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Welcome to Hopewell UMC!
Hopewell United Methodist Church is a friendly and caring
congregation and one of the fastest growing churches in the Eastern
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. We are led
by enthusiastic leaders, staff,
and volunteers who focus on God's Word and
it's application to our needs and those of our community. We would like
to share Hopewell with you. Won't you join us today to learn
of God's Word, pray for His blessings, and
worship Him with glad hearts?
Our Branching Out In Faith building campaign
Beginning in 2001, Hopewell undertook a major building expansion project. Here's a look at our new facility.
A Brief History of Hopewell Church
Over two hundred years ago, the area around Hopewell was
served by circuit riders, preachers on horseback. These preachers were
members of Lovely Lane Meetinghouse in Baltimore. They traveled the Eastern
Shore of Maryland and moved north into Pennsylvania.
Records show that in 1783, Francis Asbury began to meet with James Batten's class and members of Benson's Chapel in Eagle, PA, a nearby village. These two groups combined and built a small log chapel on the hilltop north of Batten's home. From this humble beginning, Hopewell Church was born. There is no written record of how the name changed from Batten's to Hopewell United Methodist Church, because vital records were destroyed when a raging fire consumed the church parsonage where the information was kept.
 Hopewell's
First Church
A new building was erected in 1843 on the site of the current
Hopewell cemetery. In 1867, a replacement church building was constructed
on the present location of the Chapel. The cornerstones
of this building now grace the lower hall of the Chapel. This beautiful
structure, serving as the church's Sanctuary until completion of the current
Sanctuary in 1990, was constructed in 1913.
The Education Building, (formerly a free standing structure,
and now integrated into the "mall" adjacent to the Sanctuary), was built
in 1958, helping to meet the expanding needs of worship, education and
fellowship. The congregation of 350 members worked to raise the necessary
money to build the new wing.
 The Bower Chapel
Major construction was started in 1989, resulting in the completion of the new larger Sanctuary, full-court basketball size Family Life Center, renovated and modernized office space, additional class rooms and meeting areas, and additional restrooms. Hopewell moved into its new Sanctuary on Easter Sunday of 1990. In 1994, the former Sanctuary was dedicated as the "Donald J. Bower Memorial Chapel" in honor of a beloved pastor of 26 years who went to be with the Lord while serving this church.
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