Waterloo United Methodist Church

1832 – 2021

The Waterloo United Methodist Church was established on March 17, 1832, under the name of Smyrna Methodist Church. It was located in what is now a portion of the community cemetery. At that time, it was a part of the Laurens Circuit. Records from 1876 indicate that this was a part of the Spartanburg District.

Smyrna Methodist Church was placed into Tumbling Shoals Circuit, Cokesbury District in 1885. In 1887, the Waterloo Circuit was formed and Smyrna Methodist became part of it, remaining in the Cokesbury District. Other churches on the circuit, at one time or another, were Soule Chapel, New Zion, Bethlehem, Cokesbury, Cross Hill, and Mountville.

In 1899, the Smyrna Methodist Church changed its name to Waterloo Methodist Church and remained in the Waterloo Circuit, Cokesbury District. The Church was relocated from its original location to its present location in 1904 after a fire occurred within the church building.

There is a lapse between 1928 and 1932 reports but during that time, the Cokesbury District became the Greenwood District and remains that to this time.

There was an extensive building program during 1957. During that program, the wooden exterior was refinished with the present brick veneer and the two-story wing on the right side of the building was added. A new parsonage was constructed in 1966 to serve the Sunday School wing.

According to records from the Archives of Wofford Collage, all churches in the Waterloo Circuit were disbanded except Waterloo and Soule Chapel. These two churches both have an active membership and shared the same pastor until June 2007. At that time the charge was dissolved and both churches became standalone churches with different part-time pastors.

Waterloo United Methodist Church has been described as “the little church with a big heart.” It continues to demonstrate this by the response shown for any need that arises and the open welcome to all.