Smyrna church getting a facelift
02/06/2001 
BACK
The City of Searcy has begun renovating the nearly 150-year-old Smyrna Methodist Church, located on Arkansas 36 West.
Construction began on the church in 1854 and was dedicated in 1857. It has not been in use for several years, but a committee made up of members of the White County Arts Council and the White County Historical Society hopes to make this "the little church beside the road."
The structure of Smyrna Methodist Church is that of a vernacular Greek revival church building with a gabled foyer. It was constructed of weatherboarding, and had a tin roof and a fieldstone foundation. It was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1992.
Smyrna Church met in this structure until the early 1970s, almost 120 years after its construction. At that time the dwindling membership transferred to Grace Methodist (presently St. Paul United Methodist Church) in Searcy. For a few years thereafter the building was rented to other religious groups. Frances Dobbins Cofer and her family have been the contacts for the property, because they live nearby.
In the mid 1990s, some members of the two organizations became seriously concerned about saving and restoring the church. It was under guardianship of the trustees of St. Paul United Methodist Church, who, in agreement with the North Arkansas Conference of United Methodist Churches in Batesville, released the property.
In November of 1997, Smyrna Church was deeded to the City of Searcy with the committee from the two local preservation organizations to oversee its restoration and future use. Members of this committee include Scott Akridge, Shirley Baugh, Charley Edwards, Bill Leach, Eloise Muncy and Debra Wolfe.
Since no working funds have been available, Mayor David Evans has allowed city workers to help with the renovations, and people in the community have volunteered much help as well.