In the South, a church homecoming is a longstanding church tradition.
The tradition originated in the South among Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, First Christians, and other denominations. It has always been a wonderful occasion that brought back inactive church members, honored church history, and remembered departed members of the congregation.
The highlight of many homecomings was a delicious, home-cooked potluck Sunday dinner, often held on the church grounds.
Historic Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hueytown hosted its annual church homecoming on Sunday, May 17.
The Rev. Barbara Mosley serves as pastor of Bethlehem United Methodist Church.
The church was established in 1818 at Rutledge Springs in the Alabama Territory before Alabama became a state.
The Rev. Captain James Tarrant Sr., from the colony of Virginia and a veteran of the American Revolution, built the original church — a one-room log cabin — in 1818 on land donated by James Rutledge. It served as a meeting place for Sunday and other religious services.
Rev. Tarrant, along with Mrs. Margaret Prude and Mrs. Nancy Sadler, organized the church, and Rev. Tarrant served as the first minister.
The original one-room church was used until 1890, when a late 19th-century Victorian church designed with Gothic windows and a bell tower was constructed. The original hand-hewn logs and timbers were incorporated into the floor of the new church. The logs remain in the same location as they were in the 1818 church.
Seen enjoying the memorable homecoming were Rev. Barbara Mosley, Rev. Kay Mutert, Larry Thornton, Kay Smith, Rev. Vicki Cater, Jean Isaacs, Ralph Dobbs, Dalton Griffin, Thomas Holmes, Boyd Stripling, Deb and George Brady, Kay Parker, Judy Coggin, and Sue Smith.
Kay Parker, Judy Coggin and Sue Smith
Larry Thornton, Kay Smith and Jean Isaacs
Reverend Barbara Mosley and Reverend Kay Mutert
