For more than 75 years, Myers Park United Methodist Church has stood as a spiritual and architectural landmark in Charlotte. Founded in 1925 by a group of 10 local businessmen, the church held services for its original 100 members in the chapel of nearby Queens College (now Queens University). In March 1929, construction began on a new English Gothic-Style Sanctuary on property bought at the corner of Queens and Providence roads. Designed by Louis Asbury Sr., the building featured a distinctive tower, pointed arched windows, exquisite stonework and sat about 700 people. The cornerstone was laid on June 9, 1929. The stone came from the same Hillsborough quarry as the source of stone used to build Duke Chapel. One year later (March 30, 1930), the first church service was held in the remarkable new sanctuary.

In the 1930s, membership grew to more than 500. The J. Luther Snyder Educational Building replaced the wooden huts that had housed Sunday School and youth activities.

The 1940s saw more additions: Beautiful stained glass windows in the Sanctuary, a new church library and Through The Week School (now The Children’s Circle) for pre-school children.

In 1947, a carillon was installed in the bell tower. By 1950, more than 1,300 people belonged to the church and more significant changes were made to the sanctuary. The most obvious change was the divided chancel, which replaced the platform pulpit and elevated choir loft behind.

At the same time, a room was provided behind the divided chancel for a new pipe organ. The Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ was bought for $50,000 and dedicated on May 18, 1950. (The estimated value after the 1997 renovation was $850,000 to $900,000.) In 1995, the carillon was renovated and supplemented with 13 new bells.

Highlights of the 1950s included expanded missions, especially overseas, and the addition of Owenby Hall. Myers Park United Methodist continued to grow its membership, facilities and outreach ministries in the 1960s. The church’s 2,600 members contributed to building a church in India, as well as to outreach projects in Appalachia and around Charlotte. The new Youth Building and major renovations for office space and the library were completed.

The church’s 50th Anniversary in 1975 was marked by substantial budget increases for local outreach ministries in the areas of poverty and hunger ministries. Membership also increased to nearly 3,000.

In the 1980s, the Stephen Ministry began and missions remained a priority. During this time, a successful capital campaign raised $1.6 million for major church renovations.

By the end of the decade, the church’s 4,000 members and new programs, such as the more informal, contemporary Church In The Round service, had put a strain on existing facilities. In response, church leaders created and began implementing a strategic plan in 1994. In the subsequent Building on Our Beliefs capital campaign, the congregation raised $16.3 million, with 10 percent of contributions committed to outreach projects.

In 1994, Myers Park UMC church leaders began considering a solution to a fortunate, but troubling dilemma: our church had simply grown beyond its available facilities for worship, education and service. After considerable study and consensus seeking among the congregations, the church proposed a Building On Our Beliefs capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation and expansion program.

In 1995, the congregational raised $5 million in response to capital needs at the church and needs of other organizations. The campaign benefited organizations such as Africa University, Bethlehem Center and Habitat for Humanity.

In 2000, church members raised the $16.3 million needed to make these improvements and provide an increased commitment to outreach. Three years later, construction was completed on 66,800 square feet of new space and renovations that nearly doubled the existing church complex. This remarkable transformation of our church facilities lays the foundation for building current and future ministries to our congregation and community.

In early 2003, construction was completed on the new and renovated church facilities. Using the same stone from the original quarry that supplied construction for the Sanctuary, the additions enhanced not only the church’s physical presence, but also its ministry, worship and outreach programs.