History

What is the origin of the term "Methodist"?

John Wesley and his brother, Charles, formed what we might call a study group today, that included prayer and scripture when they attended Oxford University. They were nicknamed "Methodists" because of their disciplined and methodical nature, and the Methodist name stuck.

Why did John Wesley start a new church?

Ironically, our founder did not intend to form a new denomination. He intended only to create a renewal movement. He called the groups he formed Methodist Societies.

His brother, Charles Wesley, wrote over 6,000 hymns. 51 can be found in our current hymnal, including "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today".

When was the Methodist denomination started?

As a denomination the United Methodist Church has its roots in lay ministry, men and women alike, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the colonial days of this country, many Methodist Societies came together to form what is now the third largest Christian denomination in the world.

When was the church in Jefferson City established?

The first Methodist congregation was formed in 1837 by four men who came to the area from a variety of places: Peter McClain from Ireland, John Curry from Virginia, Jesse Waldron and William Kerr, both from Tennessee. By 1841 the Missouri Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church had appointed the first full-time pastor: Jesse Bennet.

Two years later the first church was built, but soon after, the Methodist church divided into two denominations, North and South. The church in Jefferson City became part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. During the Civil War, while Jefferson City was under direct control of the Union, the church almost died out completely.

The church quickly revived after the war and built a new church, next to the old one, in 1874. Over the next twenty years, the church grew to such size that by the late 1890's a new church was needed again! In 1898 Arthur Barnes was appointed the pastor, and under his leadership a new church was built. Although our address has remained the same since 1901, we have continued to grow and expand. The Carson Annex was added in the 1950's, and in 1984 work was completed on the the latest expansion which includes the Christian Life Center.