Smyrna Methodist Church, Greek Revival church in Searcy, Arkansas.
Smyrna Methodist Church is a Greek Revival style church building featuring a rectangular form with a gabled front and decorative diamond-shaped roof shingles. The structure includes a wooden cupola at the top that houses a bell for calling the congregation.
Construction began in 1854, making this the oldest documented church building in Arkansas based on historical research. The structure represents an important part of the state's religious development in the 1800s.
The cemetery here holds gravestones of community members spanning more than a century, showing how families were connected to this place over generations. Walking through the burial ground tells the story of the people who shaped the local area.
This location serves as a venue for religious services, historical society meetings, and private events throughout the year. Visitors should inquire in advance about access to the interior and be prepared for outdoor grounds around the building.
During foundation repairs, workers discovered a white oak tree stump that was about 400 years old and provided the timber for the original church construction. This discovery linked the building physically to materials from centuries before its completion.
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