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Pine Flat Methodist Church, a historic landmark dating back to 1858, will celebrate its 166th year with a special Homecoming Memorial service on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Although regular services are no longer held there, members of the congregation and the Pine Flat Cemetery Association work diligently to preserve the building and its grounds.

“It’s a wonderful reunion every year of those that have family history in the church,” said Harry Poole, trustee of the Pine Flat Cemetery Association, who took on the role of caretaker from his mother, Mae Poole. “Along with Steve Stallworth and Myralyn Watson, we’ve just tried to keep it going every year, and so far we have.”

The Homecoming event will include a worship service, prayer and hymnals, followed by a sermon from guest speaker Tony Max Hughes. Hughes, an ordained elder in the Methodist Church with 50 years of service in Alabama, expressed his connection to the area. 

“When I was a student, I served in Pineapple and Beatrice for four years and I created some great relationships. There are some really good people down there,” Hughes said. “This homecoming, I will be speaking about people, places and memories. It’s all about folks whose roots grow deep in the soil they’re standing on and the memories passed down to us.”

Hughes has served churches across Alabama, including Walnut Creek Methodist in Clanton for 28 years, and currently serves Mt. Nebo Methodist. He also spent two decades teaching religion and moral philosophy as an adjunct professor at Wallace Community College in Selma and Clanton.

Following the service, attendees will gather for a meal at the pavilion and enjoy a performance by the New Vision Quartet. 

The Homecoming Memorial has been an annual event since 1968, providing an opportunity for descendants and community members to come together, celebrate their shared heritage and maintain the historic church and cemetery.

The Pine Flat Methodist Church building, originally restored in 1967 by descendants, remains in excellent condition thanks to the dedication of its caretakers. While the gallery was removed in the early 1970s, the original pews, altar and pulpit remain, a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving this historical landmark for future generations.