ABOUT US

OUR HISTORY

The First 100 Years

Nestled in the hills along the Holston river close to the old Netherland Inn was the site where a small Methodist Society was started in the early 1800’s. This Boatyard Church and cemetery grew and flourished until the Civil War brought about a division in the congregation between those sympathetic with the North and those favoring the South.

 

The two congregations continued to worship in the same building until they moved downtown in the early 1900’s. We hear stories even today of new congregations meeting in schools and movie theaters. Our story is no different as one congregation met in the old Gaity Theater and then the Odd Fellows Hall while the other congregation met in a school building where the First Presbyterian Church now stands.

 

Eventually, after much sacrifice and stepping out in faith, each church began its own building program. Broad Street Methodist (South) was the first church building erected in modern Kingsport. It was on the site where the education building now stands. Woodyard Center is the site of the former First Methodist Church (North). It was named after the Rev. Woodyard who was also a talented brick mason. He and a helper laid every brick in that building. Our two churches existed side by side until they merged in 1969 to become First Broad Street United Methodist Church.

THE MERGE

First Broad Street is fully committed to providing the safest environment possible for all people, especially children and teenagers. We have established a policy and procedure guideline called "Safe Sanctuaries" which requires a background check and training for all volunteers and staff working with persons under 18 years of age. Our background checks and training is conducted through our partner, Safe Gatherings.

 

All First Broad Street UMC volunteers working with children and students age birth-18 are asked to complete online abuse prevention training through Safe Gatherings. Please click the logo above and create an account with Safe Gatherings and follow the onscreen prompts to complete the training. For questions, please contact Rev. Misti McCreary at mmccreary@fbsumc.org or Nathan Flora at nflora@fbsumc.org.

PHONE 423-246-4471•FAX 423.398.5495 •100 E. CHURCH CIRCLE KINGSPORT, TN 37660

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