Alton
Illinois
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Emmanuel Free Methodist Church
Our Vision:
We want to help people become committed followers of Jesus, using their God-given gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.
Church History
The place where you are standing is holy ground. Exodus 3:5
In the years 1907-1908, interested friends began to pray for an opportunity to begin a Free Methodist church in Alton. In 1909, a Free Methodist minister named T.A. Bailey held a tent meeting on the corner of Main and Benbow Streets in Upper Alton. Several people were saved, and this group became the core group of the Alton Free Methodist Church. On August 21, 1909, the church was officially organized at a camp meeting at Durley Campground in Greenville, Illinois.
The church met for six years in a rented hall over the Ben Franklin building on the corner of College and Main streets in Upper Alton. The first pastors were two young English women, Miss Alice Goodwin and Miss Florence Humphrey. Services continued there until 1914, when the decision was made to build a church facility. Under the direction of Pastor E. P. Boyd, the facility was built at 1619 Main Street in Upper Alton.
In 1959, under the leadership of Pastor Kendall Mayhew, the congregation moved into a new yellow brick building, located at 2711 Hillcrest Avenue in Upper Alton. Later, Pastor James Eldridge helped the church to purchase a lot across the street for additional parking.
In the summer of 1998, under the leadership of Pastor Mark Scandrett and Building Committee Chairman Tom Bearley, construction of the present facility at 3993 Fosterburg Road began. The congregation did much of the work on the facility and on April 25, 1999, the work was completed. Construction of a large Christian Education wing and expansion of the sanctuary was completed March of 2004.
Since moving to its present location, the church has almost doubled in size and continues to grow. With God's help, we hope to continue to be effective in reaching people for Jesus Christ, building them up in their faith and equipping them for Christian service.
We want to help people become committed followers of Jesus, using their God-given gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.
Church History
The place where you are standing is holy ground. Exodus 3:5
In the years 1907-1908, interested friends began to pray for an opportunity to begin a Free Methodist church in Alton. In 1909, a Free Methodist minister named T.A. Bailey held a tent meeting on the corner of Main and Benbow Streets in Upper Alton. Several people were saved, and this group became the core group of the Alton Free Methodist Church. On August 21, 1909, the church was officially organized at a camp meeting at Durley Campground in Greenville, Illinois.
The church met for six years in a rented hall over the Ben Franklin building on the corner of College and Main streets in Upper Alton. The first pastors were two young English women, Miss Alice Goodwin and Miss Florence Humphrey. Services continued there until 1914, when the decision was made to build a church facility. Under the direction of Pastor E. P. Boyd, the facility was built at 1619 Main Street in Upper Alton.
In 1959, under the leadership of Pastor Kendall Mayhew, the congregation moved into a new yellow brick building, located at 2711 Hillcrest Avenue in Upper Alton. Later, Pastor James Eldridge helped the church to purchase a lot across the street for additional parking.
In the summer of 1998, under the leadership of Pastor Mark Scandrett and Building Committee Chairman Tom Bearley, construction of the present facility at 3993 Fosterburg Road began. The congregation did much of the work on the facility and on April 25, 1999, the work was completed. Construction of a large Christian Education wing and expansion of the sanctuary was completed March of 2004.
Since moving to its present location, the church has almost doubled in size and continues to grow. With God's help, we hope to continue to be effective in reaching people for Jesus Christ, building them up in their faith and equipping them for Christian service.