About Us
In 1894, a small group of Methodists, most of whom were of Goshen United Methodist Church, formed a church in Rincon named Rincon Episcopal Church, South, and was added to the Goshen-Clyo Charge. The group met about a year in two lower rooms of a two-story house owned by Dave Joyner.
This group purchased a lot from Thomas Hinely on June 15, 1895 for $15.00 and sold it to the Trustees of Rincon Methodist Church. The Trustees were E.E. Hinely, J.B. Simmons and W.W. Zittrauer. In 1896, the men of the church began construction on a one-room building with a small steeple of the first Methodist church to be built in the town. Sunday school and worship services were held in the one room and the pastor lived in a small frame house on the corner of Blanford and Georgia Avenue.
On April 18, 1910, J.B. Simmons sold his two-story home and lot (which joined the church property) to the church for a parsonage for $1,000. From 1905 until 1910, this house was used as a parsonage for the minister of the Rincon Circuit.
During a Sunday school lesson on a summer afternoon in 1918, the church was struck by lightning and completely destroyed by fire. Members were able to use the Lutheran church for services until a new church was built and dedicated early in 1919.
Although a list of charter members of the church was not found due to the fire, the following names were copied from the oldest membership record in existence: J.B. Simmons, W.H. Zittrauer, J.C. Hinely, Mrs. Nellie Hinely, Wesley A. Exley, Harold Arnsdorff, Frank Ackerman, Offie Ackerman, Mrs. Vera Poythrese, E.E. Hinely, W.S. Lynch, J.M. Dasher, J. Andrew Hinely, Frank Murrwilder, Corra Ackerman, Mr & Mrs. J.W. Blackwell, Elva Abbott, and Mrs. Maggie Hinely.
Various building phases took place from 1934 through 1968. On January 26, 1966, the Adult Sunday School Class bought a part of a lot behind the church and moved the old church to make way for a new Church to be built in the original spot. In June 1977, Rev. Frank L. Perry came to Rincon United Methodist Church as pastor and the church became a "station" church and Goshen and Bethesda became a circuit.
On May 21, 1967, the first shovels of dirt were turned over by the Rev. Perry, the Building Committee, and some of the oldest members, Mrs. Eva Oglesby, Mrs. Ethel Arnsdorff and Mr. Carl Simmons. The celebration was completed by dinner on the grounds.
Rev. H. Curtis Tillman was assigned as pastor in June 1967 and construction of the new church begun late July of 1967 with anticipation of being in the new sanctuary by Easter Sunday, 1968.
We have been blessed over the years with fine pastors and dedicated, hard-working members. With the growth of Effingham County in the past decade, our church has also grown. We are delighted with our growing membership and look forward to the future with opportunities to share the Word of the Lord with all who come through our doors.
