John Shearer: First-Centenary United Methodist Church’s Worship Building Turns 50

The golden anniversary has arrived this spring for a downtown Chattanooga church building, which members hope is still shining brightly as a beacon of hope and encouragement.

On April 15, 1973 -- Palm Sunday -- First-Centenary United Methodist Church held its first service in the sleek and smooth-covered facility that at the time looked much different from some of the more classic downtown churches. It was a product of the mid-century and brutalist eras of architecture, although it was designed partly in the classic cathedral style – but with a circa 1970 twist.

Fifty years later, the church’s senior pastor, Dr. Mark Gooden, believes the facility still fits into the modern era in terms of look and space and the positive spiritual inspiration it invokes.

“This is a very unique building,” he said. “Its stained glass (in the chancel area) is impressive. You find stained glass (at other churches), but you don’t find this kind of window that tells so many stories of the scripture. And it’s a beautiful church. The steeple is seen all around Chattanooga.”

Last Sunday morning, April 30, the church had a special anniversary music program service planned and led by worship and music ministries director Janice McNair and her husband, music assistant Jonathan McNair. It included “Requiem” by John Leavitt and was presented by the Chancel Choir and Chamber Orchestra. Also, “A Gaelic Blessing” was sung at the end and dedicated to the retiring Dr. Gooden, and brief talks related to the church’s history and future were made by Ben Baucom, David Hudson, Sara Holley, and Rickie Pierce.

The new facility that was being celebrated was planned as part of the merger of First Methodist and Centenary Methodist in 1967. They were only a few feet apart in distance but were separated by historical roots as parts of the separate Northern and Southern divisions, respectively, of the Methodist Church.

Dr. Ralph Mohney had come as senior pastor of Centenary in 1965 after serving as president of Tennessee Wesleyan College. Under his leadership, a plan was developed to merge the two churches and build a new facility.

The new church building on the corner of McCallie Avenue and Houston Street was designed by Harold Wagoner of Philadelphia, who was considered a dean of American church architecture at the time. His other works included National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.; Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida (formerly headed by noted minister D. James Kennedy); and First Baptist Church in Chattanooga’s Golden Gateway.

First Baptist, which had opened its newer facility in 1968, was likely a big reason First-Centenary sought him out, although further research or records checking would be required. While First Baptist is covered in brick and Mr. Wagoner was known for not trying to make any of his buildings look too similar, he, like many architects, did have a noticeable style. For example, both Chattanooga churches have tall, vertical stained-glass windows and tall rooflines, among other similarities.

The general contractor for First-Centenary was T.U. Parks Co., and the building is covered in part with smooth Alabama limestone. It has 14 stained-glass windows designed by the noted Willet studio, then also of Philadelphia. That includes the nearly 50-foot-high chancel window that tells Biblical stories about Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, Moses, the Nativity, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Crucifixion and Resurrection. All parts are woven together with a vine.

Dr. Gooden, a 1977 Hixson High graduate who came to First-Centenary in 2018 and is retiring this summer, said he has always heard that the main window is one of the largest in the area or beyond. Another large area window is on Covenant College’s chapel, which was finished in 1979.

The window, which is the centerpiece of the chancel area with the pulpit and lectern off to the sides, had been paid for as a gift from the Gordon Street Sr. family in honor of the congregation. Other items had also been paid for by other members and others. The cross on top of the steeple had been funded in memory of Richard Bentley Mohney, a late son of Dr. Ralph and Nell Mohney. He had died in a 1969 motorcycle accident on Signal Mountain Boulevard.

Other features include a long hallway on either side of a previously standing chapel, and two doors leading out toward the grass along McCallie Avenue with sunburst designs symbolizing Christ as the light of the world.

Parts of the worship space – including the railing around the altar and pulpit -- still have an appealing early 1970s charm. And, of course, some minor spots have become a little dated. A phone on a cord, perhaps for emergency or other uses, still sits by one back row pew, and a long hallway of coat racks is used more for temporary storage, perhaps with people wearing less formal clothing than in 1973. The church also has some unique outdoor courtyard spaces entered only from the interior of the church facility.

David Patton, who since 2009 has played the church’s Schantz organ that was moved to the facility in 1973 and has been updated and modernized, said the nave has great acoustics. But after also serving as an organist at the Wagoner-designed First United Methodist Church in Orlando, he jokingly added that the choir is put off to worshipers’ left side and choir members must turn and face the seating area.

“The large stained-glass window is the focal point, and the music is off to the side against the wall,” he said with a laugh. “He (Mr. Wagoner) perhaps didn’t appreciate music as much as other architects.”

Ground-breaking ceremonies on the structure had been held in June 1971, a cornerstone-laying ceremony in 1972, and the structure was packed for its morning services when it was dedicated and opened in April 1973. An open house attended by another good crowd was also held that Palm Sunday afternoon.

The new facility was officially consecrated on April 29 of that year – the Sunday after Easter – with pioneering black Holston Conference Bishop L. Scott Allen and other church leaders on hand.

While the members were enjoying their new sanctuary, its opening did result in the demolition of some classic structures. The old stone-covered First Methodist building that was constructed in the mid-1880s was sold to North American Royalties, headed by First-Centenary member Mr. Street. The structure at Georgia and McCallie avenues was torn down for parking, although the steeple was preserved and remains a landmark at Georgia and McCallie avenues.

The old Centenary church directly across Lindsay Street from Memorial Auditorium was also torn down. It had columns in the front and steep steps facing McCallie Avenue and had opened in 1922.

While many of the key church lay members who led the construction of the church are no longer living or able to be heavily involved in the church, a handful of people who attended First-Centenary as young adults in 1973 are still active members. Among them are David and Alice Davis.

Mr. Davis still remembers how different the new church looked compared to the previous church. “It was just beautiful,” he said, adding they had three daughters who were involved in the youth activities. “It was something like we’d never seen before. It was a totally different concept.”

They both remember the great leadership abilities of both Dr. Mohney and his wife, Nell, who taught a Sunday school class. Mr. Davis recalls that Dr. Ralph Mohney had a creative and engaging style and would occasionally dress in costume when preaching on a Biblical character, while Ms. Davis remembers how beloved Ms. Mohney was. “Nell Mohney was so inspiring, and she loved everybody and the love she had flowed through her,” she said.

Mr. Davis recalled with a laugh that Ms. Mohney, who for years also had a local newspaper column, never liked a lot of empty chairs, so class members would inevitably have to add chairs stacked to the side as people came late into the popular Sunday school class.

Both of the Mohneys are now deceased, but their son, Ralph Mohney Jr., was able to attend the 50^thanniversary program this past Sunday. He recalled afterward that he remembers a new sanctuary was part of the plan after First and Centenary merged, and that his father was honored to be involved in its construction and the possible additional ministries that could result.

“I believe that Dad would say that the sanctuary was built to glorify God and for the edification of His people. Dad was delighted to be a part of that vision, along with scores of dedicated lay leaders, donors, and staff,” he said.

The younger Mr. Mohney said he was also pleased during last Sunday’s 50^th anniversary service that it was focused on all the various ministries, activities, and Christian growth for many people that have occurred there, instead of just the building.

But he said he also liked how it looks after 50 years, adding optimistically, “As I experienced once again the beauty and majesty of this sanctuary, it occurred to me that this can be a place of great ministry and worship for at least another 50 years.”

The world, of course, is changing and has changed much since First-Centenary opened the new worship facility in 1973. And that includes with church worship. A smaller percentage of the overall American population attends church than before, and they sometimes prefer it in a different style. That in part led to the construction of the Vine facility across Oak Street 15 years ago to allow First-Centenary to also offer more contemporary-style worship as an alternative.

And many of the larger Chattanooga churches are now either independent of a denominational affiliation or located more in a suburban area. Even the United Methodist Church at large is facing an already-fissured split related to LGBTQ issues.

But Dr. Gooden believes the 1973 building can continue to serve Chattanooga and beyond, adding that he gets positive feedback from the church’s longtime TV ministry that has also familiarized non-members with the church building. He also said that someone told him the church’s bellringing was a source of comfort during the pandemic.

As a result, Dr. Gooden believes those who decided to build the new nave in 1973 would be proud of what has continued over the last 50 years.

“They would be joyful that the church is still trying to create an atmosphere of worship that is challenging and inspiring and calling people to be disciples,” he said.

* * *

jcshearer2@comcast.net