Our History

 Our church began with brush arbors and traveling preachers around 1820. The first burial onsite was 1848. In 1858, the name Methodist Episcopal Church South first appeared on deeds to the church property. A two acre plot of land was given by David L Miller and wife Isabelle on August 2, 1858. William "Bill" Sketoe, who has been immortalized in Kathryn Tucker Windham's book 13 Ghosts of Alabama, witnessed the signing of the deed. After Sketoe was mistakenly hanged as a deserter by the Newton Home Guards during the Civil War his body was buried in the church cemetery as he was a circuit riding preacher that called our church home. His wife and many other family members are also interred there. making the cemetery itself an interesting site for visitors.The church grew steadily with an additional 3/4 acre of land which was deeded by William and Elisabeth Barwick on August 22, 1886 and witnessed by ivy Balkeum, T.J. and M.A. M. Newton gave a third plot of land which consisted of 3/4 acre. The original log structure built on the site in 1858 was torn down and moved about 3/4 of a mile toward the main road where it remained until 1925 when it was rebuilt in its present location. The new building was made of lumber with split wood or slat benches for seating. The pine pulpit was just large enough to hold a large family Bible. The altar railing circled the Communion table and both the table and pulpit were covered with white linen cloths. A drinking glass and a pitcher of water drawn from the spring behind the church was always in easy reach of the minister. Several renovations and additions have changed the church's original appearance. In 1952 three Sunday School rooms, asbestos siding, and all wood benches were added. In 1963 a fellowship hall was built, Again in 1976, a pastor's study and a nursery were built. With the addition of a choir loft, the basic structure of the church was complete as it stands now. Other renovations brought it up to modern standards - a deep well, central heat and air conditioning, wall to wall carpeting, padded pews and new pulpit furniture completed the modernization. In 2009 a new fellowship hall was built and we have continued to update the technology aspect of our church. In 1972 we joined the United Methodist Conference and became Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church. In 2023 we stepped out in faith and chose to follow the infallible Word of God, we disaffiliated from the United Methodist Conference. We chose to stand on our own under God's hand and provisions and became non-denominational. We welcome you to visit, to worship with us and become part of our church family.