In 1886 William “Shoestring” White, a member of The Methodist Society of Columbus, Georgia, met with a group in Girard, Alabama and saw the need for a place of worship. He mortgaged his own home in Columbus and built this eager group a one room church. This first church started as a mission with about twenty-five members, mostly women and children. The first service was held on December 15, 1886.
In 1943 Rev. R. K. Jones became pastor of the charge. Under his leadership, a new modern building was built at 1221 Seale Road in Girard, Alabama. It was not until 1952 that Epworth received its first full-time pastor with the appointment of Rev. George Gilbert.
In the early 1960’s the path of the new 280/431 Bypass required a move for the congregation. Not to be deterred, the members held services in a barn and an elementary school building until land could be purchased and a new building could be constructed. For 30 years the church was located in Asbury Park.
In 1988 under the leadership of Dr. Larry Bryars, Epworth members voted to change locations once again. Land was purchased at the current location on Highway 431 North and construction began soon after. The final service in Asbury Park was on December 2, 1990. Since the new church was not yet completed, services were held in a temporary location – not a barn this time but in the old Prichetts’ fish camp. The first service in the new building was December 1, 1991, nearly one year after leaving the Asbury Park location. Shortly after the purchase of the current property on 431 North, a house adjacent to the church was also purchased and was deemed “The Youth House at Epworth.”
Unfortunately, in 1995, the main church building was damaged by fire. This time an imperative temporary move was then made to the Central Activities Center. Members voted unanimously to rebuild the current structure and to begin the second phase of the building project, a new two-story educational building. Members moved back into the fully restored building in February 1996 and the educational building was completed later that year.
Reverend Grant Parker, a native of Phenix City, has been a pastor since 1983. He and his wife, Letha, have four children and two grandchildren. Brother Grant has been the pastor of Epworth since 2008.
