Hardy United Methodist Church :

Hardy Methodist Church was organized in 1878, but no records have been found prior to 1892. However, there was a Union Church built at the corner of Fourth and Spring Streets which was used by the
Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Church of Christ congregations until the 1939-40 Conference year when the Methodists paid each of the other denominations $100.00 and became the sole owners
of the property. The old Union Church building was replaced immediately by a new cobblestone structure. Construction laborers worked 50 hours a week at an hourly rate of 15-20 cents per hour, and then donated back to the church 10% of their wages. The pastor
at the time was the Reverend D. L. Hindman and his wife was the associate pastor. On November 13,1921, the Hardy Methodist congregation was increased by the transfer of the Cabin Creek Methodist Church membership to its rolls. Mr. Walter Abee and
Mrs. E. R. (Snowdie) Vance were recommended and received licenses to preach on May 18, 1948. Mr. Abee served under appointment for a number of years, but Mrs. Vance was not appointed. This was probably because of the difficulty in finding a church which would accept a woman as a pastor. Ironically, the Reverend Fern Cook was the Hardy Church pastor at the time. The first parsonage was a building
bought from an oil company on Main Street in Hardy and then moved to the lot behind the present parsonage. In 1954 the present parsonage
was constructed on the corner across from the church.
The Hardy membership was divided in 1964 to form the Cherokee Village Methodist Church to be located in Cherokee Village. The Hardy church membership was then 176 persons. In 1965 a fellowship hall and kitchen addition were made to the existing church building. The property adjoining the parsonage lot waspurchased to provide needed parking space.
As of December, 1988, the membership totals 174 members and a number of friends of the church. Although the congregation consists primarily of retirees, there is much activity, zeal for life, and concern for others. Williford, Corinth, Ravenden, and at present Liberty Hill (Sharp County) churches have been on the charge with the Hardy Church over the years.