CHURCH HISTORY
Lakeside United Methodist Church had its beginning on January 15, 1866. The Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church purchased property on North Jefferson Street, downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Robert N. Davis and his wife, Williametta, were the sellers of the property. The deed was recorded on September 6, 1866. The sum of eight hundred dollars was paid for the land. A frame church building with a brick basement was erected on the acquired property in 1867. Howell Echols became the church’s first pastor. Two stories abound to tell the origin of the name ‘Lakeside’. One was that water stood around the framed church building most of the time. Another, the church was named for Reverend Arad Simon Lakin, a missionary, who came to Huntsville as a representative of the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His task was to help establish churches for the newly freed slaves. Akin labored with members of Lakeside.
In 1878, the Church of Nativity, an Episcopal Church on Eustis Street, downtown Huntsville was razed. The Episcopalians sold the ‘old’ brick to Lakeside for seven hundred dollars. The bricks were handmade by black slaves. The Lakeside congregation later received one thousand dollars from the Board of Church Extension to build a brick church, the second phase of church development. The brick sanctuary was completed in 1886. The basement of the church provided space for the first city-supported school for blacks in Huntsville (1867-1890), with Henry C. Binford, Charles Hendley, Jr., and Thomas Cooper as principals.
Since the church’s establishment, great advancement in the physical aspects of the church building has advanced the spiritual as well. The property on Jefferson Street was sold during urban renewal in the 1960’s, and the congregation moved to 3738 Meridian Street in 1968. Fifty-one pastors have played significant roles in shaping Lakeside’s past and present, beginning with the Reverend Howell Echols to the present pastor, the Reverend Thomas Muhomba, PhD. Reverend Sara F. Cameron, the fiftieth pastor, was also the first female pastor of Lakeside.
In 1940, separation of churches and denominational groups left Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Church with the name, Lakeside Methodist Church to later become Lakeside United Methodist Church because of the merger of United Brethren and the Methodist Church in 1968. That same year, Lakeside moved to Meridian Street, the current location. Reverend Moses C. Barrett led the spiritual and physical aspects of the erection of the new building. For the first time, Lakeside became united actively with the district, state, and national organizations of the United Methodist Church and soon was represented on boards, committees, and councils of the United Methodist Church globally.
Building dedication, cornerstone laying, mortgage burning, and consecration of the building occurred on Harvest Sunday, November 1980, under the leadership of Reverend Otis R. Flournoy. Since then, the physical aspect of the church has continued to change. Remodeling and addition to the church have opened doors to more ways to answer the call to new ministries. Acquisition of additional property adjacent to the church in 2003, under the leadership of Pastor Percy L. Nolan, Jr., has led to successful spiritual chapters in the history of Lakeside.
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A historical marker, erected July 19, 1998, designates the original site of Lakeside Methodist Church on Jefferson Street (across from Halsey’s Grocery Store – downtown Huntsville, Alabama) and signifies its importance in the annals of history. Lakeside continues to make ‘new’ history and strives to keep memories alive.
Today, we continue our striving, under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Randy B. Kelley, the fifty-Second pastor of Lakeside. Realizing the time is now, we must continue to pass on the faith with God-given strength, courage and perseverance.
Mortgage Burning and Consecration of the new edifice occurred decades later (1968) under the leadership of Reverend Otis R. Flournoy. Since then, the physical aspects of the church have changed, so have the ministries under the Reverends Marvin Kirkland, Dr. Frank Lee, Pastor Percy L. Nolan, Reverend Sara Cameron, Dr. Thomas Muhomba, and presently, under the helm of Randy B. Kelley, PhD., who will continue to lead the members in developing more successful spiritual chapters and greater community outreach as the church moves forward in winning souls to Christ.
A Historical Marker designates the original home of Lakeside Methodist Church at 231 Jefferson Street-(Downtown, Huntsville, Alabama). Lakeside continues to transform live and make disciples through Prayer, Worship and Ministry. In addition, the Marker signifies the importance of the church in the annals of the history of Madison County.