The Smith Chapel Methodist Church congregation marked its 130th anniversary of the May 23, 1890 laying of its cornerstone with celebratory wishes to the community. Pastor Ho Kang arranged the giant birthday card in front of the church to commemorate the occasion. Because of Covid-19, church members are worshiping weekly via virtual services utilizing Zoom technology. An in-person celebration is planned for the fall.
The original one-room church was built by local farmers Jesse and Lucina Smith in Great Falls during a time when all travel was by foot or on horseback and other churches were far away. The first trustees paid $52.50 for the one and one-half acres upon which this chapel stands. A year later, another half-acre was purchased for the cemetery. At the dedication in 1893, the first pulpit Bible was donated. There was a hitching post at the rear of the churchyard, and horses were watered at the spring at the foot of the hill. When it opened, Smith Chapel was place for Sunday worship service as well as a center for social and community events – as it remains to this day.
The church, located at 11321 Beach Mill Road, is the oldest church structure in Great Falls. For information on church history, programs and worship times, see the Website at www.smithchapelumc.com .
