history | avillacalvaryumc

OUR HISTORY

Avilla Calvary United Methodist Church began on April 1, 1962 with the merger of the Avilla Methodist Church, Swan Methodist Church, and Calvary Evangelical United Brethren Church. This formation of the "Calvary Methodist Church of Avilla" was one of the first such mergers in the nation, preceding the denominational union of The Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church by almost four years. The congregation broke ground for the new building on September 11, 1966 and on April 30th 1967, the cornerstone was set in place. The congregation moved into the new facility at 101 S. Cherry Street on October 8th, 1967, moving in procession from the two church buildings on VanScoyoc Street to the current church. Following the denominational merger, the name of the church was officially changed to "Calvary United Methodist Church" on May 20, 1973. The addition containing Sunday school classrooms, fellowship hall, and gym were added in 1992. The narthex was expanded in ???

Since it's inception, the Avilla Calvary United Methodist Church has been served by the following ministers, listed by year of appointment:

1962 Robert Wright

1965 James Lantz

1971 Daniel Stone

1978 Emmett Anderson

1980 Robert Carmin

1986 Ronald Storms

1994 Frank Messinger

1996 Curt Austin

1999 Leonard King

2002 Barbara Cross (Associate Pastor)

2014 Shalimar Holderly