Wooster United Methodist Church

 

WUMC 201509 -1Wooster Village was a preaching place on the circuit of the American Episcopal Church as early as 1811. By 1819, a Wooster Methodist Society was incorporated as the Church of the Tabernacle. On land received from Joseph H. Larwill, the first church building was built on the NE corner at North and Grant Streets at a cost of $1200. As attendance grew, a larger structure was needed, so in 1839, the original building was razed and a larger one was built on the same site at a cost of $2700.

In 1872, dissensions among the congregation had developed and a splinter group left the congregation and started Trinity Methodist. They leased the unused Episcopal Church for worship until 1874, when D.Q. Liggett purchased property on the SE corner of Market and Larwill Streets and presented it to the congregation. A Gothic style church was built on this site  and dedicated January 24, 1875. The cost was $9,000. It was named the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. Architect was C.M. Amsden of Wooster.

On February 28,1886, the Church of the Tabernacle burned to the ground. This led to the reunion of the two congregations. The combined membership of 500-600 taxed the capacity of Trinity Church, so that building was razed and a much larger one erected on the same site at a cost of $26,000. The press referred to the structure as “the finest house of worship in Ohio.” Weary and Kramer of Akron were the architects. The building may have been completed in late 1886, for that date appears on the colored glass panels on the west side (front) of the church. It was dedicated on May 8, 1887.

The dimensions of the building were 70 feet fronting on N Market and 117.5 feet on E Larwill. The distance from the ground to the top of the spire is 125 feet.

Marshall Bros. of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania furnished the cathedral stained glass according to the Jacksonian Paper on November 25, 1886.

An educational building, originally named the Education and Recreation Building because it provided a gymnasium, was added to the east side of the original building in 1926.

During 1951, a major outside repair and remodeling program for the sanctuary was begun. Later, the front of the church was renovated and a new Aeolian-Skinner organ was built. More classrooms, offices, a library, small chapel, and kitchen were added by extending the building to the south in 1961, which required the razing of the parsonage. Along with the addition of this new Education Building, there was also extensive remodeling and refurnishing of Sunday School rooms, parlor, and kitchen.

The official name of the church was changed again in 1968 to The United Methodist Church of Wooster, Ohio.

Air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary and Wesley Hall in 1990. A chapel was created from existing space in 1991 and, that same year, “The Pit” was remodeled into an attractive activity room for groups of all ages. It is now known as “Miller Hall.” The gym was remodeled in 1992, and the next year, new land was developed for a 50 car parking lot. The year 1995 included construction of a new entrance and handicapped accessibility, including an elevator, and renovation of the chancel platform and choir space. Turney Lounge was also remodeled into two conference rooms the following year. In 2011, the gym was renovated once again to become our Youth Center.

Interesting dates in our history:

  • 1811—William Gurley was a Circuit Rider to villages north of Mount Vernon and east of Mansfield, including Wooster.
  • 1816—Wooster Village placed on Mansfield Circuit.
  • 1819—A Wooster Methodist Society incorporated as “Church of the Tabernacle” received land at North and Grant streets from Joseph Larwill.
  • 1825—The first church building was built for $1,000 and included a loan of $204.68. Wood for heating was $12 per year.
  • 1839—The old building was pulled down and a better edifice erected.
  • 1872—A splinter group left and built “Trinity Methodist Church” at Market and Larwill. They had leased the Episcopal Church for two years before they were able to build a new building, calling it “Trinity Methodist.” It was dedicated in 1875.
  • 1886—The 36 year old building at North and Grant burned to a shell. The Trinity pastor and congregation invited a merger. As they merged, the building became so crowded, it was razed and a larger one erected at E Larwill and N Market for $26,000.
  • 1924-26—Sunday School building and gym was built for $78,000.
  • 1961—New Education building built.
  • 1992—First Disciple Bible Study.
  • 1996—First Stephen Ministers commissioned.
  • 1998—Disciple Bible Study: Over 150 graduates of Disciple I since inception.
  • 2004—On August 18 the chimney was struck by lightning. Repairs and replacements were made in response to flying bricks which caused holes in the roof, damage to the glass entrance and subsequent water damage to the educational wing.
  • 2006—A new ramp was built as an act of inclusion.
  • 2008—Renovation of Kitchen and Wesley Hall.
  • 2011—Organ rebuilt by Schantz Organ Co. in Orrville.
  • 2011—Third floor renovated into Youth Center in memory of Donna Jeanne Gault Bauman.
  • 2012-2013—Portals campaign completed which provided funds to refurbish stained glass windows in Minnesota and install new monitors and cameras in the Sanctuary
  • 2014—Purchase of Graven house.
  • 2015-2016- Participated in Beta testing for Fast Track Disciple Bible Study.