HISTORY OF CUMC

The first Methodist service in the Centerville-Washington Township area was held in 1809 at Henry Opdyke's cabin, northeast of Centerville near the present intersection of Alex-Bell Road and Wilmington Pike. A new log church was build south of Centerville in 1813 and named the Rehoboth Church. This log church was later replaced by a brick building, and services continued there into the 1880s. Today only the cemetery remains to mark its existence.

1n 1815, the Rehoboth Church divided over the issue of slavery. Part of the congregation departed and formed the Hopewell Congregation, meeting on a farm south of town. It was this congregation that joined with Methodists in the town of Centerville to form a new church in 1833. The congregation purchased land on East Franklin Street from Centerville founder, Aaron Nutt, for $40 and built a stone church. That building housed the congregation until 1867, when a larger red brick sanctuary was constructed. In 1924, women of the congregation cleaned the old bricks, which were reused in the inner wall of the new building. Demolition began in the spring of 1924; the new cornerstone was laid in August; and the building was dedicated on January 25, 1925.

After World War II, the Centerville-Washington Township community began to grow at an unprecedented rate. As one of the three churches in the community, CUMC welcomed many of the newcomers to worship with its congregation. The CUMC congregation continued to plan for the future. Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary occurred in May 1973. The cornerstone was laid in October and the new building as dedicated on September 15, 1974. The old sanctuary was renovated in 1982 and renamed Heritage Hall.

The purpose and mission of CUMC became a focal point for the 1990s. In 1991 we began our covenant relationship with the Dornons, medical missionaries in Nepal. Beginning with a class called, "Searching for Inner Peace" in 1992, the Serenity Ministries, under the direction of Roger Wright, were developed and have served many people in our congregation and community. In 1996, the Vision 2000 group released a mission statement for CUMC and the first Disciple Bible classes began. Four members of the CUMC congregation were consecrated as the first Serenity Ministers in October 1997. A healing ministry, including monthly healing services, was added to our programs in 1999.

Concerns about the physical home of the CUMC congregation led to the formation of a Building Committee in 1994. Two years of fundraising culminated in the June 6, 2000 Church Conference that authorized the construction of the new educational/office addition. The consecration of the new building on September 9, 2001, was the culmination of years of dreams, plans, and prayers. More importantly, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of CUMC.

Since 2001, the focus of our congregation has been ministry development and community outreach. New ministries for children, youth, young adults, new parents, families and senior adults continue to be developed and expanded. The Serenity Outreach Ministries, under the guidance of Roger Wright, have continued to grow. Serenity Ministers facilitate classes and support groups, offer health ministries, visit and support member or our congregation no longer able to attend worship regularly. Serenity Care Ministers assist pastors with hospital and nursing home visits. Serenity Prayer Ministers pray faithfully for the congregation and the community and have started new Prayer and Healing services now offered monthly on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings here at CUMC, and Mondays at Sycamore Glen Retirement Center. Youth Ministries are flourishing under the guidance of Dr. James Dunaway with confirmation classes, Sunday School, youth fellowship and summer mission work camps. New Children’s Ministries include Genesis Gang, a Saturday gathering of children grades 3-6, Tween pre-confirmation program and congregational support for local schools through our Community Education Partnership. Mission adventures grow through partnerships with St. Paul UMC, Kairos Prison Ministry and through Volunteers in Mission programs in New Mexico, Mexico and Nicaragua. CUMC continues a tradition of community development and faith sharing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.