First United Methodist Church (London, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
First United Methodist Church is a historic congregation of the United Methodist Church
in downtown London
, Ohio
, United States
. Founded in London's earliest years, the congregation worships in a historic church building that was built in the 1890s.
in 1813 or 1814, very soon after London was plat
ted. In its earliest years, the society's members worshipped in each others' homes, and preaching was rare; London's church was part of a circuit
of twenty-four Methodist preaching stations. In 1820, the congregation built a log church building on a downtown corner lot; it was the first church building in London. After twenty years, the congregation decided to move. Obtaining property a few blocks
away, they built a larger frame
church, 60 feet (18.3 m) on each side, and a brick parsonage
.
During the 1860s, the congregation saw many changes. In 1860, the pastor's responsibilities were reduced; except for Kingsley Chapel, a small church near London, he was no longer assigned to serve any churches other than London, and Kingsley later closed. The same year saw the completion of a new brick church building, which was placed on the site of the frame church building; measuring 90 feet (27.4 m) by 40 feet (12.2 m), it cost $7,500 to build. Other buildings were erected in the following few years: a new parsonage was completed in 1863, and a small chapel was added to the church's rear in 1866 by the gift of a member.
Among the congregation's leading past members was Jeriah Swetland
, prominent local businessman and state representative
.
, it was built in a combination of the Gothic Revival
and Jacobean Revival
architectural styles. The church's brick and sandstone walls rests on a foundation of sandstone; they are topped with an asphalt roof, and the building is decorated with wooden and glass elements.
because of its well-preserved historic architecture.
Today, First United Methodist is a part of the Capitol Area South District of the West Ohio Conference
of the United Methodist Church
. In 2010, it was served by two ministers: Steven Rodgers and Sue McClelland.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
in downtown London
London, Ohio
London is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, United States. Located about southwest of the Ohio capital of Columbus, London was established in 1811 to serve as the county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,771, an increase from 7,807 in 1990. It is the...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in London's earliest years, the congregation worships in a historic church building that was built in the 1890s.
Congregational history
A small group of individuals formed a congregation of the Methodist Episcopal ChurchMethodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
in 1813 or 1814, very soon after London was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted. In its earliest years, the society's members worshipped in each others' homes, and preaching was rare; London's church was part of a circuit
Circuit rider (Religious)
Circuit rider is a popular term referring to clergy in the earliest years of the United States who were assigned to travel around specific geographic territories to minister to settlers and organize congregations...
of twenty-four Methodist preaching stations. In 1820, the congregation built a log church building on a downtown corner lot; it was the first church building in London. After twenty years, the congregation decided to move. Obtaining property a few blocks
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
away, they built a larger frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
church, 60 feet (18.3 m) on each side, and a brick parsonage
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
.
During the 1860s, the congregation saw many changes. In 1860, the pastor's responsibilities were reduced; except for Kingsley Chapel, a small church near London, he was no longer assigned to serve any churches other than London, and Kingsley later closed. The same year saw the completion of a new brick church building, which was placed on the site of the frame church building; measuring 90 feet (27.4 m) by 40 feet (12.2 m), it cost $7,500 to build. Other buildings were erected in the following few years: a new parsonage was completed in 1863, and a small chapel was added to the church's rear in 1866 by the gift of a member.
Among the congregation's leading past members was Jeriah Swetland
Jeriah Swetland
Jeriah Swetland was an American businessman and local politician in nineteenth-century central Ohio.A native of Springfield, New Hampshire, Swetland was the ninth of ten children born to Roswell and Naomi Swetland. At the age of nineteen, he left home for an apprenticeship in the harnessmaking...
, prominent local businessman and state representative
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
.
Church building
Continued growth produced a need for a fourth church building, and the third building was sold in the early 1890s. Buying a house at 52 N. Main Street, the congregation moved it to a nearby empty lot and renovated it for use as a parsonage. With the house's original location now empty, a larger church was erected on the site. At the time of its dedication on November 18, 1894, it had cost $45,000 to build. This church remains in use to the present day. Designed by the architectural firm of Crapsey and BrownCharles Crapsey
Charles C. Crapsey was an American architect known for his church designs. He trained under James K. Wilson from 1865–1873, worked on his on his own between 1873–1888, and then with Wilson again from 1895-1901. He worked with William R. Brown from 1889–1895 and with E. N. Lamm from 1901-1909...
, it was built in a combination of the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
and Jacobean Revival
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
architectural styles. The church's brick and sandstone walls rests on a foundation of sandstone; they are topped with an asphalt roof, and the building is decorated with wooden and glass elements.
Recognition
In 1996, First United Methodist was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
because of its well-preserved historic architecture.
Today, First United Methodist is a part of the Capitol Area South District of the West Ohio Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. In 2010, it was served by two ministers: Steven Rodgers and Sue McClelland.