Our Story
Pentecost Global Methodist Church traces its roots in the Winder area back more than 240 years. William Pentecost established the church in 1785, making it the oldest church in Barrow County and the second oldest Methodist church in Georgia.
William Pentecost's life was shaped by both service and faith. A veteran of the Revolutionary War, he later devoted himself to ministry and became known throughout the region for his work as a Methodist minister. He is credited with establishing five churches, including the congregation that bears his name.
Growing Through the Generations
Over the years, the congregation became part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1912 and later joined the newly formed United Methodist Church in 1968. Today, the church carries that Methodist heritage forward as a Global Methodist congregation.
The church has also moved through several buildings over the course of its history. The present building was constructed in 1954, with its dedication taking place in 1963. Generations of people have worshiped within its walls, making the building more than a structure— it is a physical reminder of the many people who have helped shape this congregation.
The Church in 1963
This photograph was taken around the time of the dedication of our church building in 1963, marking an important chapter in the long history of the church.
Remembering Our Roots
In 1978, members of the Pentecost family, working through the Barrow County Historical Society, erected a historical marker on the church grounds honoring William Pentecost and his contribution to the Methodist tradition and the community. His story remains connected to the story of the congregation that began here in 1785.
The Story Continues
More than 240 years after those first Methodist gatherings, Pentecost Global Methodist Church remains a community of people seeking to follow Jesus Christ and serve others. We are grateful for those who came before us and for the faith they entrusted to the generations that followed. Their story is part of ours, and we believe God is still writing the next chapter.
The story of Pentecost began generations ago. Today, we are blessed to be part of what comes next.
William Pentecost: Founder and Minister
William Pentecost was born in 1762. At the age of 16, he joined the American Army and served in the 14th Regiment, Buford Detachment, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. On May 29, 1780, he was wounded in the Battle of Waxhaws, losing an arm in the conflict.
After his military service, William Pentecost eventually migrated to Georgia, settling in what is now Barrow County.
In 1785, at the age of 23, he established what became known as Pentecost Methodist Church. He went on to establish five churches, with Pentecost being the first. Though remembered as a successful businessman, educator, and civic worker, he was perhaps best known as a devout Methodist minister whose faith and service shaped the communities around him.
William Pentecost died in 1839 at the age of 76. He was originally buried in the family plot and was later reinterred alongside his wife, Delilah, in the Pentecost Church Cemetery in 1909. His legacy remains part of the story of Pentecost Global Methodist Church today. We honor his memory through the church that bears his name and continue the tradition of faith and service he helped establish.
