Yellow Springs United Methodist Church

The Yellow Springs United Methodist Church had humble beginnings in 1840 when a Circuit Rider visited an interested group of Christians who gathered at a hoop-pole school house on Hyde Road. They joined with another small group on the Union Circuit and formed the Society of Methodists which met in the Brown family’s barn. Deciding the outdoors would make a better place to meet, they found a clearing for their second meeting. However, it was soon apparent that meeting in members’ homes would work best. An even better solution was proposed by Judge William Mills, one of the members, who donated some land at the corner of Dayton and Corry Street for the first church building. In May of 1842 the building was dedicated.

Since this land bordered the railroad, the property increased in value, so Judge Mills donated a second piece of land at the corner of Dayton and Winter Street to become the new location for the Methodist Church. He agreed to finance it and make it a little larger to clinch the deal. The church members added a bell and the new building was dedicated in May of 1850.

In 1866 the members added an extension to the west. Two wings enlarged the church again in 1910 and at this time the large stained glass windows went in to both lighten the sanctuary as well as to announce that the building was definitely a church.

A church needs an organ, so Polly Cox, a long-time member, decided to find financing to purchase one. She contacted Andrew Carnegie and convinced him to give the church the money to purchase the first organ. Sadly in 1936 a fire destroyed part of the building and the members met in the Odd Fellows Hall for a year while the church was restored. During the fire, students from Antioch helped remove pews and pass them out of the windows to keep them from being water damaged.

The organ did not fare as well as the building and continued to be harder to play, emitting strange sounds in the middle of songs. In 1947 the Nosker brothers purchased an organ from a mansion that was being torn down in Dayton. The organ was installed in the church and dedicated that year. Additional furniture and appointments for the chancel were added to the sanctuary for another dedication in 1948.

The church expanded again in 1952 when the education wing was added. The members literally “dug in” and added a tunnel to connect the two buildings underground.

The most recent construction was completed in 2006 with the addition of new steps on the Winter Street and Dayton Street entrances and a handicapped ramp. Additional improvements were an inside elevator, a new kitchenette, and a bathroom.

The church building has undergone many changes, but adherence to the Methodist Church doctrine and beliefs has guided the membership in meeting the challenges of maintaining a vibrant Christian community in Yellow Springs.