Date:  ca. 1920

Image Number:  B58dcdB16

Comments:  In March 1832, the Scottsville Methodist Episcopal congregation purchased Lot 26 from Martin and Mildred Thacker for $150.  This church property sat two lots east of Valley Street on the north side of Main Street and was deeded to the following church trustees: Lewis Mayo, Beverly Staples, Nathaniel Moon, Lelan Morris, Martin Tutwiler, Horatio I. Magruder, and William C. Adams.  Shown in the above postcard is the original square church building completed in 1833.  The Scottsville Sun, dated November 8, 1951, reported that the Methodist Church first belonged to the Albemarle Circuit, and its first pastor was Reverend Albert C. Burton.

The present Methodist parsonage was purchased in 1885 through the efforts of Mrs. Zack Jones.  The first organ was placed in the church in 1885, and Mrs. Mollie P. Hill both helped raised the organ's purchase price and became the church's first organist.  Prior to that organ, the congregation got their pitch from a tuning fork, and the hymns were sung without accompaniment.

Over the years, flood waters from the James River frequently invaded the church.  One Sunday, as a popular story goes, the congregation had just risen to sing "How Firm a Foundation" when the floor fell in.  In 1927, the Methodist Church underwent extensive renovations that added 14 Sunday School rooms and a new front with bell tower as shown at right.  The image below shows the Church after the 1927 renovations.  An annex was completed in 1972, but the Methodist Church required extensive repair after a terrible fire in 1976.