Alachua in Alachua County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Alachua Methodist Church
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 3, 2024
1. Alachua Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
Alachua Methodist Church. . In 1822, John J. Triggs was sent as a Methodist missionary to a new mission called Alapaha. This mission extended from south Georgia into parts of north Florida, extending east and west of the Suwanee River. Four missions were established in this northeast section of Florida, and one of those was known as Dell. It was named after Maxey Dell, one of the early settlers in the area. Dell's Courthouse became one of the first meeting places for Methodist circuit riders to the area. In November of 1828, the Florida Territorial Council changed the name of the community from Dell to Newnansville and established it as the seat of Alachua County. Home churches and circuit riders continued to serve the people of Newnansville until 1865 when services began after the erection of a church building. In 1882, the Florida Railroad came through the area, missing Newnansville by 1.5 miles. This led to the new community of Alachua and subsequent move of the Methodist church to its current location in 1897. In 1910, fire destroyed the church building and a new brick building was erected and consecrated in 1912. Alachua Methodist Church is one of the longest, continuously operating churches in Florida.
In 1822, John J. Triggs was sent as a Methodist missionary to a new mission called Alapaha. This mission extended from south Georgia into parts of north Florida, extending east and west of the Suwanee River. Four missions were established in this northeast section of Florida, and one of those was known as Dell. It was named after Maxey Dell, one of the early settlers in the area. Dell's Courthouse became one of the first meeting places for Methodist circuit riders to the area. In November of 1828, the Florida Territorial Council changed the name of the community from Dell to Newnansville and established it as the seat of Alachua County. Home churches and circuit riders continued to serve the people of Newnansville until 1865 when services began after the erection of a church building. In 1882, the Florida Railroad came through the area, missing Newnansville by 1.5 miles. This led to the new community of Alachua and subsequent move of the Methodist church to its current location in 1897. In 1910, fire destroyed the church building and a new brick building was erected and consecrated in 1912. Alachua Methodist Church is one of the longest, continuously operating churches in Florida.
Erected 2022 by Tom Spencer, His Family, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1183.)
Location. 29° 47.451′ N, 82° 29.647′ W. Marker is in Alachua, Florida, in Alachua County. It is on Northwest 140th Street just south of Northwest 148th Place, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14805 Northwest 140th Street, Alachua FL 32615, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Also see . . . Alachua Methodist Church. Website homepage (Submitted on January 13, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 3, 2024
2. Alachua Methodist Church
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 13, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
