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HISTORY
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The history of the
First
United
Methodist
Church
goes back to the days of the early settlers. The Methodist denomination was the pioneer church in
Shelby
County
, and the first church built in the county was Methodist. Circuit Riders preached in homes in the 1820’s, and a log cabin was built in 1829/1830 to house the early church. Peter Cartwright (famed preacher) was a frequent participant in worship.
In 1838, the congregation built a wood frame church at the corner of North Third and North Morgan. The church had two front entrances, because men and women were not allowed to sit together.
The third church building was constructed in 1865 on
West Main Street
, facing Long Street. The two story brick building had the first reed organ in Shelbyville, later replaced by a pipe organ.
The current church building was dedicated in 1899, and has gone through several additions and renovations. Of special note are the pipe organ, the painting by Robert Root, and the stained glass windows. The Shelbyville First United Methodist church has 643 members, with worship attendance averaging 200.
Research by Nancy Hardy, Ashley Dove, and Tyler Pierce
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| "The Holy Scripture" ~ PAINTING BY ROBERT MARSHALL ROOT |
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Local artist Robert Root (1863-1937) created the fresco in 1899. When the fresco was painted people from the community were used as models. It is on the North side of the sanctuary and it measures approximately 10ft. by 15ft.
A garden can be seen in the background, with attentive listeners hearing the scripture. The central figure holds an open Bible, and points toward heaven. The chair this figure sits on has lions engraved on the arms that symbolize power and majesty.
Two touring minstrels pause to hear the scriptures, as do an elderly man, a young woman, and a young man. These listeners symbolize the universal nature of the scripture.
A child (naked before God) is portrayed taking a flower from a vase, symbolizing the struggle between earthly and heavenly beauty, and the brassier shows the fires of idolatrous worship dying out.
The musical instruments symbolize the arts and the Psalms.
Finally, the temple in the background reflects the offering of the Gospel to the gentile cultures.
Research by Nancy Hardy
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| STAINED GLASS WINDOWS |
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The stained glass windows date back to 1899, and were created by Jacoby-Spies & Company of
St. Louis
for $925.
The Rose window on the south is a memorial to those who served in the Civil War. Brigadier General Cyrus Hall is memorialized, through the efforts of the Shelby County Veteran’s Association. Several inscriptions on the windows read: “Grand Army of the Republic Veterans 1861-1866”, “Cyrus Hall Post No. 245 C.F.L. Women’s Relief Corps”, “Cyrus Hall Post No. 138 G.A.R.”
The east windows were designed as a memorial to several prominent leaders of the early Shelbyville church.
Theodore Franklin Dove presented the Rose window in memory of his wife, Alta Clark Dove. Though the Dove name is not on the window, they are remembered through the stained glass dove at the center of the window.
Also memorialized on the East windows are William Eddy, James Durbin, the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, the Aid Society 1898, Auntie and Martillas Graham, Joseph Oliver, and Francis E. Willard.
Research by Nancy Hardy
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