| A
Brief History of "The People's Temple" |
Please
note: This property is currently for sale. The
Marion County Historical Society is not involved
in this transaction and cannot provide you with
any assistance or information concerning the status
of The People's Temple property. The information
on this site is presented as it is known at this
time. |
Written
by JoAnn Lough, Chair
City of Fairmont Historic Landmarks Commission |
| The
People's Temple is located at 216 Monroe Street
in Fairmont, West Virginia. It was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as
a contributing building to the Downtown Historic
District of Fairmont, West Virginia. |
| Architecture:
"...a brick and stone architectural landmark
of considerable interest. Its Romanesque Revival
styling is virtually unaltered; and the building's
massive arched openings, intact stained glass,
and campanile-like tower lend the church a unique
status..." "The city's finest surviving
Romanesque Revival church, this exceptional building
preserves all of its period detail." Rodney
Collins, National Register. |
| Architect:
J. Charles Fulton of Uniontown, PA |
| Stained
Glass Windows: S. S. Marshall Brothers of Allegheny,
PA |
| 1828 |
First
organized by Asa Shinn and Thomas Barnes at the
Barnes horse mill in an area now know as Bellview,
it was the first congregation of the Methodist
Protestant Church in what is now West Virginia. |
| 1833 |
A
frame church is built at 418 Quincy Street on
land donated by Francis H. Pierpont, the father
of Francis H. Pierpont; who will become the Governor
of the Reorganized Government of Virginia. (His
father and he both shared the same name.) |
| 1852 |
The
frame church is replaced with a brick structure,
known as the "Church on the Hill," (Governor)
Francis H. Pierpont was member of the congregation. |
|
1865 |
Fairmont
Normal School (now Fairmont State University) began
in its basement. |
|
1869 |
National
negotiations to reunite the two branches of the
Methodist Church, divided by the slavery issue,
were hosted by the congregation and Fairmont under
the leadership of Governor Pierpont. |
|
1877 |
Mr.
Pierpont is named President of the Conference
of the Methodist Protestant Church. (A national
Church office and a first for a layman.) |
|
1896 |
Ground
broken for the "The People's Temple"
at 216
Monroe Street. |
| 1897 |
On
August 8, the congregation of "The Church on
the Hill" meet there for the last time. They
walk to the their new church (The People's Temple),
for it's dedication. Mr. Pierpont was a a guest
of honor at this event. |
|
1990 |
The
People's Temple congregation leaves their Monroe
Street "home" to become a part of the
congregation of the Diamond Street United Methodist
Church. |
|
1991 |
The
Agape Evangelical Methodist Church purchases The
People's Temple. |
|
2005 |
The
Atlantic District of the Evangelical Methodist Church
assumes control of the Agape Evangelical Methodist
Church (The People's Temple) property.
|
| Sources:
Ornaments to the City, Debra McMillan;
Francis H. Pierpont, Charles H. Ambler;
National Register of Historic Places Application,
Rodney Collins; and conversation with Dr. Harold
Thompson, Superintendent of the Atlantic District
of the Evangelical Methodist Church. |