October 11 will be a special day at First United Methodist Church in downtown Mansfield. Three activities will highlight the 200th Anniversary Celebration.
At 4 p.m. Shawn Dawson, a former member, will present an organ concert. Dawson has a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music. He is full-time Director of Music Ministry/Principal Organist at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield. He will play works from Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, a duet with Paul Dawson by Callahan and will accompany his wife Audrey signing works by Schuman and Quilter.
A Community Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. This dinner will be open to all in the community.
At 7 p.m. Bishop John Hopkins, East Ohio Conference Resident Bishop, will be the Keynote speaker for a Celebratory Worship Service. Bishop Hopkins a native of Indiana, has served east Ohio Conference as Bishop since 2004, He has been in the Ministry since 1972 and is a graduate of Yale Divinity School.
First United Methodist Church has had a special place in the heart of Mansfield for 200 years. All are invited participate in one or all of these events – “Looking Back/Moving Forward”.
First United Methodist Church is located at 12 North Diamond Street, Mansfield.
Looking Back
Two hundred years ago, in 1814, the first Methodist Society in Mansfield was formed by Dr. William P. James, a practicing Physician and ordained Methodist Episcopal Minister. He held services in his log cabin home at the corner of Third and Adams Streets. The first Church Building in Mansfield was built by Methodists at 54 Adams Street.
Mathias Day’s account Book indicated that building materials were paid for with wheat, corn, oats, flour, whiskey etc. The deed for this first building was a gift from James Hedges to the Trustees of the Methodist Society. Names of early members included: Pittenger, Newman, Chapin, Beam, Boyle, Huffman, General James Hedges, Nail and other names associated with early Mansfield.
In 1866 a larger Church became a necessity and the current Church location was purchased for $2700. A large two-story red brick Gothic structure costing $33,000 was dedicated in 1870.
In 1905, it was decided to build a new building in part around the old brick church. The new building made of Sandusky limestone and trimmed in Bedford white stone, was designed as a Gothic order on English styling. The beautiful stained glass windows are reproductions of German Artist Hofmann. These nine windows are outstanding works of art made of opalescent glass.
Tragedy struck during the Christmas season of 1930 when fire broke out. Insured damage was almost $18,000, and the church was unusable for three months. Amazingly, only two of the stained glass windows were damaged and they were fully restored.
More recent improvements to the building were the education wing in 1956, a three story elevator in 1973, stained glass windows in the Chapel and the creation of a History Room.
First Church has been a very real presence in the downtown area for all these 200 years serving the community as well as members. For over 50 years United Methodist Women and others have made their popular “Hard Tack” candy as a fundraiser.
We have hosted our Community Noon Lenten Noon Services in our Chapel for 46 years, allowing persons in the downtown area to worship, and share a fellowship meal, during the lunch hour on the Wednesdays of Lent.
More recently, our Monday evening Supper on The Square was started to provide a free dinner for those in need of food and fellowship. Our community meals now include 3-4 Monday suppers per month, our All God’s Children dinner held with a worship service each Tuesday evening at Main Street United Methodist, and our new Final Sunday Breakfast- held the last Sunday of each month. Our involvement and personal relationship with people in our immediate neighborhoods has been growing through these outreach ministries and our developing partnership with our Mid Ohio District’s All God’s Children mission congregation.
Moving forward
Of more importance are the areas in which we a moving forward. In recent years we have been expanding the use of our facility by opening our doors to other entities. Presently we house Love INC, a Christian clearing house mission in our community; 8 recovery support groups; Right Time, a restorative justice evaluation program; as well as various theatrical and opera groups.
This past year we commissioned a Vision Team to examine our community; our congregation’s strengths and weakness; examples of other vital congregations; and God’s call upon us in this age. The following are just a few highlights of their soon to be released eight page report for moving forward: Install digital media boards on the outside of our facility to announce upcoming events, host Neighborhood block parties and mission days, continue to expand our Cell Group ministries, start and host a Christ based recovery program, start a local chapter of The Neighborhood Transformation Collaborative, add an additional worship service geared toward younger crowd, and hire a Youth Pastor trained in urban ministry.
