Fincastle Church

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors

Service Times

Sunday Mornings
10:00am — Sunday School
11:00am — Morning Worship & Children’s Church

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About Us

Our Vision:

1. Love God, 2. Lover Others, 3. Serve the World

New Name

As of June 1, 2023 we are new Fincastle Church. We have elected to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. A copy of our Bi-Laws is attached below.

Our History:

A record of Fincastle United Methodist Church, prepared by Rev. and Mrs. J.L. Mullens, July 25, 1948. Revised by Rev. Worley Fleenor, July 31, 1966. Revised by Martha Dew Childress, September 2007.

There has always been a certain charm and a kind of mystery about things of the past. We so often wonder how life was lived and how business was carried on in former years. It would be interesting to us to go back in fancy hrough the years and get some idea of how Methodism grew and developed in the beautiful valley.

The first record of the name Fincastle occurs in the Methodist quarterly meeting of 1838 held at Speedwell Campground. It simply states that “Fincastle gave $3.25 for the needs of the preacher”. Fincastle was named for a community in Fincastle, Virginia.

On April 20, 1839, the first quarterly meeting was held at Fincastle. Methodism grew in this section. There circuit riders were sowing scriptural holiness throughout this valley and East Tennessee. Sabbath schools were recorded in 1842. The first such school at Fincastle was reported in April 1848. There were six officers and teachers and twenty-six scholars.

At the quarterly meeting held at Speedwell Campground on September 12, 1846, a great forward step was taken. It laid the foundation for a strong Methodism in this part of the valley. Two committees were appointed to build two churches; one at Fincastle and one at Big Creek Gap, which is now LaFollette. The committee for Fincastle was John Kincaid, Isaac Petree and Ritchie Kincaid. Money was scarce and materials hard to get. In 1859, at their first quarterly meeting, they reported that John Kincaid had offered a lot at Fincastle on which to build. We are grateful for the beautiful site that building committee selected. The brick that went into that first church were burned on the ground and a large brick structure was put up, in which the youth of this area were educated, both secularly and religiously. In the early 1880s, the first brick church was removed and a new frame building erected. That church had a belfry and the bell hung there and sent out its voice to all the community. The building in which we worship today was built in 1924.

For many years the people of Fincastle longed for an addition to the church, which would provide more Sunday School rooms, a fellowship hall with a kitchen and restrooms. Work was begun in April 1966 and finished the last week in July 1966. It was used for the first time on Homecoming Sunday, July 31, 1966.

In 1985 the trustees decided to add a steeple to the church to house the old church bell. We should be proud of the bell at Fincastle for when its voice was first heard, it was about 1849 when it summoned the young and old of the community to the activities carried on in the first church. The bell is said to have come from some southern port like Charleston, South Carolina, by covered wagon. It is the only voice that we have today binding us directly with the past. Therefore, it should be heard regularly In 2003 the church family had a called meeting with the District Superintendent to have a vote to see if the church wanted to build a new family life center. Construction on this building was completed in 2004. It houses classrooms and has been greatly utilized for activities reaching out to the community.

God has blessed our church with faithful members. Over the years a lot have moved to their home in heaven. New members have been added and joined in helping make disciples for Christ. Our goal is to strive to be good and faithful servants and keep pressing on the upward way.