Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum

'Experience the Story of Christ Through the Largest Nativity Collection in the Southeast'
Epworth by the Sea is proud to feature the Moore Museum, located on our beautiful grounds andopen for all to enjoy. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Admission is free, though donations are always appreciated.

Upon entering the Rotunda, you are welcomed by O Holy Night, a breathtaking, 40-piece, life-size papier-mâché nativity created by artist Susan Duke Waters of Rockmart, Georgia.

This immersive display guides you through the journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.  Stand with the shepherds as angels proclaim the Good News, and follow the wise men as they seek thestar. For a bit of fun, see if you can spot the hidden items tucked within the scene: a bag ofchocolate chip cookies, a Christian cross, an Apple Watch, three French hens, two socks, and abar of soap. In the next room, you’ll encounter Bishop Arthur J. Moore—represented in wax.

Bishop Moore’s ministry spanned the globe, and his humanitarian efforts during times of war andfamine earned him some of the highest civilian honors from China and Korea. Be sure to explore the historic photographs of Georgia’s bishops, which reflect a legacy of growing diversity andleadership over time. Continue your journey with our international nativity collection, where cultures from around the
world bring the story of Christ’s birth to life.

Discover the vibrant expressions of faith in
handcrafted pieces from Bolivia, the intricate artistry of the Maasai tribe in Kenya, and a rare nativity from China, where Christian communities often worship under restriction. Each piece
offers a unique cultural perspective on the Nativity story.

In the Strickland Wing, the collection expands to include beautifully crafted Peruvian wool and lace tree skirts, festive quilts, wall hangings, and puzzles. This area also features the inspiring artwork of Kenneth Wyatt, a Houston-based artist and Methodist minister. His vivid paintings portray Jesus and the Apostles as modern individuals from diverse backgrounds, offering a powerful reminder that faith speaks to all people. A companion book is available in the Gift Shop.

Finally, don’t miss Christ After Chaos, an impressive 8-by-5-foot painting by renowned American artist Howard Chandler Christy. Commissioned by Bishop Moore for the Bishops’ First Great Crusade in the 1930s and 1940s, this powerful work supported the Methodist Missionary Program and helped raise the equivalent of millions of dollars during a time of global war and economic hardship.

Museum hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. We are closed on Sundays and major holidays.

Call 912-638-4050 to schedule a guided tour. Group tours are available. There is no admission fee, but donations are gratefully accepted.







Explore the history of Methodism and its founder John Wesley.

Exhibits

Our exhibits highlight local island history, the Epworth by the Sea property history, John and Charles Wesley in England and Georgia, the formation and historical progression of the United Methodist Church, Kenneth S. Wyatt paintings of the Apostles, an extensive international nativity display housed in a larger space and on display year-round, our beloved museum founder Bishop Arthur J. Moore's story and artifacts, and much more.

Island History Room

An entertaining and informative movie regaling the history of St. Simons Island from its Native American occupation to the modern era is on continuous play for your enjoyment. Accompanying exhibits feature Charles Wesley's brief time on the island serving General James Oglethorpe and the colonists, Susie King Taylor and her life as a slave turned educator, and the history of the Epworth by the Sea property including its Hamilton Plantation period, the lumber mill period, Lewis family farm days, and subsequently Bishop Moore and the Pioneers' 1949 purchase and formation of the land for use as a Methodist retreat and conference center.

Rotunda

Susan Duke Waters, artist and Methodist from Rockmart, Georgia, created this exhibit featuring life-sized, papier-mâché nativity scenes. From the journey to Bethlehem to Jesus's birth in the manger, experience this stunning artistic creation. Stand in amazement with the shepherds at the angels heralding the new king's birth and travel with the wise men as they follow the foretold star. The Rotunda also features the breathtaking 8'x5' painting titled “Christ After Chaos” by famed American painter Howard Chandler Christy. This painting was a cherished feature in Bishop Moore's office at the Methodist Church Board of Missions.

Methodism From Wesley To Present Times

Beginning with the origins of the Methodist movement in the Wesley house at Epworth, England and the creation of the Holy Club to John’s and Charles' time in Georgia and Methodist Aid Societies, see how the denomination started. See and hear how Methodism spread throughout America. Listen to an inspiring two-minute excerpt from an original Bishop Moore sermon. Exhibits highlight the formation and history of the United Methodist Church including the circuit riders who spread the word from church to church by horseback, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke who were ordained as the first bishops in America, and many other key figures in Methodist history. Artist Kenneth Wyatt's magnificent paintings of Jesus and the Apostles are found here.

World Nativities

The many nativities in our vast international collection are now housed in a new, larger exhibit room and on display permanently.

Women In The United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church has a long history of intelligent, hardworking women. The efforts of Mary Culler White and her fellow missionaries, deaconesses, and members of the United Methodist Women organization are heralded in these exhibits.

Research

Anyone may conduct research in the library free of charge. However, if you are unable to come to the library, the Moore Museum staff can gather information for you in exchange for a donation to the Museum.

To make a research request, email our Assistant Director at preslie@epworthbythesea.org. The fee is $10.00 per hour.

When making a request, please keep in mind we may not have what you need, but we will do our best to help.

Group Tours

Groups of any age, denomination, and number are welcome. Simply contact us to book the tour in advance. Group Tours are $50.00 per group, payable by cash, check or card. All youth and confirmand tours enjoy the option to add a rousing game of Methodist Jeopardy to end the tour.

The Museum now offers a private Wesleyan tour of Savannah, GA. Please contact the office for more information.

Christian Gift Shop

Enjoy the only Christian Gift Shop and Book Store located on St. Simons Island where all proceeds benefit the Arthur J. Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum. Holding crosses, hand-painted oyster shells, The Apostles by artist Kenneth Wyatt, and nativities make wonderful keepsakes to bring to friends and family.

Contact Us

Address
Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum
100 Arthur J. Moore Drive
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Phone

(912) 638-4050

Hours

Monday-Saturday 10 am-4pm
Closed Sundays and major holidays


 

Email
Anne Packard
apackard@epworthbythesea.org

Preslie Baer
preslie@epworthbythesea.org




 

  • Our experience at Epworth by the Sea was truly exceptional! Each year we take our 10th grade students on a retreat to connect, grow in their faith, and serve the community. The accommodations were perfect, the facility was well taken care of, the meals were delicious, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure our students had a meaningful stay. The service projects were well-organized and provided incredible opportunities for our students to serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

    Logan Brooks, Principal of Williston Central Christian Academy

     

  • We were blessed to have our Women’s Retreat for the 2nd year at beautiful Epworth By The Sea! We saw life change through Jesus Christ as we spent time away focused on our Lord! We relaxed, meditated on the Word, and enjoyed sweet fellowship! Trice and her team made us feel welcomed and cared for! We left blessed and refreshed having time away with our Jesus and friends! Thanks for a great weekend as we learned how to ABIDE with Christ!

    <Parkview Retreat Team

     

  • Epworth by the Sea changed my life. I can think of several pivotal moments in my journey when my life trajectory was profoundly affected while I was at Epworth. Sometimes it was sitting in a session in Nalls Auditorium. Sometimes it was during a powerful inspirational worship service in Strickland. Other times it was having an adult volunteer pray for me in Lovely Lane Chapel, or just all by myself looking for hope in the Prayer Chapel. The first time I ever heard preaching that pricked my heart was at Epworth in the 8th grade. In the 11th grade I attended a retreat that began to plant the seeds of a call to ministry in my heart. Years later I would come to Epworth as a young pastor, and again, I got much needed encouragement and teaching so that I could stay in ministry for the long haul. I now have children of my own attending retreats and coming home bursting with their own stories. Stories of how God showed up! Stories of how Epworth was amazing!

    < Rev. Tom Carruth - Senior Pastor, Perry United Methodist Church

  • As a high school football coach, I have had the great pleasure of bringing my football teams to Epworth by the Sea for the last 22 years. It is one of my favorite places on earth. It started with Camden County, then Prince Avenue Christian, Grayson, T.L. Hanna, and now Camden again. EVERY year has been a great experience for our players and coaches. The facilities are good, the food is excellent, and everyone on the staff is so welcoming that you feel like you are at home! I know that our players and coaches have benefitted not only from our football time together but also the spiritual reflection that you can’t help but feel as you walk around the beautiful grounds and churches. It is truly good for the soul and for developing any type of team.

    < Jeff Herron - Head Football Coach, Camden County High School

  • The Georgia Head Start Association has been traveling to beautiful St. Simons Island and Epworth by the Sea for many, many years for our annual Spring event. We always look forward to this event and it is highly much anticipated. Epworth provides us with a calm, relaxing, tranquil environment and plush surroundings for our event that is also conducive to learning, networking and fostering relationships. The staff is always friendly and courteous and eager to help us make our event run smoothly and efficiently. The food is delicious, the facilities are always clean, and the grounds are well maintained. Visiting Epworth by the Sea is an excellent way to jumpstart Spring! We can't wait to come back in 2024.

    < Juanita Yancey - Executive Officer, Georgia Head Start Association

  • I’ve been in youth ministry for 37 years. I first brought a youth group to Epworth in 1986. Since that summer, I have brought multiple groups each year through my church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I have seen hundreds of teenagers and young adults make life changing commitments to Jesus on those Holy grounds. The retreat atmosphere at Epworth is second to none. Everything you need for a successful event is right inside the gates. Worship areas for large and small, beautiful quiet time space right by the river, up to date housing, good food, fire pits, recreation areas and much more. The thing I appreciate the most is the partnership in ministry that I have with their staff. Their main goal is to make our time at Epworth the most stress free environment it can be. I have never had a bad ministry experience at Epworth. It is truly Holy Ground!

    < Scott Adams - Area Director, East Cobb, FCA

  • Epworth by the Sea has provided a place of solitude and recovery for police officers from across the country who have experienced traumatic events beyond the imagination of most people. The first home of the Post Critical Incident Seminar in Georgia, the GA Office of Public Safety Support partners with Epworth in providing this field-tested peer-based support seminar to help officers put the past in the past. As one of the founders of the PCIS program for state and local officers, I have always said, “the place” where you provide the assistance to officers is critical to your success. For us, Epworth is exactly the Right Place!

    < Rev. Dr. J. Eric Skidmore - State Police Chaplain (SC)

  • "When we look back on our time at Epworth, we smile. Our minds immediately go to the incredible sunsets of red, orange, and yellow that put us at ease amidst God's creation. We fondly think about the prayer chapel and how it brought us God's peace. We know that the Holy Spirit was present at Epworth as it was felt. The staff became family to us in a short period of time. Last but not least, it was the ideal environment for our families living through Childhood Cancer to find absolute rest, true relaxation, priceless connection, and intersect with God to find hope in more than a cure. Thank you, Epworth!" - Lighthouse Family Retreat

    < Chris Woodruff - CEO, Executive Director, Lighthouse Family Retreat

  • "World Methodist Evangelism is a connection point for Christians in the global Wesleyan Methodist family, providing training and resources in evangelism, mission and discipleship. Because our staff and volunteers live all over the world, we have no official headquarters for our ministry. And yet, every year for almost 30 years we have gathered young pastors from the US and beyond at Epworth by the Sea for a week of dynamic teaching, small group discussion, and inspiring worship. Epworth by the Sea has become an emblem of our work. If ever there was a place that summed up the spirit of World Methodist Evangelism, it would be Epworth. It is a true home for us.

    - Dr. Kim Reisman of World Methodist Evangelism