History
The earliest record of a Methodist Episcopal Church in New Market is 1831. The "Martin's Gazette" has reference to "the old log church that was built east of the Bushong Home". A block of stone with the date 1857 is located on the wall of the current structure and marks where a frame church building was erected on the present site. In 1898, the old frame building was brick-veneered and extensive remodeling was done to the sanctuary.An early parsonage was replaced in 1912 with a modern stucco home, which still stands across from the church on Congress Street. Over the years, it served as home for twenty ministers and their families until the current parsonage, a two-story brick colonial home, was built in 1972.
In 1931, our name, "New Market Methodist Episcopal Church South", was changed to "Manor Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South" in honor of Annie Manor, a member of the church who gave generously of her resources. At that time, the church was extensively remodeled and an educational wing was added to the rear of the sanctuary.
There were four churches on the New Market Charge in 1939. In 1950, Manor Memorial became a station (one-church) appointment.
In 1965, the Calvary Methodist and Asbury Methodist Churches, both predominantly black membership churches, merged with Manor Memorial. In 1968, at the General Conference, the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Methodist Church, and we became "Manor Memorial United Methodist Church".
Vivian Myers, Church Historian