Our Story

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains." This paraphrased version of Matthew 17:20 could apply to the history of Peck's Memorial United Methodist Church, originally known as Peck's Chapel. With a small beginning and unexpected setbacks, the faith of its members has endured throughout decades.

Sometime between 1820 and 1826 the first Peck's Chapel was built by Attorney General John Wilkinson, after discovering his wife holding Sunday School in a farm shed and teaching a group of children. There is some uncertainty regarding the chosen name Peck for the church. Wiley B. Peck was a circuit rider in the 1820's on the Little River Circuit, which served Peck's Chapel. His brother, Judge Jacob Peck, was a close friend of Attorney General John Wilkinson, who admired both men and could have named Peck's Chapel in honor of one or both men.

Around 1829 the one-room log church was torn down and replaced with a frame building heated by a wood stove. Before it was completely built, an opportunity arose to purchase a building known as the Kennedy Church, which was moved from the Wildwood community to the Peck's Chapel location. However, around 1900 this building was destroyed by fire due to an overheated wood stove! Soon afterward a fourth structure was built that eventually included a basement and Sunday School annex.

As membership continued to grow and a larger building became necessary, the faithful members offered labor and finances to construct the fifth and present church structure known as Peck's Memorial United Methodist Church. The first service was held in 1939, and now the bell salvaged from the fire-damaged third building is visible on the front lawn, a testament to the faith and resilience of its members.

Since its modest beginning over 200 years ago, Peck's Memorial UMC still has among its membership some descendants of the charter members of the church. A small community church, it offers love and friendship to all who would welcome an opportunity to serve and worship God and be in mission to our neighbors and to the world.