History of
Brewer United Methodist Church
Located in southeastern Lee county between Verona and Shannon, Brewer United Methodist Church has a long history in this area.
The Brewer United Methodist Church had its beginnings in the early 1850s after the Pontotoc-Cotton Gin Port Treaty was introduced.
The first church was located on land donated by Captain William Mosley and McDonald Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery. This was located at what is the present Old Chapel Petty Cemetery south of Verona. In the 1880s, the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists established a church a little further south. It was called Bethel Union Church.
The first recorded history of the church was in 1903. Shortly before this a church was built across the road from the present-day church. It was called Center Grove Methodist Church.
The building on this site served until 1921, when land across the road was bought from Mr. and Mrs. Bill Butler to build a church. This church (see painting above) was built entirely by the community and church members. Lumber was hauled from Evans Sawmill in the Evergreen Community for the new church. Church members formed a wagon train to bring the lumber to Brewer. They spent the night in the Richmond on the way back from their 15-mile trip.
Records show members giving small amounts of cash and seed cotton to raise money to pay expenses. Women and children hired out to pick cotton to pay for paint and supplies. The members also worked a cotton patch near where Louise Lawhon now lives and sold the cotton. The church also sponsored a political rally and operated a lemonade stand to raise money. Church members borrowed $284.52 from the Bank of Tupelo to help with expenses.
The church continued to grow, and in later years, twice received the award for the "Outstanding Rural Church" of the year. In addition to these honors, seven members from the church have been called into the ministry.
Over the years, many changes have been made to the original church building. In the 1950s, Sunday school rooms were added. Once again, the work was done entirely by the church family. Later the front was changed and enclosed, the church was bricked, the pulpit area was redesigned, a steeple was added, the parking lot was paved, and central heat & air was installed.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the church building was expanded to include a new fellowship hall, kitchen, and Sunday school rooms. It was paid in full when completed - partly because Reverend Wilmer Stokes would take up money, count it, and pass the plates again until enough money was received. In the middle 1990s, seven stained-glass windows were added to the sanctuary. (These windows have been moved to the new sanctuary.)
The first phase of the new sanctuary was started in late 2007. The first service was held in this sanctuary on October 12, 2008. This new construction is paid for, and like our ancestors of old, we are conducting various fundraisers to pay for Phase II of our building plans. Phase II included converting our old Fellowship Hall into Sunday school classrooms and the construction of a new Fellowship Hall and extra classrooms and storage.
We have been truly blessed and look forward to serving the Lord for many years to come. We would like to thank all who have contributed to our Building Fund.
