History of Whitefield United Methodist Church
The history of Whitefield United Methodist Church begins with expanding Methodism in Savannah. The Board of City Missions and Dr. H. T. Freeman, Savannah District Superintendent in 1948, secured this site at 55th Street and Waters Avenue and bought from the U. S. Government the Main Chapel at Hunter Air Force Base. The building was moved to this site after many difficulties, too numerous to mention, and has served as the church sanctuary ever since.
The first worship service in this building at this site was held on October 10, 1948. January 30, 1949, was the formal date of the receipt of the Charter making “WHITEFIELD” a fully participating member of the Conference. The consensus of opinion was that since The Rev. George Whitefield, close friend and associate of The Rev. John Wesley, had established Bethesda Home for Boys in Savannah and carried on his evangelistic work in this area, it would be a wonderful gesture to name the Church in his memory.
Other structures were added as the Whitefield Family of Faith grew. The adjoining building was the first, which houses the social hall, kitchen, and pantry. The present parsonage was purchased in 1955 and the educational building was completed and consecrated in 1964. The most recent physical improvements include a new covered front porch with a ramp for the handicapped, a new church sign, and finally, new carpeting and pew coverings.
The Pastors of our Church to date have been Rev. Edward H. Carruth, Rev. I. Nathaniel Reid, Rev. Lawrence E. Houston, Rev. C. Eugene Canker, Rev. James W. Chester, Rev. Hunter J. Basset, Rev. Gaston Pollock, Rev. James Pfeiffer, Rev. Jacob Lackey, Rev. G. Richard Korn, Rev. William A. Harrell, Rev. Carl Bishop, Rev. David Sayle, Rev. Ernest W. Bass, Rev. Danny E. Treadway, Rev. James R. Burgess, III, Rev. Edwin Willis, and our present Pastor, Rev. Dr. Grover Bell.
As Whitefield United Methodist Church moves on to conquer new goals and face new challenges, the membership gives thanks to Almighty God for His guidance in the past and for future blessings already promised. May His name be praised and honored througth the ministry of this church.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, visit these pages:
The Essential George Whitefield
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, visit these pages:
Home Page of The United Methodist Church
Home Page of The South Georgia Conference the United Methodist Church
General Board of Church and Society
