Court Street United Methodist Church
Welch, WV
Southern District 

Early in the 20th century, a small group of people gathered to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church (now known as The Court Street United Methodist Church) in Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia. For a few years, the small congregation shared a place of worship with the Baptist congregation in the community, alternating Sundays for worship services. On May 26, 1911, a deed was made and signed between the Welch Land Improvement Company and the trustees of the Church for a parcel of land on which to erect a church building. This lot, situated high on the hillside above Court Street, was purchased for the sum of thirty dollars ($30.00).

In 1914, the congregation moved into the new church home in the steep terrain in the heart of McDowell County. Other families were added to the church membership roster. In a few years, more families joined the congregation with each person making valuable contributions of time and service to support the growing church and Sunday School.

The congregation at Court Street United Methodist Church has experienced and celebrated God’s love, mercy and grace in many ways. By grace, Court Street UMC has enjoyed the leadership of many gifted pastors who faithfully attended to the spiritual disposition of church members and friends in the surrounding communities.

Court Street UMC also witnessed grace in action with lay leadership gains in the Methodist Men, the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) and youth groups. These lay leaders won outstanding awards for participating in the local church and in conference activities while in the East Tennessee Conference.