Historical Timeline

• 1772-1777: Exhorters and circuit riders organized many Methodist societies in the Morgantown area.
• 1784: Bishop Francis Asbury designated the region beyond the mountains as the “Redstone Circuit” with John Cooper and Samuel Breeze as its riders.
• 1785: Bishop Asbury “preached and baptized” in Morgantown and at Colonel Martin’s (near present-day Fort Martin).
• 1786: Six hundred individuals heard Bishop Asbury on a “great day” in Morgantown.
• 1787: Morgantown became part of the Clarksburg Circuit, Baltimore Conference.
• 1788: Bishop Asbury preached to a “lifeless, disorderly people” here but reported a “fine new chapel” at Colonel Martin’s, considered the first Methodist structure in Monongalia County.
• 1790: Bishop Asbury held a quarterly meeting at Wesley UMC.
• 1792: Bishop Asbury spoke on the interest in academic life that existed in the Morgantown congregation.
• 1801-1803: A small frame church was erected on the site now occupied by the WVU’s Administration building (today’s Stewart Hall) which served all denominations in the vicinity for several years.
• 1806: The congregation was assigned to the Monongalia Circuit.
• 1819: The trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church constructed a brick building at the corner of Pleasant St. and Chestnut St. (known as Long Alley), the first permanent home of the congregation.
• 1824: The Board of Trustees acquired the site of the earlier frame building and converted it entirely to use as a cemetery for all denominations. The congregation became part of the Monongalia Circuit, Pittsburgh Conference.
• 1833: The congregation had grown to the point that it was made a “Station” for the first time with the Reverend Thomas Drummond assigned as its minister. It joined the Uniontown District, Pittsburgh Conference. During the same year, Sunday School was organized with Waitman T. Willey as its first superintendent.
• 1837: Joined the Morgantown District, Pittsburgh Conference.
• 1848: The district designation maintained, but it was now in the Western Virginia Conference, organized July 4 in Wheeling.
• 1849: The church building was destroyed by fire, but the trustees set to work at once to rebuild on the same site.
• 1850: The new church building was completed and was dedicated October 1 by Bishop Edmund S. Janes. The building was long known simply as the “Pleasant Street Church.” At about the same time, a new building in the Flatts was dedicated, too, known as Drummond Chapel in honor of the Reverend Thomas Drummond, the first pastor of the Morgantown Station who was instrumental in organizing this new congregation.
• 1864: The new ratification of the state of West Virginia changed the Conference designation from Western Virginia to simply West Virginia.
• 1877: Reverend John R. Thompson resigned his pulpit to become the second president of West Virginia University.
• 1896: “An ever-increasing number of university students in our midst” was one of the reasons put forth by the trustees for launching a “new church movement.”
• 1897: The trustees sold the burial ground to the state of West Virginia, and the remains of 240 persons were reinterred as the first burials in East Oak Grove Cemetery.
• 1903: Ground was broken for the present building on April 14 with a pick and shovel supplied by the Baker Hardware Company. The cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on October 19.
• 1904: The building was completed at a final cost of more than $103,000. Twilight services were held in the partially completed structure July 3. Two weeks later, the old bell, a survivor of the fire of 1849, was carried up High Street in a colorfully decked wagon and installed in the belfry of the new building. Dedication ceremonies began November 20 and continued through the entire week.
• 1939: The year of the union of three largest branches of Methodism. The congregation assumed its present designation as Wesley Methodist Church, Fairmont District, West Virginia Conference.
• 1943: On May 19, 300 persons assembled for a ceremonial burning of the bonds-the first time the congregation had been totally free of debt since 1903.
• 1949: Wesley Youth Center was completed and dedicated, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Davis.
• 1951: The new sanctuary was completed and dedicated, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Christopher.
• 1963-1964: On the eve of this 60th anniversary observance, the Official Board created a Quadrennial Planning Committee charged with outlining the church’s responsibilities and needs in the years ahead. A Building Committee resulted from this charged with implementing portions of the Quadrennial Planning Committee’s recommendations.
• 1968: The Methodist Church merges with The Evangelical United Brethren Church to become the United Methodist Church.
• 1976: A sanctuary sound system was installed in memory of Edna Dudderar.
• 1984: This date marks the congregation’s 200th year in Morgantown.
  An old bulletin from the 1920s reads: “Founded in 1784, visited by Francis Asbury July 10, 1785.”
• 1995: Installed new heating and air conditioning system with a seed gift from Hazel Ruby McQuain. Purchased new parsonage on Rotary Street.
• 1996: A Major Funds Campaign was launched to raise approximately $500,000 for church renovations and updates.
• 1997: Major renovations and remodeling of the church and Davis Gym began along with exterior stonework.
• 2002: A church van was purchased to enhance the church’s ministries.
• 2003: Wesley UMC’s membership again exceeds 1,000 and average worship attendance is 485 to 525 per Sunday. Major building projects continue under the Board of Trustees’ direction for fellowship hall, stained glass windows, numerous projects in the Davis Gym, audio/video recording studio and electrical upgrades, and locker rooms. A major renovation of and addition to the Tower Bells was undertaken. With a major gift from the Mary-Jane English family, the bells were completely restored, and three new bells were cast, bringing the total to 14 plus the original tolling bell.
• 2004: The church celebrates 100 years at its present location as growth within the congregation continues.
• 2015: New High Street handicap accessible entrance completed. Elevator from main level installed for access to all floors except basement. Haden Chapel was relocated to make room for the church office and nursery. Classrooms were moved and renovated.
• 2016: A small kitchen prep area was added to the main floor across from the Lecture Room allowing for easier access for event preparation.
• 2020: Wesley UMC launched livestream services on YouTube and Facebook to connect with the congregation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This online engagement continues today to reach our neighbors near and far.   

Our Ministers, 1833-Present

Thomas Drummond, 1833-1834
James Mills, 1834-1835
George S. Holmes, 1835-1836
H. Gilmore, 1836-1838
J. Stinchcomb, 1838-1839
J. Spencer, 1839-1841
W. D. Lemon, 1841-1843
John R. Coil, 1843-1844
Edward Burkett, 1844-1846
S. B. Dunlap, 1846-1847
Isaac McClaskey, 1847-1848
J.D. Cramer, 1848-1849
Jacob S. Patterson, 1849-1851
S. G. J. Worthington, 1851-1853
William Hunter, 1853-1855
Thomas H. Monroe, 1855-1857
James Drummond, 1857-1859
Gideon Martin, 1859-1861
J. B. Blakeney, 1861-1863
D. T. Daugherty, 1863-1864
Benjamin Ison, 1864-1867
J. D. Onins, 1867-1868
E. T. Pitcher, 1868-1870
W. M; Mullenix, 1870-1873
Edward W. Ryan, 1873-1876
John R. Thomson, 1876-1877
William R. White, 1877
Samuel Steele, 1877-1878
Winfield C. Snodgrass. 1878-1881
Thomas B. Hughes, 1881-1883
Waitman T. Willey, 1883-1884 (lecturer)
Clark Crawford, 1884-1886
William R. White, 1886-1889
J. A. Fullerton, 1889-1890
M. F. Dryden, 1890
William R. White, 1891
S. Hamilton Day, 1891-1895
Albert Cameron, 1895-1898
S .V. Leech, 1898-1902
Millard F. Compton, 1902-1907
Charles K. Jenness, 1907-1914
H. W. Ewing, 1914-1918
E. A. Lowther, 1918-1920
W. E. Lowther, 1921-1929
Sheridan W. Bell, 1930-1934
Joseph C. Hoffman, 1934-1937
W. Sproule Boyd, 1937-1947
T. Leroy Hooper, 1947-1957
Aldred P. Wallace, 1957 -1960
Jennings H. Fast, 1960-1969
E. David DuBois, 1969-1974
Robert B. Engle, 1974-1978
Frank L. Shaffer, Jr., 1978-1982
Ross M. Evans, 1982-1985
William D. Slates, 1985-1990
Richard L. Wright, 1990-1997
Ken A. Ramsey, 1997-2008
Michael Atkinson, 2008-2015
Randall Flanagan, 2015-2021
Martha Ognibene, 2021–present