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History of Wesley United Methodist Church
Springfield's Benton Avenue Methodist Church was dedicated in September of 1884, setting in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to Wesley United Methodist Church. Here in a nutshell is a synopsis of important dates and events in the life of our church.
In January of 1964, the Springield Distict Site Committee inspected a tract of land on Highway M at Broadway in SW Springfield and voted to recommend its purchase for the development of a new Methodist Church. The Springfield District Board of Missions and the Church Extension voted on Feb 14, 1964 to purchase the six acres where the church currently sits. In July of that same year, both the Quarterly and Church Conferences were held. An outcome of these meetings was for the Benton Avenue parishoners, after 80 years in existence, to vote to close their church. By selling their assets and transfering their holdings Benton Avenue became Wesley's "Mother Church" - and so began Wesley Methodist Church.
Wesley had land and a name, but no buildings in which to meet. Then on October 14, 1964, a trailer-chapel was delivered to the new church site. This was the first meeting place of the new congregation with Rev. William Cundiff, the organizing pastor, delivering the first sermon. No further facilities were yet in place, so the first Sunday School classes were held in the homes of Rev. William Spindler and Mr. and Mrs. Willis Masteron.
Wesley Methodist Church was officially chartered on November 22, 1964. On that first day 137 members received and by the end of 1964, the church had registered 176 "charter members".
The trailer was fine for a beginning but a larger facility was soon needed and a building program ensued. The first buildings erected were Cundiff Hall (the first santuary) and the East Hallway in 1966. Wesley Methodist had a permanent foundation in SW Springfield and was settling into the community, but a name change was soon to come.
In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethern Church and the The Methodist Church merged to form The United Methodist Church. Wesley Methodist finally became known by its now familiar name - Wesley United Methodist Church.
Over the years and under the direction of many senior pastors and lay leaders, the church site has continued to grow with the addition of the current Sanctuary and the West wing, the two-story Educational Wing (1989), and most recently the Christian Life Center (2003).
Through all the growth and building, Wesley has succeeded in winning minds and souls locally, nationally, and internationally by keeping Christ first. We truly feel that whoever you are, you belong at Wesley.
Now that you know the background, we invite you to come join us in seeing where God takes us as we continue to witness His glory!
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