Arab in Marshall County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
First United Methodist Church
Photographed By Judith Barber, February 6, 2011
1. First United Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
First United Methodist Church. . Founded in 1892 under the leadership of the Rev. B.O.H. Cochran, this is the oldest church congregation inside Arab’s original town limits of one square mile. Twenty-eight names were listed on the church’s original membership roll. Affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the members built a wooden structure located on First Avenue Northwest in 1893. This building housed the Masonic Hall upstairs and church services downstairs. A second frame building was erected some years later. A larger, brick church was built in 1937. The church consecrated a new sanctuary at this location in May of 2000. Town founder Stephen Tuttle Thompson and Arab’s first schoolteacher, Union Army Captain James Walter Elliott, served in many offices of the church from its founding until their deaths. One of their contemporaries and a former Confederate leader, the Rev. M.E. “Bushwhacker” Johnston, pastored the church during the 1890s and was said to have removed his two guns and placed them on the pulpit while he preached.
Founded in 1892 under the leadership of the Rev. B.O.H. Cochran, this is the oldest church congregation inside Arab’s original town limits of one square mile. Twenty-eight names were listed on the church’s original membership roll. Affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the members built a wooden structure located on First Avenue Northwest in 1893. This building housed the Masonic Hall upstairs and church services downstairs. A second frame building was erected some years later. A larger, brick church was built in 1937. The church consecrated a new sanctuary at this location in May of 2000. Town founder Stephen Tuttle Thompson and Arab’s first schoolteacher, Union Army Captain James Walter Elliott, served in many offices of the church from its founding until their deaths. One of their contemporaries and a former Confederate leader, the Rev. M.E. “Bushwhacker” Johnston, pastored the church during the 1890s and was said to have removed his two guns and placed them on the pulpit while he preached.
Erected 2008 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2000.
Location.
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34° 20.095′ N, 86° 30.014′ W. Marker is in Arab, Alabama, in Marshall County. Marker is on North Main Street, 0.1 miles north of Northgate Drive NW, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1058 N Main St, Arab AL 35016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 660 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on May 21, 2011, by Johnny Tidmore of Arab, Alabama. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
