The Tanner-Williams United Methodist Church was founded in 1918 as the New Hope Methodist Episcopal Church, South with 21 charter members. The fledgling congregation met first in the community's Baptist Church building and later relocated to the old Tanner Williams School building. Rev. A. B. Brown was the first pastor.
In 1922, our trustees purchased one and one-half acres of land for $25.00 and built the first sanctuary for the congregation. By 1956, however, we had outgrown that facility, so we built a new sanctuary and added Sunday School space. The former sanctuary was converted into a fellowship hall, and the new sanctuary and Sunday School rooms were added to its front. These two historic buildings remain in use as our church fellowship hall to this day.
In 1962, we changed our name to Tanner-Williams Methodist Church to reflect the community in which we live and serve. After the merger of the former Evangelical United Brethren denomination with the Methodist Church in 1968, our name changed again to Tanner-Williams United Methodist Church.
In 1964, we added more Sunday School space, with further renovations as needed during the 1970s. In 1980, we built a parsonage on one acre of land located approximately one mile from the church location for the pastor to reside in. This enabled us to obtain our first full-time pastor, Rev. Alva E. Beers.
We added more Sunday School space in 1982, and we constructed a new wing to house the Pastor's Study, Secretary's Office, Church Library, Choir Room, and a nursery in 1989. In 1993, we built a basketball and volleyball court for the children and youth to enjoy.
In 1999, we completed another new sanctuary that accommodates up to 250 worshipers, with a built-in design to expand and accommodate even more as our numbers grow. The external style is a picture of Southern elegance and Christian hospitality. The internal layout is a fan-shaped arrangement of the pews, allowing comfort and visibility to all who worship here. It is a truly beautiful facility which we can scarcely describe, so you will simply have to come visit us in person to see it for yourself!
The Tanner-Williams United Methodist Church has completed eight different building projects in our history, and we expect to begin another in a few years to accommodate the continual growth in our ever-changing community. We welcome any and all who seek a vital relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Come, join us for worship in an atmosphere of loving acceptance and caring.