Join Us at 415 West Main

From Nashville, take 40 east to US 231 exit, number 238 towards Lebanon/Hartsville. Turn left onto US231N. Travel north to the roundabout (the Square) and take 3rd exit onto US-70. First Church is 1/2 mile on the right side of the street.
From Knoxville, take 40 west to US 231 exit, number 238. Turn right on the exit and proceed as above.

History 1797 - present
The circuit rider came...preached where he could gather a crowd...in a home...in the open under a tree...in a public building. The pioneers were always ready to listen as their opportunities for a worship service were limited and they never liked to miss a chance to add to their spiritual life. One of the circuit riders was Bishop Frances Asbury who introduced a religion...Methodism to a new land. Another such circuit rider was Rev. John Page. He helped hold camp meetings and is certain to have preached in Lebanon, although maybe not in the church as a stationed minister.
Methodism came to Wilson County at an early time. The first sermon recorded, although inconclusive, was given in 1797 by William Burke, a Methodist circuit rider within the present bounds of Wilson County. Then came Edward Morris in 1812 and preached regularly at the courthouse located in the middle of the Town Square. The small groups also met and organized in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Frizzier. That same year Lebanon appears in the minutes of the Tennessee Conference as an appointment. In 1834, the first Annual Conference was held in Lebanon, at which time Lebanon was made a station. Prior to this date, Lebanon was stationed under Fountainhead in Summer County and later under Murfreesboro circuits.

The records show that on the town plat, John Irwin purchased lot #15, located two blocks from the public square, on December 2, 1802. Soon after Mr. Irwin sold the Market Street lot to Joseph Johnson for $18.00. In 1812, the lot was purchased by the Methodists for a church. The purchase price was $75.00. Dr. Henry Shelby spearheaded the drive for a church building. However, it was fifteen years later before a church was erected. It was constructed in 1827 with handpressed bricks and a belfry that was typical of that period.

The Methodists, concerned over the spiritual welfare of their slaves, as well as their own, built a commodious balcony, which was part of the original plan of the church for the use of the black families to worship. By 1841, the records show there were 986 white Methodist and 225 black Methodist members.

The great revival helped the membership to increase. With this increase of members, the building became too small, and in 1856, a new church was erected on East Main Street. It was a red brick gothic style design. The tall belfry served as a Lebanon landmark for many years. Shortly after the end of the Civil War, the Market Street property was sold to the black members of the church for $1500.00.

In 1912, the church on East Main Street was destroyed, and a new yellow brick building was erected on the site in 1914. The rapid growth of the church demanded additional space. The expansion program in 1950-56 enabled the church to build modern educational facilities and install air conditioning throughout the church. Even before the debts were paid, the next major move was being planned to build a new church building in Lebanon.

As the next decade unfolded, the spiritual journey continued with groundbreaking on November 15, 1964 for First United Methodist Church on West Main Street. On October 8, 1995, the church celebrated the grand opening of the Family Life Center. A picnic pavilion and playground, located directly behind the Family Life Center, added greatly to the facilities.

From a small beginning, the Methodists have dreamed dreams and caught the vision of Christ in the world. The commission to serve was accepted and is still being fulfilled in Lebanon and the community at large.
The new millennium offers fresh hope and renewed faith that we serve a real God in a real world and offer Christ to everyone that enters our House of Worship.  
Geneva Thomas, Church Historian