OUR STORY
A STORY OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION
Opelika’s history is tied to the history of the Pepperell Mill. In 1925, ground was broken in a former cotton field and construction began on the mill and 200 houses that would become the Pepperell Mill Village. When Pepperell Manufacturing Company opened the mill, it not only changed the lives of those who came to work there, but also the town of Opelika — sparking population increases, commercial growth, and additional industrial development.
The mill was completed in 1926 and a church -- Pepperell Union Church -- was constructed in the heart of the Mill Village as a place of worship for the mill workers. Shortly thereafter, a Pepperell-sponsored school was built along with a community center, medical clinic, and movie theater. The Pepperell Mill was the city’s largest industry from its opening in 1926 to its closing in 2006.
Over time, as industry changed and the the Pepperell Mill closed, the city suffered. Eventually, the church in the heart of the Mill Village would close its doors, holding its final worship service in 2018. This previously shuttered church is now the home of Foundry Opelika. So don't let our 1920s sanctuary fool you, we are a fresh, new, emerging community of faith.
Foundry Opelika was born in May of 2023 when Bishop David Graves appointed Rev. Patrick Hitchman-Craig to plant a new United Methodist Church in Opelika. Over the course of that summer, we were able to acquire and renovate the sanctuary of the Pepperell church, restoring it to its intended beauty. We are a resurrection people, so we are excited by the opportunity to renovate and resurrect this once closed church in the heart of Opelika. We’re grateful to have a home in one of our city’s most historic neighborhoods and to be a part of its bright future as we extend grace and peace to our neighbors.