History
The Oldest Methodist African-American Congregation In Rockbridge County Virginia. Founded in 1793 The First Methodist Society in Rockbridge County was started by William Caravern in 1793.
The home of John Burgess was used as the Methodist Society meeting place. In 1868 A Methodist Church on Randolph Street in Lexington was established. Blacks and whites worshiped in the same church but in separate areas of the building. This was common practice in the slavery theology of the period. Thus began the history of Randolph Street United
Methodist church. In the early years following the Civil War, our members were both black and white but the issue of abolishing slavery caused the majority of the white members to leave the Church therefore leaving the colored members in control. The first authentic records of Randolph Street were started on October 27th, 1864 when the Church was reorganized and received into the Washington Annual Conference at Sharper St. Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the years we have had a total of 53 pastors, each contributing in his or her own way. Of notable interest was the installation of the pipe organ in 1917. The cost of the organ was $1500. Andrew Carnegie paid half and the congregation raised the other half. The first organist was Mr. Alberta Cauthern followed by Mrs. Julia Washington, Mrs. Evelyn Jackson, Mrs. Amanda Pleasants, Mrs. Catherine Lawson Smith and presently Mrs. Alice Jackson Roane. The organ remains in use to this day. In 1929, the Church was damaged by fire and water and the steeple was destroyed completely. The colored and the white citizens of Lexington raised the money to completely restore the Church with a remolded tower. Randolph Street United Methodist Church has indeed come a “mighty long way” in 152 years of Christian Love and service to our community.