Longevity in faith

Methodist church in Rogers celebrates 136 years, 20 in building.

“I’m there every Sunday. I love being part of Central.”

Rogers Mayor Greg Hines also brings his children to church on those Sundays. His 14- and 16-yearolds mark the fifth generation in his family to attend Central United Methodist Church in Rogers.

The Rev. Dawn Spragg, the church’s pastor of evangelism and connections, joined the church with her family 20 years ago, and they remained connected as she attended seminary.

Russell Riggs’ association with the church began in 1934, when his parents had him baptized as an infant.

“All my family have been Methodist,” Riggs said. “My mother was in the choir from Day 1, and my aunt was superintendent of the school of education.

“You live long enough and you get to be the oldest member of the church,” quipped the man who will celebrate his 84th birthday Thursday.

OLD AND NEW

Last week, the 1,400-plus members of Central celebrated the church’s 136th anniversary and also marked 20 years in its “new” building on New Hope Road.

Member George Rhoads supplied a brief history:

In December 1881, a group a Methodist met together in (or near) Rogers. An actual church was not formed until early 1882. Therefore, Central is 136 years old if you use the 1881 date, or 135 years old if you use the 1882 date. I started attending Central in 1981, which was the

centennial celebration of the City of Rogers, and Central celebrated its own centennial as being the same as Rogers. The senior pastor in 1981 was Wayne Clark, and he grew a beard in honor of the centennial. Wayne is now retired and lives at Jonesboro.

Methodist pastors in the 1800s

rode a circuit. They would visit each congregation at least once a calendar quarter, have a meeting of the whole congregation and do baptisms and serve communion

Courtesy photo The Central Methodist Episcopal Church South stood on West Cherry Street next to the railroad tracks. The building later served as a livery and a machine shop. Central United Methodist Church in Rogers, the descendant of that Methodist Espicopal...