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HISTORY

             HISTORY OF EASTLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

             Eastland United Methodist Church began back on August 23rd of 1955 when a meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Taylor to discuss the possibility of starting a new church in Spotsylvania. Less than a month later, on September 11th, the first service was held at the Courtland Home Demonstration Club building led by Rev. Cephas Haynes with 15 people in attendance. Throughout the rest of the 1950’s, several significant milestones were achieved – the Women’s Society of Christian Service was formed in October of 1955; Eastland Methodist Church joined the Richmond District in March of 1956; and the first Vacation Bible School was held in the summer of 1956 with 42 attendees. Also during this time, a half acre of land was donated by Georgia Eubank for the future church site (This lot was later sold to the State of Virginia to make way for Interstate 95). By the end of 1956, the church youth group had been formed and there were a total of 29 members.
             In March of 1957, a house and lot were purchased to be re-modeled as a church. The first service held in this new building was on August 4th of 1957. The following month, a lot and house next door to the church were purchased to be used as a parsonage.
             Beginning with the 1957-1958 church year, Eastland became a 2 charge conference with the addition of Zion Methodist Church at Spotsylvania Courthouse.
             In 1962, Rev. R.J. Donnelly became pastor and Eastland was transferred to the Alexandria District where it remained until 1971 when it became part of the newly formed Ashland District.
              An interesting fact of the church concerns how an organ was purchased for Eastland in the early 1960’s. Although there were private donations and fundraisers, a decision was made to initiate an S&H green stamps drive. Booklets were collected to be applied to the cost of the new organ. This drive was advertised in local newspapers and trading stamp booklets were submitted from around the state. A special service was held to dedicate the new organ when it was delivered.
              In 1965, Eastland got its first full time minister in Rev. J. Emerson Powell. Membership had grown to 178 and guest speakers would deliver the sermon on the first Sunday of each month.
             Throughout the 1970’s, fundraisers were held to collect money to build a new sanctuary. On May 1st of 1980, an agreement was made to split from Zion Methodist Church and on May 11th of that year, the groundbreaking was held for the new building. Just over a year later, on June 21st of 1981, the first Sunday morning service was held in the new sanctuary. The sanctuary was later consecrated on January 23rd, 1983. During the 1990’s, Eastland experienced several challenges with membership declining and going back to having part time ministers. In 2010, Eastland was able to start back with a full-time minister which has continued until today.
             The pictures below include the first building used for services in 1957 along with the parsonage next door; groundbreaking for the new church in the late 1960’s, and a meeting held by the United Methodist Women in November of 1973.