Methodism celebrates 200 years in Savannah

Although Methodism have been established in Georgia for at least 225 years, its continuing presence in Savannah, where I serve the church, is 200 years old this year.

While British warships prowled the Georgia coastline, country Methodist preacher James Russell was appointed to Savannah to build a church. Methodism in 1812 was thriving across the nation, holding 400-500 camp meetings per year with 3 million people attending these dramatic social and religious gatherings. National success notwithstanding, Dr. George D. Smith in his