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Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church
2541 Rocky Ridge Road
Birmingham, AL 35243-4442

History

Humble Beginnings for Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church… On Sunday, February 9, 1958 at 9:00 am, Mountain Chapel held its first worship service with 26 people at the Rocky Ridge Community House on Old Rocky Ridge Road. Rev. Oliver Parker, the minister of Patton Chapel United Methodist Church agreed to preach on Sunday mornings until a permanent minister could be found.

On February 23, 1958, Mr. Ollie Coggin organized the first Sunday school classes, one for small children, one for junior-age children, and one for adults. They all met in the same room at the same time!

But Soon, Growth Transpired… In March of 1958, seven acres of property on Rocky Ridge Road were purchased for $12, 600 as a future church site.

Rev. Parker continued to serve the congregation until the last Sunday in March. On Easter Sunday, Dr. R.L. Dill conducted the first Easter service and served the first communion. Dr. Dill then announced that Mr. Joe W. Green, a layman from Oakmount Methodist Church, would serve as minister until Rev. Howard Collins could complete his seminary work and become the first full-time minister. Mr. Green gave his time and efforts without pay, and it was under his leadership that the church was officially organized and named The Mountain Chapel Methodist Church of Rocky Ridge at the first Quarterly conference on June 4, 1958.

Rev. Howard Collins arrived on June 29, 1958 and 28 members attended his first service as a full-time minister.

And Making Room Became a Must… Groundbreaking for the start of the sanctuary (now the chapel) was held on August 23, 1959, was construction to begin in early Fall. The original building consisted of a sanctuary to seat 145, a small kitchen area, restrooms, and rooms to be used for Sunday school classes and office space. The first service was held in the sanctuary on March 7, 1960.

The altar rails in the sanctuary were made out of old stair rails which Mr. T.M. Burgin, of T.M. Burgin Demolition Co., salvaged and altered. The altar rails were used first to start Vestavia Hills Methodist, then Oakmount Methodist, and then Mountain Chapel.

Ministries Expanded and Buildings Did Too… In 1962, Rev. Joe Elmore succeeded Rev. Collins as minister of Mountain Chapel, and under his leadership, an educational building was built. On January 5, 1963, the Children’s Division moved to the first floor of the new building. Later, a second floor of the building was finished. It consisted of a youth class, three adult classrooms, a large fellowship hall, and large kitchen.

In 1968, as a result of the uniting of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren, Mountain Chapel Methodist Church became Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church.

On April 20, 1969, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Mountain Chapel’s new sanctuary, which would ultimately seat 500, including the balcony and choir seats. On February 8, 1970, the congregation moved into the new sanctuary.

In February of 1981, the Pugh property adjacent to the church was purchased for future use for a gym, larger kitchen, more classrooms, and new church office. These areas were finished in 1993.

In 2002, the fellowship hall was renovated, and the kitchen was updated. Then, in 2005, the sanctuary was renovated and completed for the church homecoming fellowship in November of 2005.

And We Look to the Future Ahead… Now, as we approach our 50th anniversary, we look back on the heritage with which God has blessed us and praise Him for His goodness, provision, and grace. We press ahead to the future together and invite you to this great journey of the faith by worshipping, helping, and growing with us in the next 50 years at Mountain Chapel. To God Be the Glory!