Our History

The Apollo First United Methodist Church has had a heritage of faithfulness and service to the Risen Lord. Sometime in the 1820’s a group met to form a society that met in the homes. By 1830 there were enough Methodists in Apollo to desire a church building. The exact date when the old log church was built is unknown, but a deed to Lot #15, giving the names of the previous, says, “The same was conveyed to David Risher by deed bearing the date of the eleventh day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty for the purpose of erecting thereon a House of Public Worship for the Methodist Episcopal Church.” A log church was built at the rear of the former First United Methodist Church in Apollo. In one of the membership records there is a portion of a bulletin which gives the date of the first church as 1838.

Since the church was supplied by ministers on circuit, food and lodging had to be furnished by the members. Several homes entertained the circuit preachers.

On June 2, 1856 the charter for the church was approved and the church was incorporated. On June 20, 1856 John Simpson agreed to build and finish in workmanlike manner the cupola (steeple) of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the trustees to furnish all the material and pay John Simpson fifteen dollars for his services.

In 1860 when Thomas H. Johnston brought his young bride to Apollo, the men sat on one side of the church and the women sat on the other.

On March 31, 1888 Lot #14 was bought for $850.00 and on the lot a parsonage was built beside the church. The “Parsonage Committee” was formed and in five years raised $1,743.19.

In 1902, Andrew Carnegie, who had been associated with the Apollo Brick Works, presented the first pipe organ, a Vox Humano; chimes were added later. About 1902 Henry Bowers collected money to purchase a bell for the church.

This organ was replaced by a Tellers Organ in 1971. 

In 2009 the church moved to a new building in Spring Church & was renamed “New Beginnings United Methodist Church.”  The former building was gifted to New Life Baptist Church.