Celebrating 100 Years at 4th and Main in 2026
While First United Methodist Church has been in Paragould since 1883, the church where the congregation now meets was completed in 1926, a building that had every modern convenience of the time, including electric lights, a heating plant, six to eight pianos, and a “fine pipe organ” that cost an astounding $10,500. The church had come a long way from sitting in seats improvised of plank in a house lighted by lantern and oil lamps, the humble beginnings of the first-ever church in Paragould began by 13 members. The new sanctuary was built along with a 4-story building to be used as an education wing that had 32 rooms and four corridors and was slated to be ready for the annual conference in late November. The structure cost $125,000, a huge sum at the time. That would be today’s equivalent of $2.36 million dollars. To further put that into perspective, the average annual salary for a worker of the time was between $1,300 to $1,400 and a brand new Ford Model T cost less than $400.
The erection of the church began with shoveling dirt, a task done by survivors of the charter members of the church. The lot was contributed by Sarah Wyse Cook, a former member and past Paragould resident who was currently residing in Forest City. Sarah also gave the church the parsonage and a generous cash contribution. When the Education Building was constructed, it was dedicated in her honor and called Wyse Memorial. The sanctuary and education wing were built under the ministry of J.B. Evans; the building committee was composed of R.W. Meriwether, Louis Linke, Clyde Mack, H.S. Trice, and L. U. Stedman. Thus began the building of the church which was described as “a noble structure of rare beauty,” a beauty easily seen in the woodworking, stained glass windows, the rounded corners on the chancel, and the marble floor in the narthex, among other things.
The sanctuary was first occupied by the congregation on Sunday, November 21, 1926. The service included a reading of the Apostles’ Creed, a violin solo, “Ave Maria,” hymns, prayers, and a sermon, “Out of the Dark” preached by Rev. J. B. Evans. Mrs. E. E. Castleberry was the choir director and Mrs. E.F. Copeland was the organist.
Later, in 1931, a formal laying of the corner stone took place and 12 things were sealed in a container and then placed in the stone, including a copy of the Paragould Semi-Weekly Soliphone, a copy of the Christian Advocate, the Methodist Hymnal, a Bible, a booklet that contained names with amounts of contributors to the stone offering, and a brief life history and photo of John N. Johnston, a charter member of the church who was 89 years old at the time of the dedication. Later that night, a combined service of all the churches of the city was held at FUMC to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Paragould.
In 1933, the 50th anniversary of Methodism in Paragould was celebrated. No doubt they celebrated the growth of FUMC, rising from the original 13 members, to now over 800.
Another thing of note to mention: during the depression of the 30’s, the church was padlocked and turned over to the bondholders. The congregation held services at the First Christian Church, a move that lasted seven months, ending in May, with regular church services held on May 10, 1936, Mothers Day.
In 1937, a flood from the St. Francis and Little River bottoms left 565 people as refugees. All were housed in parts of the church building, except the sanctuary.
Today, FUMC stands at the corner of West Main Street, its third building. From 1883-1893 the church was located at Second and Emerson Streets facing north in a wood-frame building that the congregation used before it was even completely finished. The church outgrew it and moved to the second site, an “elegant brick structure” which stood on Third and Emerson Streets. In 2026, the church celebrates being at the current building, enjoying a neighborhood feel and close proximity to downtown.
Elizabeth (Trice) Lowe, who wrote a short history of the church in 1952, said astutely in it that “We who are now serving in the present time are a link between the church of yesterday and the church of now and the church which is to be. Our church needs each of us, our help and service, our consecration to the work, our desire to become more Christ-like in our attitudes…And I know that anyone who will help support the church with love, prayers, services, and money will have a richer life. May I close my remarks by asking myself and let each of you do the same: ‘Is the Church stronger because of me?’”
The erection of the church began with shoveling dirt, a task done by survivors of the charter members of the church. The lot was contributed by Sarah Wyse Cook, a former member and past Paragould resident who was currently residing in Forest City. Sarah also gave the church the parsonage and a generous cash contribution. When the Education Building was constructed, it was dedicated in her honor and called Wyse Memorial. The sanctuary and education wing were built under the ministry of J.B. Evans; the building committee was composed of R.W. Meriwether, Louis Linke, Clyde Mack, H.S. Trice, and L. U. Stedman. Thus began the building of the church which was described as “a noble structure of rare beauty,” a beauty easily seen in the woodworking, stained glass windows, the rounded corners on the chancel, and the marble floor in the narthex, among other things.
The sanctuary was first occupied by the congregation on Sunday, November 21, 1926. The service included a reading of the Apostles’ Creed, a violin solo, “Ave Maria,” hymns, prayers, and a sermon, “Out of the Dark” preached by Rev. J. B. Evans. Mrs. E. E. Castleberry was the choir director and Mrs. E.F. Copeland was the organist.
Later, in 1931, a formal laying of the corner stone took place and 12 things were sealed in a container and then placed in the stone, including a copy of the Paragould Semi-Weekly Soliphone, a copy of the Christian Advocate, the Methodist Hymnal, a Bible, a booklet that contained names with amounts of contributors to the stone offering, and a brief life history and photo of John N. Johnston, a charter member of the church who was 89 years old at the time of the dedication. Later that night, a combined service of all the churches of the city was held at FUMC to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Paragould.
In 1933, the 50th anniversary of Methodism in Paragould was celebrated. No doubt they celebrated the growth of FUMC, rising from the original 13 members, to now over 800.
Another thing of note to mention: during the depression of the 30’s, the church was padlocked and turned over to the bondholders. The congregation held services at the First Christian Church, a move that lasted seven months, ending in May, with regular church services held on May 10, 1936, Mothers Day.
In 1937, a flood from the St. Francis and Little River bottoms left 565 people as refugees. All were housed in parts of the church building, except the sanctuary.
Today, FUMC stands at the corner of West Main Street, its third building. From 1883-1893 the church was located at Second and Emerson Streets facing north in a wood-frame building that the congregation used before it was even completely finished. The church outgrew it and moved to the second site, an “elegant brick structure” which stood on Third and Emerson Streets. In 2026, the church celebrates being at the current building, enjoying a neighborhood feel and close proximity to downtown.
Elizabeth (Trice) Lowe, who wrote a short history of the church in 1952, said astutely in it that “We who are now serving in the present time are a link between the church of yesterday and the church of now and the church which is to be. Our church needs each of us, our help and service, our consecration to the work, our desire to become more Christ-like in our attitudes…And I know that anyone who will help support the church with love, prayers, services, and money will have a richer life. May I close my remarks by asking myself and let each of you do the same: ‘Is the Church stronger because of me?’”
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