The history of Methodists in the area of present-day Palmetto began in 1828 with Horton Ballard requesting pastoral services from the Reverend William Stegall, who appointed a preacher.[At this time, this area was located in the no-longer-extant Campbell County]. First services were held in the home of Horton Ballard. A log meeting house, known as Ballard’s Meeting House [or Concord], was constructed in 1828. A few years later the membership increased to the point that another church, known as Watts Meeting House, for Major L. B. Watts.

The churches merged and became Hearn’s Meeting House, located between Concord and Watts, circa 1834. Nearby associated congregations were Jones Campground (1840) and New Hope (1843). Members of Jones Campground church and Sabbath School moved to Palmetto in 1851. A wooden church was built on this site in 1852 and replaced by the present brick structure in 1872.