Central Methodist Church Pastor Eben Taylor envisions a new Methodist Church.  World War II and the pastor’s untimely death halt planning.

Central Methodist Church Pastor R. Wright Spears continues the plan but discontinued due to a lack of interest by those on the east side of Florence.

Rev. Spears secures the services of C.J. Lupo, seminary student at Emory University, to organize a mission church on the western edge of Florence.  July 4 the first meeting held at the National Guard Armory on West Evans Street.  August 29 the official organizational meeting was held, a    charter signed, and the church named St. Paul Methodist. There were 89 Charter Members and   18 Preparatory Members.  King Scoggins continued the organizational work started by Mr. Lupo. Locations also used for Worship Services were McKenzie School and the VFW Hut. November 8 a lot at 1629 West Palmetto St. was purchased for $8,000. $75,000 was borrowed for building purposes. November 10 Joel Cannon is the first appointed minister by the Methodist Conference. A former District Parsonage at 314 West Palmetto Street loaned as the parsonage.

July 16 groundbreaking of the Educational Building at a cost of $45,000.

February, the building is occupied with Worship Services held on the second floor and a Nursery on the first floor.

Debt on Educational Building retired.  Fellowship Hall built.  Loan  of $110,000 to build the Sanctuary.

January 25 construction begins on Sanctuary. Open air Vesper Services 6:30 PM each Sunday in front of construction on a raised platform built by the contractor.

Carlisle S. Floyd appointed Minister.  Sanctuary completed and occupied.

Parsonage is built at 609 Plum Drive at a cost of $25,000 (1965 assessment).

J. Ross Johnson appointed Minister.

Children’s Building completed at a cost of $30,000 (1965 assessment).

Harry M. Goewey appointed Minister.

A three rank pipe organ installed.

Church membership 707.

Ernest M. Heape appointed Minister.

Carl L. Parker appointed Minister.

Stained glass windows and five pulpit chairs were donated by members as memorials.

Carl N. Harris appointed Minister.

October 5-26 15 Rank Pipe Organ with 905 pipes purchased from Schantz Organ Company Orrville, Ohio at a cost of $59,988.00. 

Julian H. Lazar appointed Minister.

July 4 celebrating 40 years of Ministry ground was broken for the Family Life Center.

FLC completed at a cost of $496,000.  Hurricane Hugo damaged Sanctuary roof and steeple.

Sanctuary roof and steeple repairs completed.  Donations of a cross to place on the steeple and a street facing brick sign identifying St. Paul UMC with the Methodist symbol Cross and Flame.

Boy Scout Troop 476 awarded by SC Conference of The UMC “Bishop’s Award of Excellence”. CSX “Shanty Car” donated to scouts.

July 1 new parsonage purchased at 1723 Malden Ave. $165,000.  Membership 1050. Robert J. Bob Howell Jr. appointed Minister.

Fellowship Hall renovated and renamed Youth Activities Center.

Dedication service September 9.

July 5 a week of 5Oth Birthday Celebration with Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey giving the sermon. Christian Walter Memorial Playground dedicated. Steven D. Morgan appointed Minister.

July minister exchange with Keith and Heather Rushton  of England.  Parsonage mortgage retired. Prayer Room/Bridal Room designated and furnished.  Mother’s Morning Out program begins.

First UMVIM teams sent to Dominican Republic and African University, Zimbabwe.

John Gerald (Jerry) Pickens appointed Minister.

”Hearts and Hands” a 4 part building program for a two story child care center, youth center and SS Classes.  Mother’s Morning Out expands.  First mission team sent to The Red Bird Mission, Beverly Kentucky and yearly since (2015).

UMVIM team to Ocean Springs, Mississippi Hurricane Katrina relief 5 trips through 2006.

March 12 ground breaking for $2.3 million Child Development and Christian Education Center. G. Dane Morehead appointed Minister 2007  June 10 combined worship services for a Consecration Service for Child Development and Christian Education  with District Superintendent Janice L. Fredrick-Watts giving the sermon.

Pulpit exchange for the month of  October between Rev. Morehead and former member Rev. Will  Grady serving the pulpits at Wilpshire and Mellor Methodists Churches in the Blackburn Circuit Lancashire England. On his last Sunday Rev. Morehead was presented with a glass goblet (used for  Holy Communion by John  Wesley who preached and held Society Meetings in that area about 1783) from the Yorkshire Museum by retired Methodist ministers who wanted the goblet to come to USA.Sunday morning Praise and Worship Services begins in FLC.

February 23 at a 10:30 AM combined Worship Service the Presentation of the John Wesley Communion Chalice for Consecration to the glory of Almighty God and for service in St. Paul UMC by Rev. Morehead and a visiting Rev. Will Grady to the membership of St. Paul UMC. December 24 Christmas Eve Holy Communion Service John Wesley Chalice used.

Maurice E. Nason Jr. appointed Minister.

The first female pastor, Rev. Debra Armstrong was appointed to Saint Paul UMC.  Three months in to her ministry here, Tropical Storm Joaquin damaged five out of six roofs on campus.  The original HVAC system in the Sanctuary went out and could not be repaired. A special campaign was held to raise the funds repair and replace roofs and the HVAC system in the Sanctuary.  The necessary funds were raised in four months. Worship was held in the Family Life Center while the sanctuary roof was replaced, the HVAC system replaced, and the sanctuary was repainted.

Easter Sunday the sanctuary was re-consecrated for worship.  The Church Council and Charge Conference elected a Vision Team.  The team, with assistance by Rev. Millie Smith, and Rev. Jim Arant, Congregational Specialists participated in a six month visioning process.  A new mission statement, vision statement, and strategic goals. The church approved them and began implementation of the goals.

The finance committee with Charge Conference approval created a cash reserve fund to address the giving pattern identified by the Vision Team.  Rev. Jim Arant assisted the church in a discernment process to implement our strategic goal to determine the time and style for worship services at Saint Paul UMC.

The new worship service began in January at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday Mornings.  It is a holy worship service based on scripture. The incorporates worship elements from all styles of worship.  A new audio-visual system was installed in the sanctuary. We celebrated fifteen years of sending mission teams to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky.  Plans are being made for our 70th Anniversary July 4, 2018.