The Iuka Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in Iuka in 1858. It was comprised of members who moved from Eastport, which was a thriving river town before the Civil War and Old New Hope Church. The New Hope Church was located 2 1/2 miles southwest of Iuka.
Old New Hope Church transferred almost entirely to Iuka. Old New Hope was formed in 1842. The church at Eastport was formed in 1848.
The earliest records of the Iuka Methodist Church were destroyed during the Civil War. Mrs. S. E. Ashmore, wife of Reverend Sam Ashmore, who was our pastor from 1931 to 1938, researched and recorded the church history as best she could: while this town was yet unbuilt, Robert Williams and his wife and William Richardson ranged throughout the country following the Indian paths and preaching wherever a congregation could be gathered: in schools, and houses, private homes or out under the broad open skies. With the help of another local pastor, Mr. Ellis J. Tidwell, their preaching was holiness of the Lord. Another of the early preacher who laid the foundation for God and Methodism was William Winburn, who has since been gathered to his father.
In 1857, with a completion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which linked the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River , the town of Iuka was planned. During this time, all of this section of Mississippi was part of the Memphis conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which was established in 1846 as a split from the Tennessee conference. It was served for many years by circuit riders, who were clergyman assigned to mainly rural areas.
When our church was organized in 1858, William McKnight, Samuel Dewoody, A.T. Matthews and G. P Hammerly among others from Eastport, and Levi Williams among others from New Hope transferred to the new church in Iuka. Our church then became part of the Eastport Circuit until sometime after the Civil War when it became a “station”(c.1869).
C.K.Brooks was an “official” pastor from the conference. It was during his term in 1859 that our present church structure was built.
With the outbreak of the civil war, many changes came to our church and town. Our church nearly disorganized. In 1861 George Brooks was the pastor, but he like many of the men of the church enlisted and left their homes. As G. P. Hammerly stated, … the town had only existed three or four years when the Civil War broke out, which closed nearly all kinds of businesses.” Because Iuka was the scene of a bloody battle and bordered several others, our church was one of several local structures used as a hospital; through its doors were carried the sick, wounded and dying of both the Southern and Northern armies.
Soon after the surrender, in 1865, the church was re-organized. A regular station preacher was again in charge, who traveled what was then the Iuka Circuit . He remained until 1867. Sunday school was re-organized with G. P. Hammerly, serving as superintendent.
During the 1900s the church saw much growth. A choir loft was added to the church in 1906. In the center was placed an art glass window picturing the Good Shepherd. It was presented in honor of G. P. Hammerly who served a Sunday school superintendent until his death in 1918. As our church grew the educational building, a new Parsonage and Family life center were added.
In 1968, The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethen merged; the new named taken was United Methodist.
On August 20, 2023 a church wide vote was taken to disaffiliate from the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our church officially disaffiliated from the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church December 9, 2023. With a church wide vote on December 17 we voted to become Global Methodist. Our church was officially excepted into the Global Methodist church on January 1, 2024. It is with glad hearts that we are looking forward to continuing our 165 year Methodist traditions.
