Serving South Arlington Past, Present, & Future!
The history of Arlington United Methodist Church (AUMC) is a rich and faithful one that spans over 150 years. We have always been a people committed to serving Jesus – passionate about sharing the good news of the Gospel and willing to make personal sacrifices so that our mission might be accomplished.
THE EARLY YEARS: 1857 – 1870
The first recorded meeting place of the present Arlington United Methodist Church was Hunter’s Chapel, located at the northeast corner of what is now the intersection of Columbia Pike and Glebe Road. The intersection was known as Hunter’s Cross Roads. A historical marker near the crossing indicates the site of the chapel.
Several families of faith bought the site and erected the one-room wooden church. However, it was seized by Union forces in the Civil War during the spring of 1861, and used as a barracks before being torn apart “for the comfort of the troops.”
THE “IN BETWEEN” YEARS 1870 – 1894
Following the War, services were held in members’ homes and possibly even an itinerant preacher led some of the services until regular services were reestablished. It wasn’t until 1870 that Methodists in the area began worshipping in the old Columbia Schoolhouse at the present intersection of South Wayne Street and Columbia Pike. Unfortunately, very little is known about the activities that took place here.
By 1893 this small but growing band of Methodists began looking forward to building a new church home. Some of their ancestors had been members at Hunter’s Chapel. Five of the faithful led the way. They were Sandford Bradbury, Mrs. Sarah E. Bailey, Mrs. Margaret Wibert, Mrs. Ida Corbett, and Mrs. Emma Buckley.
The site for it was determined when Mr. Bradbury and his wife, Bertha, donated a lot on the north side of Columbia Pike at the present intersection of Edgewood Street. Mrs. Baily shouldered the main burden of raising funds. She solicited contributions from friends and mortgaged her farm for $3,000 to raise the needed money. A loan of $400 was obtained from the Mission Board of the Methodist Church and the deed was acquired for the new property!
For over twenty years these Methodists had worshipped in the schoolhouse and surely had long hoped and worked for a church of their own. We can imagine what a time of gladness and rejoicing it was for them and for the community of Arlington. The move most likely took place in the late spring of 1894.
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THE COLUMBIA PIKE YEARS: 1894 – 1947
The new church on Columbia Pike was a lovely two-room church built of red brick. It had a main auditorium with a pulpit-centered chancel. It appears that Reverend A.M. Munday, who came to the church in 1894, was the first pastor in the new Arlington Methodist Church. He lived at Lincolnia and served that church as well as another on the circuit.
Over the years, the church grew steadily and at last was able to break away from the necessity of having to share a pastor with other churches. During the tenure of Reverend J.M. McCauley (1918-1921), Arlington Methodist became a station appointment. During the first part of the century, a Ladies Aid Society was organized; a new educational building was erected; and a strong Sunday School established. In fact, the attendance at Sunday School was often larger than at the church service!
Population growth in Northern Virginia during World War II brought phenomenal growth. A new site and construction in 1946 and 1947 on the present Glebe Road site was again the product of great sacrifice by pastoral leadership and laity.
THE GLEBE ROAD YEARS: 1947 – PRESENT 
The move into the new building on Glebe Road was an exciting experience for our members. It was the fulfillment of many dreams, the culmination of years of hope, faith, and hard work. The first sermon was preached on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947. Throughout the next chapter of ministry, the church continued to grow and often it was difficult to find classroom space for all of the adult classes. Women and men alike made sacrifices to meet for bible study in the kitchen and the parlor – wherever there was space!
Indeed, AUMC has a long history of developing ministry programs to meet the needs of its community, both then and now. It has always been a church committed to reaching out beyond its walls in whatever way is needed at the time – through music ministries, education and discipleship, pastoral counseling, and even mission teams overseas in places like Haiti.
Today, the congregation of AUMC continues in this faithful and spirit-led tradition of reaching out in the name of Jesus Christ to meet the needs of its community. Our church seeks to be a hub of ministry that partners with over 15 community-based organizations in addition to its own mission and ministry – such as the Children’s Weekday Program, Grace Ministries, the Evergreens, Young Adults, Outreach and Women’s groups that meet for service and fellowship.
As the Lord reminds us in Luke 12:48… “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Throughout its history, AUMC has been a church that the Lord has blessed in many ways and so, we seek to be a church that in turn is a blessing to all we encounter through our ministry.