Atlanta First United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atlanta First United Methodist Church |
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| Alternative names | First Methodist Episcopal Church, South |
| General information | |
| Type | Church |
| Location | 360 Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 33°45′52″N 84°23′09″W / 33.7644°N 84.3858°W |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Willis Franklin Denny |
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First Methodist Episcopal Church, South
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| Architectural style | Gothic Revival architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 10001000 |
| Added to NRHP | December 7, 2010 |
The Atlanta First United Methodist Church is a very old church in Atlanta, Georgia. It has been around for over 160 years! The building you see today was finished in 1903. The church got its current name in 1968.
A special bell has been used in three different church buildings since 1850. This bell is the only church bell in Atlanta known to have survived the American Civil War. Because of its history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Contents
Church History
Early Beginnings (1845-1870)
In 1845, a man named Samuel Mitchell gave some land to the Methodists. They wanted to build a school there. At first, a small log cabin was used for church services by different groups on different Sundays.
In 1847, the Methodists raised $700 to build their own chapel. This was a big deal because they were the first church group in Atlanta to do this. Their new building was called Wesley Chapel. This is where their famous bell, which cost $300, was first used. Wesley Chapel was even mentioned in the famous book Gone With the Wind. As more people joined, new churches were started from Wesley Chapel.
New Buildings and Changes (1870-Present)
In 1870, the church moved to a new, larger building. This one was a beautiful Gothic-style cathedral. It was designed by an architect named William H. Parkins.
Later, in 1902, the church sold this property to Asa Candler. He was the person who started The Coca-Cola Company! The current church building was then built in 1903. It cost $161,000 and used strong granite from Stone Mountain. The church officially became the Atlanta First United Methodist Church in 1968. This happened when the Methodist Church joined with another group called the Evangelical United Brethren.
More Information
- Official website: https://web.archive.org/web/20120905140822/http://www.atlantafirstumc.org/
