Flat Prairie Congregational Methodist Church

The Flat Prairie Congressional Methodist Church was organized in the late 1890's. Due to many members moving away and lack of support, the church was inactive until 1912/13 when it was reorganized by the Rev. Wade Emmons. Mr. J. T. Moore and Mr. Sam McQueen, rode horse back from Flat Prairie to Old Sumter, a distance of 20 miles, to persuade Rev. Emmons to reorganize the church for the community which had become thickly settled. There were 5 charter members: Mr. and Mrs. William Doyle, Mrs. Maude Pruitt, Mr. Clarence Tullos, and Mr. Alex Cleaver. The first church meeting was held in the Flat Prairie school house which was located on the farm of Floyd Moore. In the early 1920's, the Congressional Methodist Church at Pennington disbanded and the members from there moved their membership to the Flat Prairie church. The membership grew and in 1929, a new church was built in front of the old school building. In the years to follow, the church grew to a membership of around 400. During the summers of the 1930's, two week revivals were held and people came in wagons as far away as Kennard and Glendale. Mothers would spread quilts for the babies and young children to sleep on during church because some time the preacher preached until 11 o'clock at night. There would be from 2 to 8 preachers there to preach the night services. In the late 1950's, the church was moved to another location, still in the same community, but across the road from the Flat Prairie Cemetery. The building was remodeled and enlarged, new pughs and windows were added.