In 1838, after considerable campground activity in the area, a church organized about four miles west of Decatur at a place called Lily Dale. Because the congregation of this church would later make up the membership of the Decatur Methodist Church, the present Decatur United Methodist Church can claim the distinction of being the oldest church in the Meridian District of the MS United Methodist Annual Conference.

After the railroad came through in 1854, the county’s population increased considerably, and the town of Decatur almost doubled in size. As a result, the Methodists organized and built a church building that would serve as a center of worship until February 1864 when it was burned by Gen. William T. Sherman’s army as it marched through Decatur on its way from Vicksburg to Meridian. 

Following the Civil War, families in the church and community helped erect a new church building in 1886. Sometime after 1890, due to the considerable growth of the congregation, a new church was built. The 1890 building stood until 1926 when a concrete block building was erected where the education annex now stands. The current sanctuary building was completed in 1953, and from 1956 to 1968 three additional buildings were built by the church: the parsonage, the James Pennington Fellowship/Educational Building, and the Educational Annex. Since that time, property east of the parsonage was purchased to build a parking lot, a playground, and a pavilion. In 2006, property across Broad Street was purchased for the construction of a new parsonage, which was completed in 2014.

With more than 175 years of ministry, Decatur UMC remains a vibrant and committed congregation and manifestation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are committed to moving in faith and hope into a future continuing to serve as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  

Church Name: Decatur United Methodist Church.

Lead Pastor: Rev. Susannah Grubbs-Carr.

Associate Pastor: Rev. Katherine Butler.

Denomination: United Methodist.

Founded: 1838

Address: 268 West Broad St., Decatur, MS 39327

Contact Info: 601-635-3219.

Special upcoming events: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner and Mission Opportunity: We will enjoy a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday Night (Fat Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. and participate in a “Potato Drop” gleaning mission as we partner with The Society of St. Andrew.

Service Times:

Sunday – 9:15 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship, 6 p.m. Evening Worship.

Tuesdays at noon – Wesley Foundation at ECCC: Free Lunch and Devotional for students in the Wesley Room.

Wednesday night activities – 5:30 p.m., churchwide meal, 6:15 small groups and Bible studies for all ages.

We also have an active scouting program, exercise classes, host a quilting club, and offer other Bible studies and small groups throughout the year. DUMC houses the Community Food Pantry and is one of our largest outreach ministries.