In 1869, Ella Gaines Hudgens--the daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of Methodist ministers--moved to Honea Path to work as a school teacher and was dismayed there was no Methodist Church for her to worship in. She gathered families in her home who also wanted to worship at a Methodist Church in town. The following year, in 1870, Trinity Methodist Church was formed after the Presbyterians graciously extended an invitation for Methodists to worship in their church on Sundays.

 

This began a long-standing relationship between Methodists and Presbyterians in the town of Honea Path. To this day, we are proud to partner with our friends next door at Honea Path Presbyterian Church with a shared children’s choir and other ministries throughout the year. 

 

Not only did Ella Gaines Hudgens have the vision for a thriving congregation like ours in Honea Path, she also bartered with local merchants to provide bricks for the construction of our original church building! While our church looks different now than it did in the late 1800s, Ella Gaines Hudgens’ name remains inscribed in the large stained glass window in our sanctuary. We celebrate the life and witness of her and so many other saints who have paved the way for Trinity United Methodist Church today.

 

We continue to carry this legacy forward in fostering a warm and inclusive community where people in Honea Path and beyond can grow in their faith together. With a heart for missions, our church strives to make a difference for the sake of Christ for our neighbors near and far. Over the years, our church has grown in different and exciting ways, but we always strive to follow the footsteps of Christ in loving God and our neighbors in all that we do.