The Church on the Trail in Downtown Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest United Methodist Church sits at 19 South Main Street in the heart of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, right along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. Known affectionately as "The Church on the Trail" and shortened to TRUMC by longtime members, the congregation has rooted its identity in the rhythms of this small but active town at the foot of the Blue Ridge foothills. Its tagline, "where community and growth intersect," sums up the church's twin commitments: walking alongside neighbors and walking deeper in faith.
Worship is the center of life at TRUMC. Two Sunday services are held in the sanctuary at 8:45 am and 11:00 am. The early service leans contemporary, led by the Psalm 100 Band under Director of Contemporary Music Bryan Catron, while the later service is more traditional, with the Chancel Choir under Director of Traditional Music and Organist Jann Howell. Both services share the same liturgy, Scripture readings, sermon, and easy-going atmosphere. During the summer months, the two congregations combine for a single 10:00 am service, with Sunday school meeting at 9:00 am. On special Sundays the church sometimes joins for combined worship or moves outdoors. There is no dress code, and the welcome includes families with fussy children. The full bulletin for each week is posted online.
Worship is livestreamed on Facebook, and recent services are archived on YouTube. A weekly sermon podcast is also available, and recordings of recent Sunday bulletins stretch back over a year.
A United Methodist Identity
Travelers Rest United Methodist Church is part of the United Methodist Church and points to the denomination's shared beliefs about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible, alongside its distinctive focus on grace, global outreach, and growth as disciples of Jesus Christ. Members follow the historic Methodist membership vows, promising their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness as ways to "trail Christ" together. The congregation connects with the broader United Methodist connection through the Greenville District (recently renamed the Anderson District).
Children and Youth
TRUMC makes a particular investment in the next generation. Every Sunday morning, children gather on the upper level of the Education Building for age-appropriate Sunday school classes: a two-year-old class in ED 202, a preschool class for three- and four-year-olds in ED 200, a first- and second-grade class in ED 203, and a third- through fifth-grade class in the Fellowship Hall. Teachers use interactive lessons, crafts, songs, and hands-on projects to connect children with the Bible. The TRUMPETS children's choir (Travelers Rest United Methodist People Eager to Sing) gives kindergarten through fifth graders occasional opportunities to sing in worship, developing both musical and spiritual gifts.
Infants and toddlers are cared for in the church nursery in ED 205 by Nursery Director Nicole Cruell and her staff, available from 8:45 am to noon on Sundays during Sunday school and both worship services.
Middle and high school students meet for Sunday school in ED 100 for interactive discussions and service projects. Their larger gathering is United Methodist Youth Fellowship, or UMYF, which meets Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 6:30 pm with a light meal. The group discusses real-life teen issues, plans offsite service events, and goes on weekend retreats. Youth Director Stacey Fields coordinates the program and welcomes volunteers willing to provide meals.
Adults: Sunday School, Growth Groups, and Bible Studies
Adult Sunday school meets at 10:00 am between the two worship services. Four classes are offered:
- The Young Adults - young men and women, couples, and singles from post-high school through their thirties, meeting in ED 103.
- The Trail Class - mostly thirty- to fifty-somethings, all ages welcome, meeting in ED 105.
- The New Beginnings - men and women, singles and couples, meeting in the Fellowship Hall.
- Coffee with Jesus - meeting in the Parlor of the Family Life Center.
For those wanting more intimate gatherings, a variety of Growth Groups meet during the week, typically in the fall and spring. These small groups sometimes dig into the previous Sunday's sermon and sometimes use traditional Bible study resources. Current offerings include a Wednesday evening group that meets every other Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:45 pm in the Conference Room, the Women's Growth Group on the second and fourth Thursday mornings at 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall, the Papas and Mamas groups that alternate Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm at Swamp Rabbit Brewery, and Solomon's Porch II on Friday mornings at 9:30 am over Zoom.
Seasonal Bible studies round out the year. A fall study of Adam Hamilton's Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times meets Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Conference Room. Retired pastor Rev. Randy Smith leads a Sunday evening study of Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's Revolution of Values from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. The Woodlands Bible Study (nicknamed "Miriam's Rascals") meets Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am in the Woodlands at Furman apartment community.
Music and Handbells
Music is woven through the worship life of TRUMC. The Psalm 100 Band leads contemporary worship at 8:45 am, while the Chancel Choir sings at the 11:00 am traditional service. A handbell choir rings at various points throughout the year under Paula Catron's direction and welcomes anyone willing to learn, with the cheerful promise that "as long as you can count, we can teach you to ring."
Outreach in the Travelers Rest Community
Mission work is a major expression of faith at TRUMC. The Mission Circle, a group of United Methodist Women, meets the first Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 am in the Parlor of the Family Life Center, working on local mission projects such as the Preemie Project, which makes hearts and hats for babies in the Neonatal Care Unit at area hospitals.
The Backpack Ministries provides weekend food for students at seven local schools - one preschool, three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school - identified by school counselors as needing extra support. Volunteers collect and package the food throughout the school year.
Other ongoing outreach includes Blessings Bags for the unhoused (coordinated by the youth), donations to North Greenville Crisis Ministry's food pantry, the Pillowcase Project that creates handmade pillowcases and care packages for children in DSS custody, and the Salkehatchie Summer Service that works alongside youth on home repair. The United Methodist Men take on home repairs for church members and other service projects. Annual efforts include the Super Bowl of Caring, Rebuild Upstate, offerings for Epworth Children's Home, TR Trails & Treats, Christmas Cookie Couriers, the Buddy the Elf program for hospitalized children, and the Country Santa program.
Each Christmas Eve, the entire offering goes toward missional work. Recent Christmas Eve offerings have supported Rise Against Hunger's meal-packing events (the congregation packed over 30,000 meals in 2026 for people experiencing hunger worldwide) and smaller United Methodist congregations in the Greenville District that address food and housing insecurity.
Support Groups that Meet on Campus
TRUMC opens its campus to several recovery and wellness support groups. Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Mondays and Thursdays. Al-Anon's Room to Grow group meets Tuesdays at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets Tuesdays from 9:00 am to noon in ED 105. The Swamp Rabbit Quilt Guild meets the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 am in the FLC Gym for monthly meetings and the fourth Thursday at 10:00 am in the FLC Parlor for sew days, with no sew days in November or December.
Pickle Ball and Jesus
A distinctive offering at TRUMC is Pickle Ball and Jesus, also called PB&J, which promotes healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through exercise, fellowship, and community. The group plays pickleball in the FLC gym every Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 am to noon, and on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Schedules sometimes shift, with updates noted in the weekly bulletin and email.
Older Adults: Forever 55 and TR Fellows
Forever 55 is open to anyone in the church family who has reached the milestone age of 55. The group gathers on the third Thursday of each month for a catered lunch, a program of interest or entertainment, and a birthday celebration, with occasional outings to local farms, theaters, and other venues.
The TR Fellows, a monthly gathering for retired men in the congregation, meets on the second Thursday at 10:30 am in the Parlor of the Family Life Center for discussion, personal history sharing, and TED Talks.
Weddings, Facilities, and the Columbarium
TRUMC hosts weddings for members, their children, and non-members with pastor approval. The pastor of the church officiates or is present at every rehearsal and ceremony in keeping with United Methodist policy, and premarital counseling is required. Officially approved United Methodist rituals form the structure of the service, with flexibility for personalization. Music must be suitable for Christian worship, with the church organist or pianist having first right of refusal. The church also provides a wedding coordinator to assist couples. Detailed fees are listed on the facility usage page; non-members pay $500 for the sanctuary or chapel, while members do not.
The church grounds include a columbarium for inurnment of cremated remains of members and their immediate family. A picnic shelter and field are also available.
Staff and Leadership
Rev. Brian Gilmer serves as Lead Pastor and Rev. Michelle Cockcroft as Pastor of Discipleship. Jan Paxton is the Office and Financial Manager, Casey Torrance the Communications Director, Stacey Fields the Youth Director, Jann Howell the Director of Traditional Music and Organist, Bryan Catron the Director of Contemporary Music, Chris Hulme the Livestream Specialist, and Nicole Cruell the Nursery Director. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Visiting TRUMC
The church sits at 19 South Main Street, a half block from the Swamp Rabbit Trail. From Furman University or Berea, take Highway 276/25 north, staying on 276 into Travelers Rest. After passing the first stoplight, the church entrance is on the left about 500 yards ahead. From Marietta, head south on 276; after the first stoplight, the entrance is on the right in about 200 yards. From the north on Highway 25, veer right onto North Poinsett Extension toward downtown Travelers Rest, take a right at the fork onto Center Street, and turn left onto 276-south at the light; the church entrance is the first right. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Giving is available online.