WORSHIP WITH US

8:30 Blended Service

9:30 Coffee Time, Fellowship Hall

9:45 Sunday School for all ages

11:00 Traditional Service

History:
The circuit rider came...preached where he could gather a crowd...in a home...in the open under a tree...in a public building. The pioneers were always ready to listen as their opportunities for a worship service were limited and they never liked to miss a chance to add to their spiritual life. One of the circuit riders was Bishop Frances Asbury who introduced a religion...Methodism to a new land. Another such circuit rider was Rev. John Page. He helped hold camp meetings and is certain to have preached in Lebanon, although maybe not in the church as a stationed minister. Methodism came to Wilson County at an early time. The first sermon recorded, although inconclusive, was given in 1797 by William Burke, a Methodist circuit rider within the present bounds of Wilson County. Then came Edward Morris in 1812 and preached regularly at the courthouse located in the middle of the Town Square. The small groups also met and organized in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Frizzier. That same year Lebanon appears in the minutes of the Tennessee Conference as an appointment. In 1834, the first Annual Conference was held in Lebanon, at which time Lebanon was made a station. Prior to this date, Lebanon was stationed under Fountainhead in Summer County and later under Murfreesboro circuits.

The records show that on the town plat, John Irwin purchased lot #15, located two blocks from the public square, on December 2, 1802. Soon after Mr. Irwin sold the Market Street lot to Joseph Johnson for $18.00. In 1812, the lot was purchased by the Methodists for a church. The purchase price was $75.00. Dr. Henry Shelby spearheaded the drive for a church building. However, it was fifteen years later before a church was erected. It was constructed in 1827 with handpressed bricks and a belfry that was typical of that period.