Founded by Judge Benjamin Carpenter in 1814, our church started in a barn when American Methodism was only 30 years old. The village of Sunbury was still two years in the future.

The Sunbury Methodists moved from the barn to the school on the southwest corner of the square, where they continued to meet until 1838 when a new meeting house was built on North Columbus Street.

The meeting house lasted for 60 years. It was in was in such bad repair that it was torn down to make way for a larger Victorian structure on the same site. The Sunbury Methodists met in this building on North Columbus Street, with an addition of a basement fellowship hall and a kitchen, for nearly 60 years. By the 1960’s, it was too small for a growing congregation.

Around 1960 we obtained 12 acres of land on the edge of town from Russell and Mary Ellen Miller. In the late 1960’s church members took on a large debt to build a new two-level structure. Faith, plus lots of hard work from dedicated members, saw the mortgage paid in six years.

This church was built with the idea of adding an educational wing in the future. As the church grew and more and more Sunday school classes were meeting in places like the balcony, kitchen, pastor’s study, and church office, it was time in the early 1980’s to plan for such an addition. Ground was broken for a 7000 square foot addition in 1987 and the project completed in October 1988.

The addition includes the present music room, pastors’ offices, work room, church office and kitchenette, along with Sunday School classrooms. As part of the project, the kitchen was enlarged and upgraded; the chancel area was remodeled; the narthex was enlarged; the upper parking lot was enlarged; and a new roof was installed on the existing building. The total project cost $538,000, and it has helped us to greatly expand our ministries.

This history gives us a proud heritage. With the same dedicated commitment as in the past, we look forward to serving the Lord for many years to come.