Manchester United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manchester United Methodist Church |
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The 1859 chapel
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| Location | 129 Woods Mill Road, Manchester, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | United Methodist |
| Previous denomination | Methodist Episcopal |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Membership | Over 3,200 |
| Weekly attendance | 1,000+ |
| Website | http://www.manchesterumc.org |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Manchester Methodist Episcopal Church |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Style | Originally Greek Revival |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Construction cost | $6,389.00 (1859) |
Manchester United Methodist Church (also known as Manchester UMC) is a large and active United Methodist church in Manchester, Missouri. It was one of the first churches built in the western part of St. Louis County. The church is recognized for its history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the biggest United Methodist churches in Missouri, with over 2,700 members. In 2019, about 1,069 people attended services each week.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
Before the church building was constructed, people in the area gathered for Methodist services. It's not clear exactly when the first services were held. In 1844, the Methodist Church divided into different groups. The local group joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Building the First Chapel
Construction for the church's first chapel began in 1856. By 1859, Sunday School classes were already being held in its basement. The chapel officially opened later that year. This original building cost about $6,389 to build.
Growing the Church Campus
Over the years, the church campus grew. In 1965, an educational building and offices were added. These new buildings were located west of the old chapel. The educational building has two stories and twelve rooms. The church office building also has two stories.
In 1968, work started on a new main worship area, called a sanctuary. This building had a modern colonial style. Just north of the church buildings, there is a cemetery that belongs to the church.
Changes to the Original Chapel
The first chapel was a brick building with a stone foundation. It was built in the Greek Revival style. Originally, it had two separate entrances, one for men and one for women.
Updates and Expansions
The newer sanctuary was made larger in 1984. The educational building was also updated at that time. The sanctuary received another update in 1993. In 1997, construction began on an even newer and larger sanctuary. This big new worship space opened its doors in 1998.
Pastors and Wartime Services
The first official pastor of the church was Wesley Browning. During the American Civil War, the church continued to hold regular services with its ministers. This was quite unusual in Missouri during the war.
Community and Music
In 2003, the church started an annual Fair Trade Market. This market is a large event in the United States where people can buy products that support fair wages for workers. This project was started by Kellee Sikes, Plowsharing Crafts, and the Justice Advocates of Manchester United Methodist Church.
In 2015, the large pipe organ in the sanctuary was rebuilt and made bigger. This organ is very special. It has the only movable five-manual console in Missouri. It is also the largest hybrid organ (meaning it uses both pipes and digital sounds) in this part of the country.
