A Brief History of Trinity United Methodist Church

In the early 1800's, when Sumter was still called "Sumterville," there was no Methodist Church.  From 1824-1827, Father Jenkins held Methodist worship services in the Sumterville Court House.  The first Methodist Church in Sumterville was dedicated in 1827 and was located on the north side of Liberty Street opposite Trinity's present parking lot.  The building was sold to the Roman Catholics in the late 1840's.

Two acres of land were secured across the street and a neat, frame building with white columns was dedicated in 1847.  This served as Sumter's Methodist Church for 30+ years until it was moved to the country.  Ground was broken in 1885 for the building of the First Methodist Episcopal Church South, dedicated May 27, 1888 by Bishop W.W. Duncan.

This church was eventually torn down, and in September 1911 ground was broken for the new church, dedicated September 23, 1913 as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church South.  In 1939, the name was changed to Trinity Methodist Church.

Tragedy struck on Friday morning, June 10, 1960.  A fire destroyed the church in a matter of hours.  The Gothic style building as it stands now was dedicated March 3, 1963, and in 1968 it became Trinity United Methodist Church.