Our History

United Methodist Church of Geneva

A Downtown Church: Loving God ~ Loving Neighbor

The United Methodist Church of Geneva traces its beginnings to the circuit rider. A Methodist New England preacher by the name of Hiram G. Warner came to a small settlement on the Fox River in 1837. By 1850, the small group of 79 members was able to erect the very first Methodist church in Geneva, a tiny 30×40 foot structure. A second Methodist church, the Swedish Methodist Church was founded in Geneva in 1871 to serve the needs of the growing Swedish population. Their first church building was purchased in 1873 at the northeast corner of First and James Streets.

As ties with the old country loosened, their name changed to the Emmanuel Methodist Church and in 1907 they erected a new structure at Third and Hamilton, which still stands today.  Meanwhile The First Methodist Church of Geneva had also continued to prosper.  In 1874 a new church building was dedicated at the corner of Second and Hamilton Streets. The two churches became one, The Methodist Church of Geneva in 1948. With the combining of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren denominations, the local church became the United Methodist Church of Geneva on August 9, 1969.

Along with the population of the northwestern Fox Valley area, the congregation continued to grow.  A southwest addition was constructed in 1958, a three story addition to the north (including a basement, Sunday School rooms, kitchen and large meeting room) was dedicated in 1982. As the area population explosion became apparent, a decision was made to commit to the heart of Geneva and remain a ‘downtown’ church.

A new sanctuary and office wing to the north of the original stone building were added and consecrated January 31, 1999.  This structure increased our sanctuary capacity to over 450 seats, turned our old sanctuary into Fellowship Hall, expanded our Sunday School classrooms, established an adequately sized choir room and created a library and office space for the ever-expanding congregation.