DAPHNE, Ala. — As an encouragement to business owners to beautify the surroundings of their business establishments, the Daphne Beautification Award Committee quarterly selects, and honors, a business it feels is making a special effort to improve the city’s aesthetics. This quarter’s award went to the Daphne United Methodist Church.

The church occupies approximately a city block of “beautifully landscaped” property located at the corner of Main Street and Santa Rosa Avenue, across from Daphne Elementary School, the committee stated. 

On April 14, Mayor Fred Small presented the framed Certificate of Appreciation to the Rev. Steve A. Rascoe, pastor.  In addition to the certificate, Daphne Beautification Award signs were posted on the property by the Public Works Department in recognition, and appreciation, for the church’s interest in keeping Daphne beautiful.

In attendance were award committee members Bea Wilson, Marilyn Moore, Tomasina Werner, commitee co-chairs Rebecca Trosclair and Elaine Maxime, and Public Works Director Richard Johnson.   

“This church has a very interesting historical background going back as far as 1858 when the Old Daphne Methodist Church was built on land donated by Capt. William and Elizabeth Howard. At that time, it was a community church with many different denominations — until 1870 when the Methodist influence dominated,” the committee stated.

“It is the second oldest church building in Baldwin County and is now the Daphne museum located at 405 Dryer Ave. The original bell, lined by silver dollars that were fused into the bell when it was cast, is displayed at today’s Daphne United Methodist Church, which was dedicated in December 1976.”