CHURCH HISTORY
The first church records state that a group of 34 people met in the Hawthorn* Presbyterian Church (no longer in existence) on December 5, 1890, for the purpose of organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church, south of Hawthorn, Florida. Members of the Orange Creek Methodist Church of Rex helped in this organization.
The first pastor was the Rev. B.F. Mason, who obtained the church certificate. The first stewards* were R. B. Smith and R. M. Martin. The building committee was composed of these two men and H. A Morrison, T.J. McRae, and C.I. Morrison. The first minutes were taken by Steward Martin with exquisite penmanship.
In June, 1891 the lot on which the church still stands was purchased from James M. Hawthorn for $55.00. The church was officially named the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Hawthorn, at a prayer meeting August 11, 1891. During the time the church was being built, the congregation worshipped in the Masonic Hall. While the exact date for the completion and full use of the church is not known, some records indicate it must have been in the summer of 1895.
When Reverend Ley was the pastor from 1892 until 1895, Hawthorne was on a circuit of churches for many years until it became a full-time charge. He preached in Hawthorne on 1st and 3rd Sundays, in Rochelle on 2nd and 4th Sundays, and at McMeekin on 3rd Sunday afternoons. During this time, the committee decided to employ a janitor at $1.50 a month, but the ladies insisted that they care for the chandeliers themselves.
Prayer meetings were held on Tuesday nights. The records show that after these inspiring meetings, the members felt renewed and blessed.
October of 1892 showed a Sunday School enrollment of 44 with an average attendance of 35, although at that time the membership had not been divided into classes. It was stressed at the conference that a good Sunday School is an indication of the spiritual condition of the church.
In July 1895, the records showed that the Epworth League, the early Methodist Youth Fellowship, met on Sunday afternoons, and a social was planned for them.
In November of 1900, it was reported that Sunday School attendance "had not been good lately" but the Epworth League attendance was good and they were taking much interest in their work. In October 1902, the congregation worried that they would not receive much over $100.00 on the pastor's salary, which would leave a shortage of $40.00, since the pastor's salary for that year was $140.00.
From church records, it appears that Ralph Edward McRae was the first person christened after the church was established. Later, a christening font was purchased and R. B. Baker, Jr. (who later became Col. R. B. Baker, as we knew him) was the first infant christened from it.
When the Sunday School was organized, the minutes speak of the classes all meeting together. The children sat on the two back benches at the entrance to the sanctuary. Each Sunday, each child was given a small card with a picture on it and a memory verse. On the back of the card was the lesson story.
A parsonage was built next to the church in 1914. A Sunday School annex and chapel were added sometime around 1936, (though the exact date is not known) because the Sunday School classes were growing so large. See the photos at the top of this page to see the annex and chapel. The Ella Gay Fellowship Hall was completed in 1958. Rev. John T. Pennington was the pastor at the time. He had been a builder before he entered the ministry and did much of the work.
In 1977 the church purchased the Steele property, located across the street from the Fellowship Hall. This property is about one-and-a-half city blocks. A new parsonage was built on this property in 1983. In 2002 the Education Building, housing the church office, pastor's office, library, and classrooms was built on this property. The NOMADS mission group helped with this project. To accommodate their stay with us, we installed six RV hookups on the property. These are permanent and will be used by the NOMADS while working on projects within a 25 mile radius for years to come.
In 1989 the church purchased the lot, with house and garage, just east of the church. This became the Nally House, which housed the church office, pastor's office, library, classrooms, UMW thrift shop, and the prayer room. The Prayer Room and the thrift shop remain in the house, while the other four are now in the education building.
The trustees filed papers of incorporation for the First United Methodist Church of Hawthorne on July 21, 1993 with the trustees being officers of the Corporation.
Of course, we have been a member of the Florida Conference since our beginning on 1891. We have undergone many name changes with the mergers of the general church. In 1939, we became the First Methodist Church of Hawthorn and in 1968, we changed to the First United Methodist Church of Hawthorne. The official board became the Administrative Board and Council on Ministries and is now the Administrative Council. We have been in four Florida Conference Districts: Palatka, Deland, Orlando, and Gainesville, and we will be in the North Central District after June, 2005.
The women started the Ladies Aid Society soon after the church was formed. Through the years, the name has changed: first to the Missionary Society, next, to the Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS), and finally, to the United Methodist Women (UMW). Our mission outreach is greatly enhanced by the work of the UMW.
The youth group organized as the Epworth League in 1895 and is now the United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF). Young people from the entire Hawthorne area, not just our church, participate in our youth activities.
The United Methodist Men (UMM) received their charter in June 1979. They have put in many hours keeping the church building and grounds in shape.
Koinonia groups (K-groups) were organized in 1984. These small groups meet once a month for Christian fellowship and ministry.
With the creation of a website on the World Wide Web with web space provided by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in February of 2004, FUMC of Hawthorne has expanded its ministry to (hopefully) the world.
Our congregation has faithfully served God, the community, and the world for over 110 years. With God's help, we will continue our mission of working for Christ's kingdom and helping to bring people to salvation through the acceptance of His saving grace. *The "e" was added to Hawthorne by the office of the Post Master General on January 1, 1950.*The use of the word "trustee" came in later.
The first pastor was the Rev. B.F. Mason, who obtained the church certificate. The first stewards* were R. B. Smith and R. M. Martin. The building committee was composed of these two men and H. A Morrison, T.J. McRae, and C.I. Morrison. The first minutes were taken by Steward Martin with exquisite penmanship.
In June, 1891 the lot on which the church still stands was purchased from James M. Hawthorn for $55.00. The church was officially named the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Hawthorn, at a prayer meeting August 11, 1891. During the time the church was being built, the congregation worshipped in the Masonic Hall. While the exact date for the completion and full use of the church is not known, some records indicate it must have been in the summer of 1895.
When Reverend Ley was the pastor from 1892 until 1895, Hawthorne was on a circuit of churches for many years until it became a full-time charge. He preached in Hawthorne on 1st and 3rd Sundays, in Rochelle on 2nd and 4th Sundays, and at McMeekin on 3rd Sunday afternoons. During this time, the committee decided to employ a janitor at $1.50 a month, but the ladies insisted that they care for the chandeliers themselves.
Prayer meetings were held on Tuesday nights. The records show that after these inspiring meetings, the members felt renewed and blessed.
October of 1892 showed a Sunday School enrollment of 44 with an average attendance of 35, although at that time the membership had not been divided into classes. It was stressed at the conference that a good Sunday School is an indication of the spiritual condition of the church.
In July 1895, the records showed that the Epworth League, the early Methodist Youth Fellowship, met on Sunday afternoons, and a social was planned for them.
In November of 1900, it was reported that Sunday School attendance "had not been good lately" but the Epworth League attendance was good and they were taking much interest in their work. In October 1902, the congregation worried that they would not receive much over $100.00 on the pastor's salary, which would leave a shortage of $40.00, since the pastor's salary for that year was $140.00.
From church records, it appears that Ralph Edward McRae was the first person christened after the church was established. Later, a christening font was purchased and R. B. Baker, Jr. (who later became Col. R. B. Baker, as we knew him) was the first infant christened from it.
When the Sunday School was organized, the minutes speak of the classes all meeting together. The children sat on the two back benches at the entrance to the sanctuary. Each Sunday, each child was given a small card with a picture on it and a memory verse. On the back of the card was the lesson story.
A parsonage was built next to the church in 1914. A Sunday School annex and chapel were added sometime around 1936, (though the exact date is not known) because the Sunday School classes were growing so large. See the photos at the top of this page to see the annex and chapel. The Ella Gay Fellowship Hall was completed in 1958. Rev. John T. Pennington was the pastor at the time. He had been a builder before he entered the ministry and did much of the work.
In 1977 the church purchased the Steele property, located across the street from the Fellowship Hall. This property is about one-and-a-half city blocks. A new parsonage was built on this property in 1983. In 2002 the Education Building, housing the church office, pastor's office, library, and classrooms was built on this property. The NOMADS mission group helped with this project. To accommodate their stay with us, we installed six RV hookups on the property. These are permanent and will be used by the NOMADS while working on projects within a 25 mile radius for years to come.
In 1989 the church purchased the lot, with house and garage, just east of the church. This became the Nally House, which housed the church office, pastor's office, library, classrooms, UMW thrift shop, and the prayer room. The Prayer Room and the thrift shop remain in the house, while the other four are now in the education building.
The trustees filed papers of incorporation for the First United Methodist Church of Hawthorne on July 21, 1993 with the trustees being officers of the Corporation.
Of course, we have been a member of the Florida Conference since our beginning on 1891. We have undergone many name changes with the mergers of the general church. In 1939, we became the First Methodist Church of Hawthorn and in 1968, we changed to the First United Methodist Church of Hawthorne. The official board became the Administrative Board and Council on Ministries and is now the Administrative Council. We have been in four Florida Conference Districts: Palatka, Deland, Orlando, and Gainesville, and we will be in the North Central District after June, 2005.
The women started the Ladies Aid Society soon after the church was formed. Through the years, the name has changed: first to the Missionary Society, next, to the Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS), and finally, to the United Methodist Women (UMW). Our mission outreach is greatly enhanced by the work of the UMW.
The youth group organized as the Epworth League in 1895 and is now the United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF). Young people from the entire Hawthorne area, not just our church, participate in our youth activities.
The United Methodist Men (UMM) received their charter in June 1979. They have put in many hours keeping the church building and grounds in shape.
Koinonia groups (K-groups) were organized in 1984. These small groups meet once a month for Christian fellowship and ministry.
With the creation of a website on the World Wide Web with web space provided by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in February of 2004, FUMC of Hawthorne has expanded its ministry to (hopefully) the world.
Our congregation has faithfully served God, the community, and the world for over 110 years. With God's help, we will continue our mission of working for Christ's kingdom and helping to bring people to salvation through the acceptance of His saving grace. *The "e" was added to Hawthorne by the office of the Post Master General on January 1, 1950.*The use of the word "trustee" came in later.
The First United Methodist Church of Hawthorne history was compiled for this website from written histories by church historian Ina Kay Morgan and old Hawthorne Church Homecoming booklets.