Wesley Campus 

History

Wesley Church has a long history in Washington, DC.  It was organized under the auspices of Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church on December 24, 1828.  On May 3, 1829, Wesley Chapel, a modest brick structure at Fifth and F Streets NW, was dedicated.  In 1838, Wesley became a separate church and grew to become one of the great congregations of Washington.  In December 1856, Wesley dedicated a new building, one of the largest in the city at that time.  However, the downtown area changed; and in 1921, property on Connecticut Avenue in the Chevy Chase area was purchased.  The last services in the first location were held on February 12, 1922.

Church services commenced at the present location on May 21, 1922, in a tent.  When cool weather arrived, the tent was abandoned and a temporary wooden structure was erected called ”The Shack” (not without affection) by those who worshiped there for nearly three years.

The building erected in 1924 and dedicated on October 25, 1925, now known as “Fellowship Hall,” originally was intended to be the educational wing with the sanctuary to be built later.  Seating was in folding chairs; however, with the delay in starting the additional building, regular pews were finally installed.

The cornerstone of the present Sanctuary wing was laid on April 14, 1957 and the new building was consecrated on December 15, 1957.  Wesley Church not only served the community in which it was located, but in the early years was a missionary church.  It established missions, Sunday Schools and churches in various parts of the city, which became strong independent organizations.

Over the years, stained glass windows were given for the 1957 addition as memorials.  Two of those in the chancel honor the contributions of John Wesley (the founder of Methodism) and his brother Charles Wesley, who also was very instrumental in the Methodist Movement.  A new pipe organ was installed in 1979.

After three years of planning and a successful $450,000 capital funds campaign, an Atrium addition was constructed and later dedicated on April 13, 1997.  The main feature of the Atrium is an elevator, which gave Wesley barrier-free access so that all may enter and all may worship. The Atrium also includes two bathrooms, and an additional entrance that now serves as the main doors for events held in Fellowship Hall.

In the spring of 2009, the Baltimore Washington Conference invited Metropolitan Memorial and Wesley United Methodist Church to be in a cooperative parish relationship, thus joining two dynamic congregations in partnership working synergistically to increase our witness and service in upper northwest Washington, nationwide, and around the world. 

Wesley Today

Today, the Wesley Campus of National United Methodist Church is a joyful and inclusive community of faith, deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus and ecumenical in spirit. As a congregation, we seek to embody what we long for the world to become: welcoming of all persons, respectful of earth and its creatures, concerned for justice and human well-being, alive with the arts, embracing of children, eager to defend the under-privileged and the vulnerable, open to grow and learn. We believe our faith calls us individually and corporately to practice love and reconciliation and thus join Christ’s Spirit in building a better world.

Metropolitan Memorial and Wesley UMC have now fully merged, and are proud to now be known by one name: National United Methodist Church.