Little River United Methodist Church
HISTORY - 2005

In the 1700's, Little River wasn't even Little River. It was known as Mineola (meaning "short river") by the Indians who came here to trade their goods. Because there already was a town called Mineola, our town name was later changed by the United States Post Office to the English words, Little River.

Little River Methodist Church started as a mission in 1876, and became a Methodist church in 1885. It was a circuit church, one where the pastor served other churches on the same charge. The charge lines changed several times over the years. This continued until 1985 when Rev. Frank Hartsell became pastor and served the three churches remaining in the Little River Charge (Little River, Wampee, and Ebenezer) every Sunday for one more year.

Our church site here was first a Baptist Church granted to the Baptist Trustees by Thomas Randall in 1856. This church seems to have died out during the Civil War and the site was later granted to the Methodists.

In 1968, the church's name changed from Little River Methodist Church to Little River United Methodist Church as a result of the Methodist Church merging with the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

In June 1986, Wampee and Ebenezer were removed from the Little River Charge, and Little River United Methodist Church became a station church, self-supporting with a full time pastor.

Many changes occurred over the years. The original church building was sold in 1977 and is now a restaurant, The Parsons' Table.

And the changes continue. Upon the death of Rebecca Randall Bryan in September 1999, LRUMC was named as a beneficiary of Miss Bryan's estate. At her request, the LRUMC Board of Trustees accepted the obligation to care for the Cedar Creek Cemetery, and in return our church received a large monetary bequest. On January 10, 2005, the LRUMC Charge Conference granted permission for our Board of Trustees to receive title to the Cedar Creek Cemetery. It is anticipated that the Trustees of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will convey the Cedar Creek Cemetery to Little River Church in 2005.

In June 2004, we fulfilled a long-time goal and purchased 8.75 acres of land adjoining our property. On this we are BUILDING HIS KINGDOM. The badly needed parking lot is in place, landscaping has been done around it and a good-sized plot of ground has been cleared for a picnic and game area. Plans are in development for a building program.

Dr. Paul Wood, Jr. was appointed to Little River Church in 1999. The church has flourished under his leadership. In 2001, 2004 and 2005, LRUMC received the Bishop's Five Star Award for Excellence. Also, for the first time ever, in 2004, we received the coveted Huck's Award for preserving the congregation's history.

Fifty-eight pastors so far have led our church forward on our continuing journey to expand our resources, help our community, and make LRUMC a beacon of hope, a place where God's presence is felt by all. Each pastor has contributed to bringing us to this point, and with God's guidance, we will move ahead making history for "The Friendly Church with the Big Heart.

Here are some LRUMC "Firsts" as found in "History Tidbits," written by Miss Edna Bessent and Miss Georgia Ellis, both now deceased.

FIRST person buried in the Little River Methodist Church Cemetery was Leon Dudley, who died at sea. His body was brought ashore in Little River and buried in the cemetery.

FIRST couple to be married in our church were Evie McCorsley and Jack McGinn (parents of Hugh McGinn) in the early 1900's.

FIRST parsonage for Little River Methodist Church was built in 1912 by Baxter Baldwin, father of Bridger Baldwin.

FIRST minister who lived in the parsonage was Rev. J.E. Cook and his wife, Emily. They had a son, Pierce Cook, who later became a minister and served at First United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach.

FIRST child born in the parsonage was Eulalia Cook who grew up to be a foreign missionary.

FIRST sermon preached in the second church (the red brick church) was on March 23, 1952 was by a former minister, the Rev. Carl L. Parker, who had served here from 1946 until 1950. He was the step-son of Rev. Bessie Parker, who was the pastor of LRUMC from 1969 until 1974 and the FIRST woman pastor in South Carolina Methodism.

In 1953, LRUMC built a new parsonage on land donated by Mrs. Nell Stone, widow of Dr. J.A. Stone. This was two doors from the first parsonage on Ellis Avenue.

FIRST pastor to occupy the new parsonage was Iverson Graham, Jr. who was the pastor at LRUMC from 1952 until 1954. His father, Iverson Graham was pastor here in 1928 and 1929.

FIRST couple to be married in the second church (the red brick church) were Bart Berry and Peggy Gore., on December 24, 1955.

I'd like to end with a quote of Rev. Phillip M. Chance, Pastor of LRUMC from 1981 until 1984, taken from his pastor's message in the Pictorial Directory of the Little River United Methodist Charge.

"As you look through these pages recognizing some faces and not recognizing others, give thanks to God for the blessing that He is to each of us, and that we can be to each other. We are the Church. Thanks be to God.

Carolyn Lown, LRUMC Historian, 2005