About Us
"This Church (Fairview M.E.) of Fairview Village, was organized on the 11th day of July in the year of Our Lord 1920, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in the Church Room. Fifteen persons were admitted into the Church as Full Members..." Thus begins the Historical Record Book of Fairview Village United Methodist Church. For those who have been associated with our church for a long while, the litany is very familiar: on November 19,1919 a group of dedicated Christians gathered in a room over Weiss 5 & 10 Store, located at 2961 Yorkship Square. (Years later this second floor became the Fairview Public Library. Weiss's later became Louie Yablonsky's 5 & 10 Cent Store, and now is a Medical Center Building.)
The Primary Department, which had a small pump organ, met in a room 6 by 8 feet long. Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. H. Haig, and Mrs. Herbert Taylor taught 12 children ranging in age from 2 to 12. The congregation consisted of 20 to 25 people. A small choir was formed. This was the beginning of our church.
The place of meeting became inadequate, so we moved across the street to above what was then Strang's Drug Store, and later Lenny's Real Estate Office, 2977 Yorkship Square. The following year (1920) we organized "fully by the methods of the M.E. Church Discipline." Our first pastor, Elwood C. Hoey, received the magnificent salary of $200 per year. . .payable in monthly installments!
In 1924 ground, given to us by the US Government, was broken for our first building and it was dedicated November 23rd of that year. The original building, which was not very large, is still in use. . .currently housing the church-hour nursery.
The years 1927 and 1928 saw a good deal of progress and growth, as an addition was added to the building which would become the "newer" sanctuary (this is now used for our summer worship services) and an attic was added.
Our membership increased from 15 in 1920 to 101 in 1927. By faith, new projects were undertaken and some of our members mortgaged their homes to enable our church to continue its growth, both physically and spirtually.
In 1940, another addition was added which is currently the Dale R. Williams Memorial Study. This area formerly housed our kitchen and it doubled as a classroom for Sunday School. We were still growing. We grew so much that we found it necessary, in 1959, to construct a new sanctuary which included a Fellowship Hall for social activities and Sunday School. The first service was held on December 20, 1959.
We speak of church history. . .and we think of the building. But more than that, the church is PEOPLE; and each person who has entered this building, who has joined the church's fellowship, who has participated in any way, has become a part of the history of Fairview Village United Methodist Church. It has been enriched because of the Spirit which has driven us to this place; the love and concern among our church-family members and friends; that love which has been shown to us through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. It is through Him that this church has its existence. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!