First United Methodist Church in Troy will celebrate its 175th anniversary on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Festivities will begin at 9:15 a.m. with a reception on the front lawn of the church. At 10:15 a congregational photo will be taken on the side lawn with the 175th Anniversary Worship Service beginning at 10:30. Dr. Karl Stegall will be the guest minister for this special occasion of the church. Dinner on the grounds will be at noon on the vacant lot behind the annex.

FUMC Pastor Steve Winton said all former members and friends of the church are invited to share this very special occasion at First United Methodist Church.

“We welcome everyone to join us as we celebrate the church’s 175 anniversary and welcome Dr. Stegall,” Winton said. “Back when there was a Troy District, Dr. Stegall was a superintendent. He and his family attend FUMC when they were in town. So, he knows a lot of people here and it will be good to renew friendships.”

The organization of the Methodist Church in Troy dates from1843, just eleven years after the organization of the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church. The one person responsible for the founding of the First Methodist Church was a noble pioneer woman, Ann Love.

The members forming the nucleus of the organization of the church were Ann Love, her two widowed daughters, Mrs. Samuel Key and Mrs. Hudson, John D. Curtis and James R. Grainger, blacksmith and tavern keeper.

Ann Love had been a Presbyterian in her native state of South Carolina. But it was Baptist and Methodist that sent traveling preachers into the wilderness of Alabama to hold meetings in courthouses and under brush arbors. Ann Love sent a letter to the Conference asking for a preacher to be sent to Troy. Zacchebah Dowling was the first pastor.

Special music will be presented by the chancel choir.

The 175th anniversary of First United Methodist Church is a special time, not just for the church, but also for the community. Everyone is invited.