A Brief History of the Canadian United Methodist Church
The Canadian United Methodist Church is a descendant of the Wesleyan Revival began in England in the mid 1700s. John Wesley, an ordained priest in the Church of England unexpectedly had what he called “a heart warming experience” of the presence of the Holy Spirit while attending a small Bible study and prayer meeting in London on May 24, 1738. He began to witness to others of his experience. He first reached his brother Charles, a close friend, George Whitefield, and others of his acquaintance. The movement spread rapidly across England with preaching, witnessing and “societies”–small fellowship and study groups. Most of the preachers were laypersons under the direction of John and Charles Wesley.
The Wesleyan movement came to the American colonies as the English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish immigrated to the New World and brought the Wesleyan revival with them. In due time preaching places were established. During the Revolutionary War the Methodist Church, which had strong ties to England, faded into the background of the War, but emerged after the war stronger than before.
In 1784 a founding Conference was held at Baltimore, Maryland at which time the American Methodist Church was formed with only fraternal ties to John and Charles Wesley back in England.
In the early 1800s great revivals and camp meetings took place on the frontiers of the new nation and many people were added to the Methodist Roll. Preaching places and Sunday Schools followed the settlers westward, served primarily by traveling circuit riding preachers on horseback who unselfishly gave of themselves for the sake of the Gospel and the love of the people.
Mission work was established in Indian Territory at the end of the “Trail of Tears.” Some of the Native Americans who were forced to come to what is now Oklahoma were Methodists and some were even Methodist preachers. The town of Checotah was named after Samuel Checote, a Native American, who was a Methodist preacher and Presiding Elder (now District Superintendent) and a tribal leader among the Creeks.
Mission work began at South Canadian in the 1830s or 1840s with the establishment of a preaching place and a school for the Indians. Indian Schools were staffed by the Methodist Church and funded primarily by the Federal Government. In 1845 a mission church and school were also begun at North Fork Town (Eufaula) which was across the river from South Canadian. The South Canadian School and Church were called the school and church “up on the hill,” approximately where the water tower is now.
Then the Civil War came along and almost everything was destroyed. During the war at a General Conference held at New Orleans in 1863 the Indian Mission Conference was organized and Walker Carey was assigned to the South Canadian Circuit. Undoubtedly there were other circuit riding preachers assigned to this area before Bro. Carey, but no record is available. The second pastor of record assigned was John Sevier or John Savier, followed by W. O. Luton, W. T. Burk, D. D. Nullins, J. D. Massey, etc.,
When the railroads came to Indian Territory in 1872 great changes took place. The Territory was opened up to new settlement, agriculture was established, and new towns were founded. “South Canadian” moved down to the railroad and flourished with banks, mercantile stores, onion, cotton, and potato railroad shipping docks. A new Methodist Church building was built which also served as the school for a while. Prior to that time the Methodists and Baptists shared a room in the Masonic Hall.
A very nice rock church building with a basement was built in 1934 while Melvin R. Miller was Pastor. The present beautiful building was erected in 1990 and 1991 while Posey Gaines was the Pastor. On the Building Committee were Jim Harris, Johnny Funderburg, Loy Rosebeary, Virginia Hallum, and Rev. Dan Stilwell. Jim Harris designed the Building and was the Construction Supervisor. It was dedicated by Bishop Solomon on April 22, 1991.
With the coming of Lake Eufaula housing developments have brought many new people to the area. This in turn has enabled the Church to grow and develop in a way never dreamed of in times past. We believe this growth and energy will continue on in to the future.
