In the 1800's the Mt. Vernon Methodists were part of the Princeton Circuit. The first church building and parsonage were built on a lot on the north side of Fourth Street between Walnut and Mulberry Streets in 1840. A new building was built on Walnut Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets in 1852. This church operated for 53 years.
When the membership outgrew the church on Walnut Street in 1905, it was decided to build again. This time the location was at the corner of Sixth and Main Streets on the present site. The architecture was of the Old Akron Style Church. The back section of the building was added in 1951. It added new classrooms and the area that is presently the parlor.
In 1957 the south wall of the Old Akron Style Church proved to be unsound. The decision was made to tear down the church and replace it with the present Georgian Colonial Style Church. The large stained glass windows from the old church were preserved for the new.
In 1980 First Church had a dream:
A Church with Christ and His message as center
A Church with faith in her people and in a big God
A 'servant church' in which each person young or old is important
A Church that meets the needs of all her people from birth until graduation in eternal life
On Sunday, June 15, 1980 a new education wing and the newly renovated church building were consecrated.
The window you see on the top left photo is now the stained glass that you view on the altar of the sanctuary. Another window was saved and you can see it in the Narthex when you enter the front doors of the church from Main Street.
At the Annual Conference held in Dallas, Texas in 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the United Methodist Church. At that time this church became the First United Methodist Church.
"Our God, we thank you for being so near to us!
As First Church continued to grow the Visionary Committee met and dreams were verbalized. From those dreams Wesley Hall became a reality. The Consecration Celebration for Wesley Hall was held on April 7, 2002. The new building created four new classrooms, a large modern kitchen and gathering room large enough for the fellowship First Church is known for. Also, included in the building are large shower rooms that can handle community emergency gatherings, and for the sports ministry of First, basketball and volleyball boundary lines are inlaid in the floor.
