Goshen Methodist Episcopal Church South was chartered with 35 members on
October 8, 1905 from the Mountain Springs Methodist Church. The first
pastor was Charles W. Seale. The church was located on the old Centre Highway,
which is now Cherokee County Road 31.

As the years passed, the original church became insufficient for the needs of the
membership. In 1951-52 a new church was built on the new Centre Highway,
which is now Alabama Highway 9. Grant Parris was the pastor when the new
church was built, and it was part of the Piedmont Charge.

Goshen withdrew from the Piedmont Charge in 1959. Buford McElroy was the
pastor at that time. During his ministry, a fellowship hall was built.
The church was renovated; adding classrooms, a nursery, and a pastor’s study,
while Lawrence Morgan was pastor (1964-1966).

On March 27, 1994 an F4 tornado hit the church during the Palm Sunday service,
taking the lives of 20 people, and injuring many others. We were uplifted during
this time by the prayers, cards, visits, and donations
from Christ’s body all over the world.

Worship services were held in the Oddfellow Lodge and later in the Lozahatchee
Lodge in Piedmont while the long process of rebuilding was taking place. We are
deeply grateful to the members of these lodges for allowing us to use their facilities.
We now have a beautiful facility in which to worship, and are constantly
reminded of God’s love and sustaining power through difficult times.

On February 26, 1995 a ground-breaking service was held at the site of the new
sanctuary. In a moving service, dirt was taken from the old site to be mixed with
the new; combining the past and the present for a new beginning. While digging
the basement for the new building, a huge rock was encountered. Since it would
be difficult, and perhaps dangerous to remove, it was decided the church would
be “built on the rock”.

Dedication Services for the new church were held on July 14, 1996.

The Dedication began with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Memorial Site
to be constructed on the old church site.  A part of that ceremony included the
release of 20 white doves, one for each person lost in the tornado.

A beautiful stained glass window was donated to Goshen by Connor Henry
and his home church in Cameron, South Carolina.  The window depicts
not only the faith story of our church, but also the rich Christian heritage
and symbolism of the faith to which we belong.

In the center of the window is a Rainbow, signifying the end of the great flood
and God’s covenant with humanity.  Above the center is the Butterfly, a
symbol of Easter.  The emergence of the butterfly from the cocoon of death
symbolizes our Christian hope of the glory of eternal life.  Flanking the
butterfly are two angels in an attitude of supplication and prayer.  Above the
butterfly is a descending dove, representing the Holy Spirit’s descent from
Heaven to earth.  The olive branch in its beak symbolizes peace.  The lower
section contains three interlocking circles.  Circles signify God who is the
Alpha and Omega, without beginning and without end.  Three circles
represent the Trinity.  The grapes and the chalice in the circle on the left
represent wine, a symbol of the Last Supper the disciples celebrated with
Jesus.  In the center circle is a crown above the cross, encircled by palm
branches.  This is reminiscent of the great palm processional marking
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion and, for the Goshen
congregation, marking the occasion of the palm/passion observance which
was the day 20 persons lost their lives.  In the circle on the right side is the
lamb which represents Christ, the lamb of God, a sacrifice offered to the world.
The white flag with a red cross is a banner representing Christ’s victory over
death.  Easter lilies encircle the window as a reminder of new life which is
the surrounding power of the Christian church’s hope in all of life.  Glass from
the destroyed church was used in some of these lilies.  At the top are three
crystals of Venetian glass representing the Trinity.  The lilies are identical
in design to those in the home church of Mr. Henry, Providence United
Methodist Church.  They will serve as a reminder of our unity within
the Christian family.