Cullman First United Methodist Church

History:

In 1872, John G. Kullman brought a colony of five German families and one bachelor to Alabama and they settled on land that is now a part of the City of Cullman. The Cullman Mission was organized by the Rev. Sam P. West in 1881 . One of the leading laymen of that congregation was Mr. George W. Hanlin, who in 1879 had organized a Sunday school class for Methodists in Cullman. Two years later, under the leadership of Rev. R. S. Hullett, the congregation erected their first church building on 1st Avenue, West between 1st and 2nd Streets. The church grew in faith and numbers and in its influence upon the community. This handful of early Methodists was committed to the Lord and gave themselves to the establishment of a Methodist Church in this community. They gave sacrificially of their time, talent and resources as faith commitments to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their first church building was destroyed by the fire of 1893, which also destroyed the greater part of the northwestern section of the town. Shortly thereafter, the congregation led by their pastor, Dr. D. S. McDonald, made plans for erecting a new building on the present site. This frame building stood until 1923 when, under the leadership of the Rev. S. O. Kimbrough, it was torn down and used in constructing a tabernacle where the congregation worshipped while the present stone church building was completed. This new beautiful building cost nearly $100,000 and a large indebtedness was incurred. The building of this wonderful sanctuary was truly an act of faith on the part of this congregation. Because of their devotion to God, they stretched themselves according to their means and beyond their means. Every person who has worshipped in this sanctuary or been nurtured in this church school owes a great debt of gratitude to our spiritual ancestors who built according to God’s Vision for His Church in this place.