Our Story

In 1836, fourteen years after the City of Jackson was founded, a group of one man and four ladies organized the city’s first church – a Methodist Society. That small band of faithful Methodists were responsible for what is now the oldest thriving Christian congregation in the city, located in the heart of downtown Jackson.

During those early years, the congregation met in the Mississippi State House, a small brick building which was made available to them when the state legislature was not in session. The Methodists purchased the lot on which Galloway now stands for $50, and the congregation went into debt for almost $5,000 to construct the city’s first church, which was completed in 1839.

In the true spirit of John Wesley, the men and women who organized the First Methodist Church began in those early years to direct their efforts toward a community-wide ministry. Members have continued to assume leadership roles in city and state government, in the work of the national church, and in an active program of service, study and worship.

During the 1960s Galloway struggled with the issues of civil rights, first closing and then opening the doors of the church to all who came to worship. During this turbulent era, nearly one third of the church’s membership left the church, most moving their memberships to churches in the suburban areas of Jackson. Galloway’s membership declined until the 1980s, when a slow turn around began. At that time, after prayerful deliberation, the congregation made an intentional decision to remain a downtown church open to all people.

The congregation began to see itself not as “Fort Galloway” but as “Port Galloway,” welcoming all persons to join their fellowship of service. Recognizing the need of persons in the downtown area who are living on the margins and are hungry, homeless, and in need of both physical, mental and spiritual healing, the Grace Place Ministry recently celebrated its tenth year of service.