The Salem United Methodist Church (Fulton County) will mark 150 years of faith and service with a special celebration on Sunday, Jan. 12.
According to a release from the church, the milestone event will include an 11 a.m. worship service featuring Rev. Zach Roberts, superintendent of the Northeast District of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, who will deliver the message. A luncheon in the fellowship hall will follow.
Rev. Kenneth R. Anderson, who currently pastors Salem United Methodist Church, as well as the Horseshoe Bend and Viola United Methodist churches, and the members of the congregation extend an open invitation to the public.
“We’re proud to celebrate this significant anniversary and honor our church’s rich history,” organizers said. “We welcome everyone to join us for this special day.”
Known as the “Mother of Fulton County Churches,” Salem United Methodist Church traces its roots to the first organized religious efforts in what is now Fulton County. The Methodist movement in the area began in the 1830s, likely around 1836, with a church organized at the Hubble family home on the South Fork River, about three miles north of Salem.
Over time, members of the Hubble, Archer, Hunter, Wells, and Isenhouer families—among others—helped sustain the early congregation. Despite challenges, including long travel distances to the meeting site, the church persisted until the town of Salem was established in the 1840s.
The first Methodist church in Salem was founded in 1874, with land deeded by John and Rebecca Saunders for the current church location. A frame building was constructed in 1885 under the leadership of Rev. John M. Steele. That structure was destroyed by a tornado on March 28, 1924, but the present sanctuary, completed in the late 1920s, continues to serve the congregation.
Today, the Salem United Methodist Church is home to over 100 members and remains a beloved fixture of the Salem community, known for its dedicated and caring membership and picturesque location on the town square.
“We are grateful for the generations of faith and commitment that have brought us to this moment,” church members said.
All are welcome to attend this historic celebration and honor the legacy of a church that has stood as a beacon of faith and community for more than 150 years.
Image provided by the Salem United Methodist Churge
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