The earliest Methodist church here was located on the hill beside the cemetery and was called “New Hope.” The town, when first incorporated, in 1832 was named “Vienna”.However, the Federal Post Office rejected that name because there was another town in the state by the same name. It began the use of “New Hope”; consequently, some years later the town was reincorporated as “New Hope.”

According to Uncle Billy (W.P.) Nichols in 1939, the old church was standing on the hill before 1850. Even though the town was destroyed by fire during the Civil War, the church was spared and remained until 1924.

At that time the church building was put on rollers and rolled down the hill, through the business section and on to the intersection of Main Drive and Old Gurley Pike. However, the building, believed to have been damaged by the move, was shortly afterwards destroyed by a slight wind.

Then in 1926 a beautiful new brick building with stained glass windows was erected. This building, too, was destroyed in 1943, this time by fire. Once again, though, the building was rebuilt in 1944 and continues in use today.

Any building merely houses the church, for people are the church. We are much more than the people who presently make up this congregation. We join with those who have gone before us, and there is much evidence of this in the many beautiful and useful memorial gifts that constantly remind us of the labor and love of the people who have become part of this church thorughout its history.

Many persons have been instrumental in the building of this faith community that now stands poised for ministry in the 21st century, lay persons and clergy alike. New Hope UMC has been fortunate to have many good pastors and lay leaders to carry on the work.

-- adapted from a history of the church by Elizabeth Carpenter, former Historian