Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Two hundred years after John Wesley’s “Heart-Warming” experience at a meeting place on Aldersgate Street, London, England, a church was organized in Savannah, Georgia and was named Aldersgate Methodist Church (1938).

On June 12, 1938 Reverend J.R. Webb presiding elder called a meeting of Savannah Methodist preachers and interested laity at Trinity Methodist Church. Plans were made to conduct a revival in the Avondale community, August 14-28 1938. Reverend G. Reid Smith, South Georgia Conference Evangelist, was selected to preach.

Rev. Vernard E. Robertson, Emory University student, surveyed and found 80 Methodist and 50 perspective members for a Methodist Church in Avondale.

At 10:00 am on Tuesday morning, July 12, 1938 the first prayer service was held in Mr. & Mrs. V.R. Burdsal’s home. Twelve people attended the first service. These services were conducted each week in different homes with a steady increase in attendance. Thus preparing the way for the revival.

The first preaching service was held on July 17,1938 at 6:30 PM in the home of Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Wright. Reverend J.R. Webb preached at the service. 36 people were in attendance.

Due to rare insight and untiring effort of Brother J.R. Webb and the district Lay leader, T.H. Guerry, the revival was held in a tabernacle with homemade benches and a sawdust floor instead of a tent as originally planned.

Sunday August 14, 1938 the revival started with 35 people attending the morning service and 75 at the evening service. Approximately 62 people joined the church during the revival. The framed building was later enclosed and Sunday school classrooms were added in late 1938 to become the first church building.

First Officers:
	Stewards	W. M. Cox, G. S. Wiggins, & S. J. Cleveland
	Trustees	Frank L. Bourne, Sr., J. C. Wright, Sr., & J. L. Bennett
	Secretary Treasurer	Mrs. Herman E.Freeman (Louise)
	Pianist Choir Director	Mrs. J. W. Jenkins (Martha)
	Assistant Pianist	Edith Conaway

Sunday School Officials:
	Superintendent	Walter M. Cox
	Secretary Treasurer	Albert A. Harrell
	Children’s Division	Mrs. F. L. Bourne, Sr., (Gladys)
	Youth Division	Mrs. Euphemia Berry
	Adult Division	Mrs. J. B. Griner

Women’s Missionary Society Officers:
	President	Mrs. W. M. Cox (Lella Clark)
	Vice President	Mrs. R. W. Conaway (Lollie)
	Secretary	Mrs. J. E. McAleer, Sr. (Lessie)
	Treasurer	Mrs. G. F. Balmer (Gladys)

The Boy Scout Troop # 38 was organized on October 10, 1941.

A Parsonage at 2103 Tennessee Ave. was purchased April 15, 1947. Approval to erect a new Church School building at the corner of Pennsylvania and Tennessee Avenues was given at Quarterly Conference, January 18, 1948. First Worship Service held in the new building was November 7, 1948. Construction on Youth Building (fellowship hall) began in August 1954. Assembly Hall and kitchen were added in May 1959. Groundbreaking for the present Sanctuary was held March 6, 1955. First service was held on May 13, 1956. A new parsonage at 2028 Tennessee Ave. was completed in February 1975. Bishop William R. Cannon dedicated all church buildings on March 12, 1978. A Family Life Center was built in 1981 and dedicated on March 27, 1983 by Bishop Joel McDavid. The Enclosure between the Sanctuary and Educational Building was completed in 1992.

Pastors	Years served
Rev. G. Reid Smith	Aug. – Nov. 1938
Rev. Leon C. Edwards	1938-1940
Rev. L. T. Rogers	1940-1942
Rev. Vernard E. Robertson	1942-1948
Rev. James B. Hutchinson, Sr.	1948-1954
Rev. W. Harry Moore	1954-1960
Rev. L. Clyde Harvard, Sr.	1960-1963
Rev. Pledger W. Parker	1963-1967
Rev. James A. Agee	1967-1972
Rev. William G. Brown	1972-1978
Rev. J. David Aycock, Sr.	1978-1986
Rev. Charles C. Conway, Jr.	1986-1994
Rev. Ronnie O. Howell	1994-1998
Rev. Bill Jackson-Adams	1998-2003
Rev. Steven D. Meguiar	2003-Present

Associate Pastors	Years served
Rev. James B. Hutchinson, Sr.	1980-1996
Rev. Rickey Rushing	1994-1997
Rev. Matt Waldron	2006 -2008