Methodists in this area were first served by circuit-riding preachers, including the Rev. Hugh M. Childress, who came to the region in the 1860s, when worship services were held in private homes. In 1882, the Rev. Peter Gravis organized Mt. Zion Methodist Church, which later merged with the congregation at Byrds, and these communities, along with Bethel, Brooks, Clio, Gap Creek, Green’s Chapel, Holder, Pleasant Valley, Rocky, Shrum, Verbena, Williams, Windham and Wolf Valley, became part of the May charge. Brush arbor revivals were held each summer. The May Methodist Church was formally organized in 1886. Its members gathered for services in nearby Verbena until 1890, then began meeting in the newly constructed May schoolhouse. Four years later, they built a one-room church, which served until a new brick building with memorial stained glass windows was constructed in 1929-30. After 70 years of service, that church building was destroyed by fire in January 2000. Throughout its history, May United Methodist Church upheld the ideals and traditions of its pioneer founders and served its members and the May community for more than 100 years despite the Depression, droughts, floods, wars and fire.