History of OUUMC

The Oxford-University United Methodist Church is a worship center for a vibrant and growing congregation: today the membership is over 1,500.

Under the leadership of circuit rider William Craig, the Oxford Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1836, shortly after the first settlers came to the area.  Possibly the earliest organized church in Oxford, the first log building was on Van Buren Avenue, about where the First Baptist Church Family Life Center is now. 

The congregation grew rapidly, and members bought property on Jackson Avenue in 1851, constructing a new building between 10th and 11th Streets in the Henry Hotel/The Abbey area.  A.B. Longstreet, writer, judge, and University Chancellor, was instrumental in the building of the new church, along with J.J. Wheat and L.Q.C. Lamar, distinguished professors at the university; Charles Galloway and W.B. Murrah, who later became bishops; and William Lambuth, the first missionary to China from the church.

On March 1, 1890, the building burned and only the organ and some pulpit chairs could be salvaged.  A new Gothic brick building was built later that year.  Some alterations were made in 1917 to alleviate crowded conditions, and in 1920 fundraising efforts began for a new church; but plans were put on hold after the Depression.  The Reverend J.E. Stephens was appointed minister in 1934 and resurrected the building plans.  It was decided not to renovate and expand at the Jackson Avenue location.  The congregation decided to build a $100,000 church on new property—at the corner of University Avenue and South Tenth.  Construction on the new building began on February 1, 1937.  This facility, the east educational wing and Wesley Hall, was occupied later that year, the first worship service taking place on August 29, 1937.  The local newspaper carried this announcement: “The new $30,000 Methodist church building is one of the finest in the conference.  Containing sixteen class rooms, a beautiful chapel, a large social room with adjoining kitchen, and offices for church officials, it is planned to give ample room for Oxford and University Methodists and university students.”  Because the church is located in a university community, it has always played a nurturing role in the development and support of the University of Mississippi Wesley Foundation.

Soon afterwards, plans for a new sanctuary were made, and the current sanctuary was constructed in 1950.  Wesley Hall, originally built as a sanctuary, was converted for student use.

In 1955 the church bought property on South Ninth Street.  There a new educational building and youth center were completed in 1964.  In 1986 extensive remodeling and refurbishing of the church included connecting the three structures. 

During the integration struggles of the 1960s some members chose to leave Oxford-University Methodist and founded the St. Paul Independent Methodist Church.  Some members wanted to be part of a somewhat smaller church and joined with others in establishing the St. Andrews United Methodist Church.

In 1969 the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church united, taking on the name United Methodist.

In 2000 the church purchased the property directly north of the complex, and on Oct. 23, 2005 the new Activities Center was dedicated.  The multi-purpose educational center has a large kitchen, a gym with state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities, walking track, eight additional classrooms, a conference room, and elevator and three preschool rooms.