CELEBRATION
Soddy United Methodist Church will hold its 150-year anniversary and Homecoming on Sunday, July 25. Events include a 10:30 a.m. worship service, with the Rev. Mike Travis, superintendent of the denomination’s Cleveland District, as guest speaker. Several former pastors also are expected to attend, and historical items and pictures will be on display. A meal and video presentation will follow in the fellowship hall. A history booklet of the church written by 60-year member and congregation historian Buck Johnson will be available at the celebration.
FAST FACTS
* Location: 255 Depot St., Soddy-Daisy.
* Membership: 230.
* Pastor: The Rev. Kenneth Scoggins.
* Website: www.soddyumc.holston.org.
OUTREACH
The congregation supports both local and international missions, including the Soddy-Daisy Food Bank (which it hosts and which the men’s groups of both Soddy UMC and Daisy UMC run), Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child), the Soddy-Daisy Neighborhood Helpers, an Alaskan missionary and various denominational ministries. It also hosts Boy Scout and Cub Scout groups as well as a prayer shawl ministry.
TIMELINE
1860 — Miss Holland begins to lead simple prayer meetings in the homes of residents of the small coal mining town; a small log church is eventually built to accommodate the congregation, which is served by local and circuit rider preachers.
1876 — Continued growth necessitates the erection of a larger building, which becomes known as the Friendship Church of Soddy.
1904 — Congregation holds first tent meeting in the town on the site of the old log cabin church.
1913 — Church moves from circuit to a station charge, with the appointment of the Rev. J.B. Kenna as its first regular pastor.
1914 — Present church building, built in 1902, purchased from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; electric lights installed; Ladies Aid Society (later United Methodist Women) established.
1937– Christian Service Club organized.
1948 — Parsonage built next to church.
1953 — Methodist Men’s Club (later United Methodist Men) organized.
1983 — New parsonage built.
1989 — Friendship Hall addition built; Gene Elliott and Bob Gilbert conceive idea of food bank program.
1992 — Food bank outreach grows under leadership of the Rev. Barry Kidwell and under operation of the Methodist men of the Soddy, Daisy churches.
2003 — Church building renovated.
QUOTABLE
“It’s been said, if you want pure silver, you must put it in the fire. Keep putting it in the fire and trying it until you can see your face in it, then take it out. So, God must see his face reflected in us. I think this is what Soddy United Methodist Church has tried to do for 150 years. We seek to love all people, for a man who loves his neighbor as himself soon discovers God has moved into his neighborhood. We at Soddy United Methodist Church seek to be a reflection of God in our community and our world.”
— the Rev. Kenneth Scoggins