Grace Methodist Evangelical Church
In 1806, a small class of Methodists was formed in Newport at the house of Jonathan Huling, the tavern located at the southeast corner of Fourth and Columbia streets. The members were: Dr. Thomas Hinde, Mary Todd Hinde, Patsey Hinde, Ann Winston Hinde Southgate, Maria Lindsey, Clarissa Hulin, Eliza Butler, Susanna Butler, Rachel Ritterhouse, Margaret Martin, Ann R S Martin and Susanna W Martin. Out of this meeting grew the first Methodist Church in Newport.
On May 17, 1827 an agreement with William
Bryan, was recorded for the erection of a "Methodist Meeting House 30x40 feet
constructed of brick, with side walls 11 feet high". The time given for the
completion of the building "on or before August next". This became the first
Methodist Episcopal Church in Newport, built on the lot where Saint Paul's
Episcopal Church now stands, 7 Court Place, opposite the Campbell County Court
House. In 1844, the vestry of Saint Paul's Church bought the small brick church
building on Court Place for $500.
The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1866, just after the American Civil War, founded by Ira Root. It was dedicated 2 Dec 1866. Reverend W F T Spuill was Pastor in 1867–1868. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society was formed in 1880. The church lost its steeple to a tornado on July 7, 1915. After another tornado struck the Salem United Methodist Church in 1986, the two churches merged. The church was closed for several years, until it was turned into a music venue-nightclub in 2012.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Sunday, 3 January 1886, page 13
NEWPORT
Watchers by the hundreds crowded Grace Methodist Church, Newport
Ky. Thursday evening last, to bid farewell to 1885 and to hail and welcome 1886.
When the clock and bells struck twelve o'clock the great majority of the
thoughtful congregation were devoutly kneeling before Him who pours from an
exhaustless urn the flood of years.
The exercises were directed by the Rev J S Bitler, the popular and efficient evangelist, now closing the seventh week of these several services. Rev A W Beall, pastor of the church preached from the text, "I know whom I have believed." Then the meeting was opened to testifying for Christ, many of the new converts, now numbering more than two hundred, taking part. The singing was grand. The evangelist is a good singer himself and has accomplished great things in teaching his congregation the new music adapted to such services.
The altar was the scene of a number of conversions and several united with the church at the solemn hour of midnight.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, 11 December 1899, page 7
NEWPORT
Grace M E Church was filled last night, the occasion being a service specially arranged for the Jr. O U A M Twin City Council attending in a body. The pastor Rev B R Wilburn, delivered a most interesting sermon on "The Good Points of the Jr. O U A M" which was given marked attention throughout and greatly enjoyed by all whose good fortune it was to be present on the occasion.
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John Boley,
Charter Member 1904 Obituary