History:

In 1857 the golden spike marking the completion of the old Memphis and Charleston Railroad was driven, the rail lines were complete and the town of Iuka was being planned. In this time period this section of Mississippi was under the jurisdiction of the Memphis Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The circuit riders served as pastors of the small group of Methodists who lived in the area. The group was so small that no church building had been established. Two years later, in 1859 there were enough Methodists to begin erection of a church, and the foundation was laid. Entrance to the church was by a broad porch supported by Corinthian columns. There was no center door; only those doors at each side of the front of the building. The men entered through the right door and sat on that side while the ladies entered and sat on the left. Families were separated, as was the custom of the day.

An aisle extended from each of the doors to the pulpit, dividing the seats into three sections. Through handmade, the seats were neatly finished. The windows were in the fashion of the day, high and shaded with blinds. The pulpit featured colonial columns at each side, which were used as stands for candles and lamps. The alter was straight and followed the lines of the box pulpit. The dark days of the Civil War wrought many changes to the church. The building served as a hospital, and through the doors were carried the wounded and dying of both the Union and Confederate Army. The Iuka church also becomes a mission station with the pulpit often filled by Methodist ministers of the armies in the area.

In 1866, the church once again had a full time minister and the congregation was growing. It was during this time that the first organ was installed. The hymnbook, however, as was the custom of the day, were owned by each individual and were not the property of the church. In the early 1880's a tall spire was added to the belfry, the colonial porch changed into a vestibule and the old box pulpit and mourners' bench were replaced by a smaller stand and a chancel rail. The church was remodeled again in 1897. The ceiling was changed, the floor was inclined, new seats replaced the handmade benches and memorial art windows were installed. In the spring of 1898, nearly 40 years after the church was established, the church was dedicated with the Bishop presiding.

In 1906, an apse was added and in the center was placed an art glass window picturing the Good Shepard. The window is still the focal point of the church building. In June of 1934 the church began construction of a two-story educational building and the existing sanctuary was remodeled. The interior of the sanctuary redecorated and all of the existing woodwork was stained to harmonize with the choir rail, communion table and chancel. The two front windows were replaced with cathedral glass. The transom was replaced with art glass. The transom in the choir loft was also replaced with cathedral glass as was the upper half of the choir door. The communion table was replaced and the replacement continues to be used to this day.

In January of 1957 an addition to the existing education building was started. The addition was completed in 1958. In 1988 a family life center was added to the church. The Family Life Center consisted of a kitchen, a dining area, and a half court basketball court and a stage for use in expanding the use of the church for the members. A renovation of the existing education building was started in 2001 and was completed in March of 2002.

The Iuka United Methodist Church has a long and valued history. The community has found use of the facilities to enrich the lives not only of the members of the congregation but of the community as a whole.