Wesley United Methodist Church At Frederica

Wesley is positioned on the north end of Saint Simons Island. The natural beauty of the area features majestic oak trees graced with beautiful Spanish moss, enhancing the architectural design of a church perfectly suited to its historic location. We are situated directly across from the Fort Frederica National Monument.

BELIEFS
Theology of Worship
In worship, we GATHER together as a community set apart to worship together. We tell God’s story as we PROCLAIM THE WORD through Scripture and preaching. We RESPOND to God’s revelation in our lives through prayer, singing, affirming our faith, and Holy Communion. We are SENT FORTH to love and serve God in the world. Our worship follows a pattern of revelation and response: we learn of God and his message to us, and we respond through worship and discipleship. In this way, worship is a two-part dialogue with God.

HISTORY
Born of a Vision. Rooted in Tradition. Living Our Faith.
In October of 1986, Mr. Bill Jones III and the Sea Island Company gave ten acres of land to the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and ten acres to Christ Church Episcopal with the stipulation that each one would give an acre to establish and endow a garden in memory of John and Charles Wesley. Through the vision and leadership of the members of Saint Simons United Methodist Church and retired Bishop Frank Robertson, a new United Methodist congregation was constituted in May of 1987, to be located on the additional nine acres provided by this gift. With 117 members, the new congregation was officially named Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica. Like the majestic live oaks surrounding us, our roots go deep in the history and tradition of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism, who lived and served in this part of St. Simons in the 18th century.

WESLEY GARDENS
The Wesley Memorial Gardens and Celtic cross monument were dedicated to John and Charles Wesley on June 12, 1988. This two-acre garden has over 60 varieties of native oak trees, plants, and shrubs, including more than 4,000 azaleas, which bloom around late March-early April. Located between Christ Church and Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica, the gardens are an excellent place to meditate, pray, and seek the Lord. The 18-foot Celtic cross, made out of Georgia stone, also makes a beautiful backdrop for weddings and photography lovers. The gardens are open during daylight hours, free of charge, to the public.

COLUMBARIUM
Columbarium – a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns.
(i.e., urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains).

In memory of her late husband Bob, Dollie Dry made known her desire to donate funds to establish a columbarium at Wesley. Dollie and her daughter, Amy Dry Thomas, worked with well-known architect Lamar Webb on the design. The columbarium walls were inspired by the apse of the Wesley Sanctuary as viewed from the northern exterior of the building in which the rose window is set. Bill Edenfield added his landscape talents to complete the vision.

The Wesley Columbarium is located in the southern portion of the church property between the pond and the Wesley Memorial Garden, where three free-standing walls border a shell-inlaid paved square. The columbarium provides a beautiful, consecrated place for the inurnment of the cremated remains of members of the Wesley church and their families. This includes members, spouses, children, or grandchildren.

The cost of one niche is $1,500. Half of that amount is considered a tax-deductible donation; the other half is the fee. The fee provides for the niche, inurnment, and the nameplate. The Wesley Board of Trustees will provide perpetual care of the columbarium and grounds.

You may contact the church office at (912) 634-1412 or churchoffice@wesleyssi.org for questions, to set an appointment, or to purchase a niche.