United Methodist Historical Society of Ohio
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Established in 1839

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

 
 

The intention of the Commissions and the United Methodist Historical Society of Ohio (UMHSO) is to recognize the founding date of the church. However, we leave it up to the congregation to use the date they have been celebrating as their anniversary. We have found that some of the dates various churches use to celebrate anniversaries are:

 

1. First circuit rider in the community

2  First organized “class meeting”

3. Year when the congregation first appears in conference/district records

4. Dedication of the first church building

 

The date considered to be “the” starting date can also be affected by congregational name changes and mergers. If the congregation has had name(s) changes or mergers, it should go back to the earliest name or the earliest start date of the individual merged congregations. The church may want to recognize and celebrate the intermediate name changes, building anniversaries or mergers; but, the age of the congregation should go back to the earliest date (see examples 1- 4 above). 

 

It is the consensus of the UMHSO Executive Committee that the local church should continue to use the date they have been celebrating.

 

Recent Church Anniversary Certificates Presented   

               

Canal Lewisville United Methodist Church

150th Anniversary celebrated on 7 June 2020

 

Ridgewood United Methodist Church                                  

150th Anniversary celebrated on 22 September 2019

 

Keene United Methodist Church                                           

200th Anniversary celebrated on 16 December 2018

 

Salem United Methodist Church of Wyandot County        

150th Anniversary celebrated on 30 September 2018

 

The United Church of Berea                                                  

175th Anniversary celebrated on 30 September 2018

 

Shiloh United Methodist Church                                           

175th Anniversary celebrated on 26 September 2018

 

Ontario United Methodist Church                                         

100th Anniversary celebrated on 30 October 2017

 

Adamsville United Methodist Church                                   

175th Anniversary celebrated on 17 September 2017