History
Soon after the end of the Civil War, the Methodists in the eastern part of Jackson, Tennessee felt the need to establish a church. Under the leadership of two men, Mr. J. T. Beveridge and Mr. Wyatt A. Taylor, those who were interested were organized in to small "sunday school" classes that met in homes. By 1868, an acre of ground on Hays Avenue in Jackson, TN was bought from the nieces and nephews of Andrew Jackson, and a small frame building was built. The first service in the new church house was held on February 21, 1869.
We have since gone through several name changes, but from 1890 until 1980 we were known as the Hays Avenue Church. From that location our congregation ministered to the spiritual needs of the people of Jackson. The city was greatly influenced by our presence, as we were leaders in community endeavors. Through our scout program, leadership in music for children and youth, and extensive recreational programs, Hays Avenue achieved a prominent status in the hearts and lives of the people of Jackson. We pride ourselves on having one of the best records in all of Methodism for contributing young men and women for positions of leadership in the ministry of the church.
With tremendous growth in the size of Jackson and subsequent population shifts in the 1960’s and 70’s, many of the people of the church moved away. We then had to deal with the agonizing decision to relocate the church house. In 1980, the move was made to new facilities at the corner of North Parkway and Campbell and our name was changed to Aldersgate. This name was draw from John Wesley’s experience at a religious gathering that “warmed his heart”. The gathering took place on May 24, 1738 in London on Aldersgate Street and is considered by most to be the beginning of Methodism.
In our new location and with handsome new facilities, Aldersgate United Methodist Church continues the work that we began over 135 years ago, ministering to the city as a community of faith.
--paraphrased from “A Community of Faith, a History of Hays Avenue and Aldersgate United Methodist Church” (1991)
