881
Lots were deeded to build the church on March 26, 1890 by Mrs. W. H. Duprey to the following Trustees:
The original deed was handed to Mrs. J. A. Clark – daughter of Mrs. G. Coleman and mother of Mrs Lucille Thomas – who was one of the Founders and a faithful worker in the Baldwin church for 53 years.
Mr. & Mrs. Duprey, Mrs. G. Coleman and Mrs. Strawbridge were the first workers to organize the Baldwin Methodist Church in 1881.
The original church was a very small frame building; it was blown down by a severe storm in 1896. The church was rebuilt at once.
In 1911, Mr. and Mrs. H. Cherry and Mrs. Bertie Fish joined the church. They assisted the work of the church in every way.
In 1912 – the original first church building was sold and replaced by a new building (Baldwin and Bryceville churches were built from the same plans.)
In 1930, this same church building was enlarged and three church school rooms were added through the untiring efforts and work of the Ladies Aid Society. (This being a very active group of workers.) Before this the church had had a Woman’s Missionary Society.
In 1940 a W. S. C. S. was organized with Mrs. Lucille Thomas, President, Mrs. W. D. Morris, Vice President, Mrs. S. L. Flenore, 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Mildred Clark, 3rd Vice President, Mrs. Francis Clark, Rec. Secretary, Mrs. W. D. Brinson, Cor. Secretary, Mrs. B. E. Gooch, Treas., Mrs. Harrell Bennett, Secretary of Literature and Publicity, Mrs. Earl Allen, Sec. of Supplies, Miss Emily Pringle, Secretary of Student Work, Mrs. W. D. Brinson and Mrs. S. L. Flenore, Delegate and Alternate to State Convention. (The President of W. S. C. S. of 1955-57 was Mrs. Francis Clark.)
The church had a membership of 137. The church school membership was 100.
In 1956 an Education Building was added to our church. Rev. W. W. Richardson had the cooperation of every member and many friends to make this possible.
The W. S. C. S. was great help in raising money for this project, also members and friends of the church pledged and donated funds to build this much needed addition.
Rev. Marvin Sweat was sent to Baldwin in 1950, however; he had to return to Seminary and while he was gone, Bro. J. P. McRae filled in as a Lay Minister. Bro. McRae was a great help in helping us buy our first parsonage.
Bro. McRae, Drs. P. A. and W. D. Brinson, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Clark, also all of the members of the church contributed most generously and the Baldwin Methodist Parsonage became a reality. Bishop Short dedicated the parsonage in 1951.
During those last years, the church made excellent strides in helping to bring about the Kingdom of God in our community.
Bro. Guy Athern came to our church in June 1975. Under his leadership, we voted to build a new church. A building committee was chosen and they entered into a contract with Mr. Arnold Higginbotham for the construction of the new sanctuary. The ceremonial ground breaking was held Sunday afternoon, February 8, 1976. Those participating in this ceremony: Bro. Guy Athern, Mrs. W. D. Brinson, Mrs. Lucille Thomas, Mr. Herbert Coleman, Mary Eddy, and Mr. Bill Rowland. On Sunday, June 6, 1976, our first service was held in the new sanctuary. With our faithful members and many, many friends, this building was paid for in three years.
One thing is for sure... you can never out guess God. Of God’s promises, two stand out in 2005 and 2006 for Baldwin UMC.. God’s provision and God’s perfect timing.
In January 2005 a decision was made to do some upgrading to the office area of the church. All materials were donated costing the church nothing...isn’t God good! What happened during this remodeling was a matter of bringing the church family together, working side-by-side. Painting continued in the Fellowship Hall area and outside of the church. The Board of Trustees stepped up to see the job completed. With renovations made we have continued to upgrade this area.
In the fall 0f 2005 plans were made to change the tile in the tile narthex. Congregation members were encouraged to write their favorite Bible verses on the floor of the narthex, on which the new ceramic floor would be placed. Glen Martin, husband of our first female pastor Candace Martin, and sons Jon and Justin laid a ceramic tile floor with special designed cross in the center. Original plan and cross design were Justin’s. Tweaking of cross design as well as expertise in laying of tile came from Jon. Dad was there to help in the wee hours (a couple of nights till 3 a.m. for Jon was doing this and his regular job too.) of the morning.
In the Spring of 2006 the UMW voted to have carpet installed in the older section of Fellowship Hall. Color was chosen, walls painted, work crew cleaned windows and newness appeared.
A proposal for a new roof was made and monies having been donated a year and a half before it would be completed. Time after time a roofer would say they would get back with the church, only to not be heard from again. As said...God’s timing is perfect. A roofer’s name was given to the pastor while the donors also had a name given to them. You guessed it! The same name. Two weeks before Homecoming 2006, marking 125 years of ministry, a new metal roof was placed on the Fellowship Hall and walkway. Again, God’s provision, for a God-loving couple donated all of the money needed for the roof."
--First United Methodist Church of Baldwin (
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