The congregation at Danville’s St. James United Methodist Church marked the churches 100th anniversary Sunday (September 22, 2019). Lead Pastor Randy Robinson says the church, which is located at Vermilion and Williams Streets, has a rich history…
{”And actually 1919 – one-hundred years ago — is the celebration of two Methodist Episcopal churches merging to come together and form St. James. About forty years before that they had split apart,” said Pastor Robinson. ”There was an original group of Methodists here in Danville as early as 1836 or 1837, depending upon which document you read.”}
Pastor Robinson says one document shows there were Methodists in the area as early as 1829.
Over the past year the church has been focusing on its rich history….
{”What has fascinated me about St. James history is that there’s been this marvelous interplay between the church and the community. People who were formed deeply in Christ and in the Church – that relationship overflowed to influence the community in various works of mercy and leadership in the community. Politically, economically, and in business the names of prominent Methodists – going back to the beginning — were also prominent names as leaders of this community,” added Pastor Robinson.}
A major renovation of the church was launched in 2012, and it was just last year that the congregation celebrated its completion. The committee that worked on putting Sunday’s celebration together had a motto: ‘’Remember, Rejoice and Renew.’’
