Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church closed recently after 128 years. | Clif Knight

Bobby Ray Halbrooks, associate pastor at Hartselle First United Methodist Church, recalled having developed a special relationship with Mt. Tabor church members as a young pastor.

“Mt. Tabor was my first church, back in 1962,” he said. “My wife Brenda and I got married there and I preached my first funeral, conducted my first marriage and held my first baptism there.

“The people had such a loving spirit and took me under their wings right away,” he added. “This enabled me to have a special ministry and get my ministry started with a firm foundation.”

“I remember having 60 to 70 people for worship,” and homecoming and Decoration on the second Sunday in May was a special occasion. “We’d have a sanctuary filled with people for our regular services and even more for dinner on the grounds and a gospel singing in the afternoon. Senator John Sparkman would come to decoration. He’d take his coat and tie off and join in the crowd for a wonders time of Christian fellowship.”

Key said she understands that a former pastor has indicated a desire to reach out to people in the community in an effort to get the church going again.

“I haven’t talked to him,” she said, “but I plan to and I will support him in every way I can.”

According to records, Mt. Tabor Church and School was established in 1884 with 59 charter members. The first of four buildings was a log structure that eventually had to be supported by cables, extending from one wall to the other.

The present concrete block building was constructed in 1949.