Perry Methodist celebrates 200 years in Perry over the weekend

PERRY — A church that has been a staple in the City of Perry is now 200 years old, and the community came out to celebrate over the weekend. 

Perry Methodist Church was founded in 1826, and was fully built in 1827 of what is now the Evergreen Cemetery, according to the Perry Historical Museum. 

The first pastor was James Howard. Two hundred years later it’s Rev. Tom Carruth. He has been spreading the gospel for Perry Methodist since 2021. 

Carruth said in an interview he felt a lot of humility and gratitude for being a part of a church with so much history. 

“Imagine the changes that have occurred [such as] no pavement, people coming in on foot mostly, maybe on horse or carriage for over 100 years,” he said. “When you witness remarkable change, that’s just true of culture. It’s an honor to be a part of this church.” 

Carruth said he wants Perry Methodist to be a church where people see and know each other. He said many people don’t know their neighbors or even talk to them. 

“They drive to work or school and then they come back inside and look at a screen,” he said. “We’re trying to become a place where we’re human and we’re trying to say ‘how are you doing’.”

Given that Perry Methodist has been in the heart of Perry for 200 years, Carruth said they want to be more than that. 

“I think we want to be a [church] where we can love each other and forgive one another,” he said. 

Carruth and Perry Methodist also received a key to the city in celebration of the milestone. He said they are honored to be in Perry. He described the city as where people want to be and said that is a great strength of the church. 

The celebration had members from all walks of life. For Richie Lynn-Chapman and Beth Roper, they have been members for over 60 years. Both were married in the church and Chapman was christened there. They said that their first memories of Perry Methodist was Sunday School where they would be taught songs like “This Little Light of Mine” and “Jesus Loves Me.” 

“It’s just a good memory that Jesus loves me,” Roper said. 

Roper said the congregation are people who you can count on during the best of times and the worst of times. 

Chapman loves Perry Methodist and said everyone at church is so loving and are like her second family. 

“There’s a saying that goes: ‘Perry Methodist Church is in the heart of Perry with Perry in its heart’ and that [saying] really sums it up right there.”  

Perry Methodist Church is located at 1002 Carroll Street in Perry. For more information on the church, go to https://perrymethodist.com/.