Our History
A SHORT HISTORY
Union United Methodist Church is the result of a 1952 merger of Christ Methodist Church and an older Union Church which was then located on Grandel Square just west of Grand. Union Church has ministered at the present location for 58 years. Christ Methodist, its predecessor on the Watson Road location, was until 1949 known as Harlem Place Methodist. Its original location was on Jamison Avenue. In 1949 it moved to our present location and changed its name. The denomination of which Union is a part changed its name from Methodist to United Methodist in 1968.
You are invited to see a pictorial history of our church in the History Nook located in the church library. The History Nook is unique among St. Louis United Methodist Churches for its fine collection of photographs, newspaper articles and memorabilia dating back to the 1800's.
For a short concise history of Union on the St. Louis City History web site:
Union Church-Grandel Square
1915-1952
ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
One might say that the history of Union Methodist Church can be traced back to 1845, when the first Methodist church in St. Louis, Little Ebenezer Chapel was founded on Washington Avenue between Seventh and Eight Streets. Begun one year after the split in Methodism, this small church struggled for a foothold. For sixteen years it waged a losing fight against slavery. Finally, in 1861, the first year of the Civil War, Ebenezer Chapel was forced to close its doors when its pastor left to become a chaplain in the Army and church members could not pay $800 rent to a southern landowner.
Just six months later on January 1, 1862, some of this congregation, with others, reunited and purchased property at Eleventh and Locust Streets, forming the Union Methodist Episcopal Church, so named because of the loyalty of its eighty members to the Union cause.
After the war the Union Church congregation grew and prospered. In 1880 the building at Eleventh and Locust was sold to the YMCA which, with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, is said to have been organized in that structure. Two years later a new church was built at Garrison and Lucas Avenues. This edifice, surrounded by six other churches of various denominations, stood on what was then known as "Piety Hill."
In 1888 Union Church established a Vandeventer Avenue branch, which later became Grace Methodist Church. Another mission church was later known as Maple Avenue Church. Wagoner and Hagerty churches were built through the aid of Union Church leaders. The latter is now the Webster Groves First Methodist Church.
All too soon Union began to find its constituency moving westward. Determined to minister to the needs of those in the immediate neighborhood as well as to its scattered membership, the church increased its social welfare work. A swimming pool and gymnasium were added, along with a physical education instructor for boys and one for girls. A Chinese Sunday School was organized. Cooking and sewing lessons and many other classes and clubs met in the church throughout the week. However, even though much was being done, this church of 800 members and an active Sunday School of 600 lamented the fact that only a small portion of the community was being reached directly. In 1911 the church was destroyed by fire; it was rebuilt the next year. Finally, in 1914 the structure at Garrison and Lucas was sold to another congregation; and the Union members moved into a church located on Delmar near Grand, later to 3610 Grandel Square.
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In the southwestern corner of Saint Louis, Harlem Place Methodist Church had been organized because of the conviction on one man that every community should have its house of worship. A retired Methodist circuit rider had come to Saint Louis in 1875 and plunged into the real estate business, opening new communities in the suburbs, each with its own church. After developing a subdivision, which he called Harlem Place, he donated a lot at the corner of Jamieson and Fyler to be used for a church. In May 1890 the first services were held at Harlem Place Methodist Church. Weekly church meetings had been held in a nearby house until the time of the church building's completion.
From 1890 to 1896 the growth of the church had been slow but steady. The community was growing and the church was the hub of activity. A severe windstorm in 1896 destroyed part of the building. This caused a serious repair problem; but, with determination and sacrifice, the repairs were done by the few members.
By 1923 the congregation had outgrown their building, and the basement was enlarged. A few years later still more classrooms were added. Before long the membership exceeded 500.
In 1943 it was brought to the attention of the Official Board that the City's Planning Commission provided for the widening of Jamieson Avenue as soon as the end of the war would permit. This meant that the church would have to be removed from the west side of the street. To prepare for the inevitable time of moving the congregation purchased a lot at Watson and Pernod and established a fund to replace the little frame building. After more that half a century Harlem Place Methodist Church was to have a new address and a new name-Christ Methodist Church.
Ground was broken for the first unit of the new church in June 1949, and in April of the following year the long planned move became a reality.
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Meanwhile Union Methodist Church was having its ups and downs. After World War II many changes had taken place in the church community. The younger people had moved away, and their children now attended neighborhood Sunday Schools. Businesses, theaters, and boarding houses had so changed the area around the church that nearly all of the congregation was coming from distant parts of the city. Church officials began to look for a church in a growing community with which this congregation could merge. In 1952 a "Resolution to Merger" was put before the Saint Louis Annual Conference, which united Union and Christ Methodist churches under the name Union Methodist Church.
Little more than a year later, in August 1953, ground was broken for the present sanctuary, which was formally opened December 5, 1954, with consecration ceremonies by Bishop Ivan Lee Holt, who at that time received into membership 112 members of "The Bishop's New Sanctuary Membership Class."
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Like two streams merging into a mighty river, so these two honored and historic churches have become a great congregation. We are grateful to God for the past. Nonetheless we call upon our people "to serve the present age." There can be no better words as Union Church faces the future in faith!
