History of St. Paul United Methodist Church

In the spring of 1888, a few citizens of Minersville, as the village of Watson was then Called, requested that the Reverend I. A. Barnes conducts a revival meeting in the recently completed school building. "Uncle Max" Fleming had organized a Sunday school prior to this time. During the revival, thirty men and women were converted and these with a few others constituted the membership of the newly organized Minersville Methodist Protestant church. In later years it was made a part of a new charge known as the Watson Methodist Charge. In 1892 Norval Vandevort donated a parcel of land, and with the assistance given by the Consolidation Coal Company, the present church building was erected. In 1893 a bell tower was erected at the cost of $600.00. The membership was thirty. In 1909 a parsonage was built with the help of the Consolidated Coal Company. The combined salary of the pastor at this time was $1,000.00 per year. In 1923 the windows were replaced with stained glass windows. In 1945 the members realized the great importance for a church expansion program. The community and membership had grown and so had the church program. In September of that year a fund raising dinner was held to start a fund raising campaign for a church basement. In 1950 the first phase of the expansion program became a reality. The basement was complete and in use. Improvements at this time increased the value of the property to $7,000.00. In 1954 a new heavy-duty roof was put on the church and the exterior covered with white shingles. In 1955 the interior of the church was remodeled. Landscaping and a new driveway were added. Early in 1956, a new carpet, a sanctuary clock, pews, and other needed items, were purchased by friends and organizations within the church. In 1963 additional ground was purchased for parking space for at least 100 cars. The need for a large church was recognized as membership had reached 175 families and remodeling was again undertaken which resulted in the sanctuary being made large enough to accommodate 400 persons, additional rooms and chapel in the basement and many other improvements. The outside of the church was then covered with cut stone and the landscaping completed. After many years of being one of several churches on a charge, Rhea Chapel and Watson Methodist merged, the name being changed to St Paul Methodist church and eventually to St Paul United Methodist church when the Methodist and United Brethren became one congregation. As time passed and the church continued to grow the congregation began to discuss the need for additional space. A large donation was left to the church from the estate of Harry and Margaret Shriver. This money was used as seed money for the next project. After several years of planning and discussion an addition was added on to the church in 1996 which houses a fellowship hall, kitchen, church office, library, pastoral study, Sunday school rooms, and additional restroom facilities. A donation was given to the church by Katherine Sturm to cover the cost of an elevator making the addition fully accessible to all people.