A Brief History of Our Story
Upatoi Community Church
Upatoi Community Church has been a vital part of the community for many years. It is mentioned
in the records of the South Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church as far back as 1861. In 1886
Emanuel Ritch donated a track of land on Moore Road, three miles south of the Upatoi Community,
for the establishment of " The New Methodist Church." The church was place on the Talbotton Circuit, sharing a minister with several other churches.
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In 1888, Mr. S.H. Jenkins, the chairman of the church's Building Committee, donated land on Upatoi Lane ( at the time know as Macon Road )for a new building for the church. The church remained in this location until the 1900's. During this time the church was moved for the Talbotton Circuit to the Midland Charge.
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In the early 1900's, a Philadelphia lawyer by the name L.C. Vanuxen built Liberty Hall, a landmark building in the community to the present day, for his winter home. He also financed the construction of a new church building on another track of land on Upatoi Lane, donated by S.H. Jenkins. The church would remain in this location until 1982.
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In 1941 the United States Government annexed large portions of land in the Upatoi area for the expansion of the Fort Benning Reservation. Many members of the church were forced to relocate, some leaving the area in search of new homes. Membership in the church declined to the point that the church's Sunday School program was discontinued for a period of approximately two years.
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By 1943, the community had begun to recover and new residents were settling in the area. The church's membership grew. In the late 1940's, a major repair project was undertaken, with the building being lowered, concrete steps added and a new roof installed. A few years later, blinds and gas heat were added to the building. In the late 1950's, the church enjoyed a complete renovation.
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By the late 1970's, the church's membership had grown to the point that the present building's capacity would soon be exceeded. The church membership made the decision to construct a new building at the corner of Macon and Jenkins Road, the present location of the church. The new facility was consecrated in May 1982.
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In 1991, the church was able to financially support its own pastor and left the Midland Charge to become a station church. In 1998, the church enlarged its circle of service and joined with Box Springs United Methodist Church to from the Upatoi-Box Springs Parish.
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In 2000, the church broke ground on a building project including the addition of a family life center and education wing, along with a sanctuary expansion. The project was consecrated in November 2001.
Over the years, Upatoi United Methodist Church has responded to the needs of the surrounding community and the larger national and international community. The church has been used not only for worship and Christian education, but also as a school, a Red Cross station for wrapping bandages, a library, and a polling station. The church was twice recognized by the South Georgia Annual Conference and the Columbus District as "Church of the Year" (conference years 1958-1959 and 1982-1983), and as part of the "Circuit of the Year" in 1959. The church's membership continues to search for new ways to do God's will in our community and our world.
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