Epworth Home Welcome
Staff Communication
Groups at Epworth
Service Opportunities Programs
at Epworth News and Calendars
EPWORTH HISTORY 1963-PRESENT
EARLY HISTORY
The first meeting of the group that would become
Epworth United Methodist Church occurred on Friday, January 25, 1963 at
the home of Leo and Gerry Mason. Thirteen people were present. The pastor
was Don S. Grant. Ten months later on November 22, 1963 Epworth was officially
constituted. Services were held in Brookhaven High School and Valley Forge
Elementary School during this time. Membership in late 1963 was 411.
Epworth had a parsonage before Epworth had a church
building. The parsonage, located at 5514 Redwood Rd., was purchased on
June 19, 1963.
The groundbreaking for the original section of
the current church building occurred on February 13, 1966. The 5.5 acre
lot, located at 5100 Karl Rd. (the corner of Karl Rd. and Penworth) in
north Columbus, was donated by the church locations committee of the Columbus
North District of the United Methodist Church. The groundbreaking ceremony
included all Epworthians present.
Construction of the $175,000 facility was led
by a building committee consisting of Richard Culver (chairman), Howard
Downing, James Grimes, and Leo Mason. The architectural firm of Ireland
and Associates was employed to design the building, a roughly cross-shaped
space surrounded by classrooms. The outer walls were sheathed in limestone
and the roof was covered with slate. Epworth held the Service of Consecration
on February 8, 1967.
EPWORTH PASTORS
Don Grant remained the pastor of Epworth for an unusually
long 15 year appointment, 1963-1978. Mark Dove and Christine Smith came
to Epworth as co-pastors. Christine left in 1982 to further her educational
goals out West. Mark Dove pastored Epworth until 1987, when he left to
become district superintendent in Springfield, OH. Ron Payne came to Epworth
and pastored the congregation until 1991, when Bishop Judith Craig appointed
Cyndy Garn to lead Epworth. Cyndy stayed until 1998, when we welcomed our
current pastor, Larry Whittington Clark, PhD.
RECENT HISTORY
In 1995, Epworth began a visioning process and a
space utilization study. These efforts led to the formation of a building
committee that recommended the construction of a formal worship space adjacent
to the existing building. The building committee engaged Robert Euans,
architect, and designed an octagon-shaped worship center for the north
side of the original facility. Construction began in 1997 and Epworth held
a Service of Consecration in October, 1998. The new worship center seats
around 225 in flexible seating. Stained glass windows designed by an Epworth
member surround the congregation. Wired for future technological additions
(projection, sound), Epworth is poised to bring modern mechanics to the
faith community.
In 1999, Epworth restructured worship into two
worship services, a traditional worship service and a contemporary worship
service. Although they share the same theme and message, the worship style
and music style differs between the two services.
SUMMARY
Epworth United Methodist Church is a relatively young
church, now 27 years old. Closely tied to the community, Epworth enjoys
the attendance of many charter or otherwise long-term members. Open to
new things, Epworth has striven to be different than the mainstream. The
history of Epworth continues to evolve. Act faithfully in response to God's
grace through spiritual nurturing and community involvement.