The Brooksville United Methodist Church is now 152 years old. It was built in 1866 at the end of the Civil War. The early Methodists first held services in the open air, long before they built this actual church building. Their services were held under a large tree in the front yard of the home of Caleb and Elizabeth Tarleton, which was located on the south corner of current day Frankfort St and Howell Dr, where the current residence of the John Scott family is located.
The services were held by circuit riders, the early pioneer ministers of the Methodist Church, who came on horseback as far away as Virginia. Among the first of those riders was the famous Dr. Taylor, said to have held services in Brooksville just once a year. As time passed and with a growing congregation, services were held in an old carpenters shop-just a stones throw from the current location of the church today. The Civil War affected this faithful remnant in Brooksville for prior to its beginning, the congregation secured $500 dollars worth of bricks toward the building of their new church. When the war broke out, a decision was made to postpone the construction at that time. After the war, the bricks had been lost, so a frame building was erected in 1866, then called the Brooksville Methodist Episcopal Church South, later dropping the suffix "South" after the tension of the Civil War eased. In 1968, The Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged and was renamed the United Methodist Church.
Interesting memoir of 1866, on the day the male congregation along with Rev. R.H. Hoffman, went out to the woods to cut the timbers that would frame their new house of worship, the church women prepared a picnic lunch for the workers and sent this lunch forth to them by way of Judge Adamson, who was too old for cutting wood. The current framework of the church is the original framework from 1866!
Interesting origin of the church bell: it was a gift from Henry Ferber, who bought it from the owners of the "Old Magnolia", an excursion boat which sank in the Ohio River. Among the charter members were Caleb Tarleton, Judge Adamson, Anderson Field and H.A. Lee. The church was redecorated in 1894 during the pastorate of Rev J.T. Fizer and at this time the pulpit furnishings were purchased and are the current ones used today. In 1913 under the pastorate of Rev. Price T. Smith, the beautiful stained glass windows were installed. In 1944, with the money from the John H. Lee estate and a special building fund drive, another major remodeling project was undertaken. The floor was elevated, a section of the back was partitioned off for Sunday School rooms and space was excavated under the church for more class rooms and a furnace area.
In 1945 the organ and chimes were purchased, still in use today. In 1962 a much needed education annex was added, consisting of three large classrooms on an upper floor and kitchen/dining area in the basement, which was dedicated on Easter Sunday by Bishop Walter Gum, April 14, 1964.
In the early morning of April 24, 1987, a tragedy struck when a violent storm caused the ceiling of the sanctuary to collapse. After investigation, ceiling upon ceiling had been added to ancient structure of 1866 and the weight of the ceiling and the vibrations of the storm brought it down. This destroyed 29 pews, the old light fixtures, hymnals, carpeting and the likes, but the stained glass windows, organ, piano and pulpit were spared. Clean up and repairs began immediately, services were held in the church basement throughout the summer. On Oct. 4, 1987, a dedication service was held by Bishop Paul Duffy and Dr. Tatman, District Superintendent, and newly appointed pastor Rev. Paul Brewer. Many physical improvements have been added to the church building over time, most of these have been given as memorials by the families of dear deceased members. Most recently the fellowship hall was painted by Gary Woods, who also installed a new sump pump. New furnaces were installed in the winter of 2014-15 and the work was completed by the crew of David Simons. We are proud of our heritage and beautiful sanctuary, and the congregation gives God the praise and the glory !
Also worthy of mention, that throughout our history, five members have entered in the ministry from Brooksville UMC: Rev. Robert Lee, Rev. Marvin McClure, Rev. Morris McClure, Rev. Henry Carl and Rev. Kenneth Jett, Jr.
The services were held by circuit riders, the early pioneer ministers of the Methodist Church, who came on horseback as far away as Virginia. Among the first of those riders was the famous Dr. Taylor, said to have held services in Brooksville just once a year. As time passed and with a growing congregation, services were held in an old carpenters shop-just a stones throw from the current location of the church today. The Civil War affected this faithful remnant in Brooksville for prior to its beginning, the congregation secured $500 dollars worth of bricks toward the building of their new church. When the war broke out, a decision was made to postpone the construction at that time. After the war, the bricks had been lost, so a frame building was erected in 1866, then called the Brooksville Methodist Episcopal Church South, later dropping the suffix "South" after the tension of the Civil War eased. In 1968, The Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged and was renamed the United Methodist Church.
Interesting memoir of 1866, on the day the male congregation along with Rev. R.H. Hoffman, went out to the woods to cut the timbers that would frame their new house of worship, the church women prepared a picnic lunch for the workers and sent this lunch forth to them by way of Judge Adamson, who was too old for cutting wood. The current framework of the church is the original framework from 1866!
Interesting origin of the church bell: it was a gift from Henry Ferber, who bought it from the owners of the "Old Magnolia", an excursion boat which sank in the Ohio River. Among the charter members were Caleb Tarleton, Judge Adamson, Anderson Field and H.A. Lee. The church was redecorated in 1894 during the pastorate of Rev J.T. Fizer and at this time the pulpit furnishings were purchased and are the current ones used today. In 1913 under the pastorate of Rev. Price T. Smith, the beautiful stained glass windows were installed. In 1944, with the money from the John H. Lee estate and a special building fund drive, another major remodeling project was undertaken. The floor was elevated, a section of the back was partitioned off for Sunday School rooms and space was excavated under the church for more class rooms and a furnace area.
In 1945 the organ and chimes were purchased, still in use today. In 1962 a much needed education annex was added, consisting of three large classrooms on an upper floor and kitchen/dining area in the basement, which was dedicated on Easter Sunday by Bishop Walter Gum, April 14, 1964.
In the early morning of April 24, 1987, a tragedy struck when a violent storm caused the ceiling of the sanctuary to collapse. After investigation, ceiling upon ceiling had been added to ancient structure of 1866 and the weight of the ceiling and the vibrations of the storm brought it down. This destroyed 29 pews, the old light fixtures, hymnals, carpeting and the likes, but the stained glass windows, organ, piano and pulpit were spared. Clean up and repairs began immediately, services were held in the church basement throughout the summer. On Oct. 4, 1987, a dedication service was held by Bishop Paul Duffy and Dr. Tatman, District Superintendent, and newly appointed pastor Rev. Paul Brewer. Many physical improvements have been added to the church building over time, most of these have been given as memorials by the families of dear deceased members. Most recently the fellowship hall was painted by Gary Woods, who also installed a new sump pump. New furnaces were installed in the winter of 2014-15 and the work was completed by the crew of David Simons. We are proud of our heritage and beautiful sanctuary, and the congregation gives God the praise and the glory !
Also worthy of mention, that throughout our history, five members have entered in the ministry from Brooksville UMC: Rev. Robert Lee, Rev. Marvin McClure, Rev. Morris McClure, Rev. Henry Carl and Rev. Kenneth Jett, Jr.
