CHURCH HISTORY

    Much of the history of the beginning and early years of Miles Memorial United Methodist Church (originally named Ocean View Methodist Episcopal Church, South) is unknown, due mainly to the non-availability of district, circuit and local church records covering those years.  There are no records, apparently, which tell exactly how and when Ocean View Church came to be formed, or the exact date of its establishment.  There are no local church records existing prior to 1932, except a Quarterly Conference record, dated 1927 and 1928, as all were lost from water and termite damage.  The only information found relative to its formation is contained in two brief histories of the church, written in the year 1950.

    Although it cannot be documented, it  appears fairly certain, from these two sources and old news articles, that Methodism had its beginning in Ocean View during the year 1909. 

    Organization of the new Methodist Church occurred most likely on Sunday, April 3, 1910.  On that date, the Reverend L.B. Betty, Presiding Elder of the Norfolk District, held the first known preaching service for the Methodists of Ocean View at the Ocean View schoolhouse, a place already being used by them for their Sunday School.  Such a service, especially when held by the Presiding Elder, indicates, with very good probability, that the organizational meeting for the church was, in fact, held on that date. 

    It is also very probable that some of the charter members of the new church came from the old Denby Church (now Wesley Memorial) at Ward’s Corner, but there are apparently no record existing which could confirm this fact.

    Later in the same year, by action of the Virginia Annual Conference in November, the new church became part of a circuit then known as Bethel, Pine Beach and Ocean View with the Reverend W. P. Wright as its first pastor.  In 1911, Pine Beach was dropped, and in 1912, Ocean View was established as a station.

    The first church building for the Ocean View congregation was erected in 1911, but it served for only a few years before it became overcrowded.

    With the rapid growth in population during and after the first World War, the congregation outgrew the walls of the little church. The old Ocean View School was again used as a meeting place for the Sunday School until 1923, when a two-story, brick, education building was constructed on a site adjoining the old church.

    In 1930, the large social hall on the first floor of this Educational Building was remodeled and converted into a worship sanctuary, and used as such until the church and Sunday School moved to the new building on Grancy Street.

    Also, in 1930, the church acquired its first parsonage, located at 9484 First View Street.

    During the pastorate of the Reverend Henry A. Harrell, which began in 1937, it became apparent that the church facilities were, again, fast becoming inadequate.  As a result, organized action was initiated to raise funds for a large, well-equipped, modern church and educational plant, and in 1944 lots were purchased in the 9400 block of Granby Street for the site.

    In 1939, as a result of the unification action of the three great Methodist Churches, the name of the Ocean View Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was changed to Ocean View Methodist Church.

    Ground-breaking ceremonies for the new church were conducted on Easter Sunday, 1949, and although the sanctuary was not yet completed, Sunday School and church services were begun in the new church on Sunday, March 19, 1950, with the Reverend Mr. Ralph L.Haga conducting the worship services in the social hall.  Services of consecration were held on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950 with the Reverend Mr. Haga preaching at the 10:30 a.m. service, and Dr. Frank L. Wells, District Superintendent of the Norfolk district, bringing the sermon at the 11:30 a.m. service.

    Art glass windows for the sanctuary, depicting the life of Christ from the Annunciation to His Ascension, and for the Chapel, containing the symbols of the four Evangelists, were installed later and dedicated in February, 1953.  Air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary in 1955 and in the chapel in 1969.

    On June 24, 1950, the great benefactor of the church, Captain Rufus Lawson Miles, passed away.  In honor of this great friend the church name was changed, by Quarterly Conference action on October 8, 1950, from Ocean View Methodist Church to Miles Memorial Methodist Church.

    In 1951 a new parsonage was erected on Selby Place near the church. 

    During 1953, when the membership of the church had reached the 1400 mark, Sunday School attendance had reached the point of extreme crowding.  All rooms were in full use, the nursery was greatly overcrowded, a class of little children was using a room next to the choir loft, classes for approximately 100 children were being held in the Recreation Room, and the Fellowship Class was meeting in the balcony.  This made it necessary to consider building additional rooms for the educational plant, but before construction got underway, additional need for space found a class of young people even meeting in the parsonage.  Construction of sixteen additional classrooms, begun in October 1955, was completed in September 1956.

    As the public school educational crisis developed in 1958, action was taken  by the church to permit use of the church building for the tutoring of Junior High and High School students in our particular locality.  A total of 266 students was reported using the facilities in November.

    In June, 1959, two lots on the southe ast corner of Granby Street and Government Avenue were purchased for use as an additional parking area.  A home adjoining these lots, obtained for use of an associate minister, was first occupied, as such, in September, 1960.

    On July 1, 1968, as a result of the uniting action with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the name of Miles Memorial Methodist Church was changed to Miles Memorial United Methodist Church.

    Then, on June 25, 1972, at a great Day of Dedication service with the Reverend Ralph L. Haga bringing the sermon, the church celebrated the retirement of all its indebtedness.

    But physical progress tells only part of the story.  What of its pastors, its members, its Sunday School, it programs, its service to God in the community and in the world?  There is so much to tell but the limits of this brief history make that impossible.

    Many years have passed since the little group met in the Aldrich home and formed a fellowship, and many thousands have passed through the doors of our church and come under its ministry.  Through it, God has wonderfully blessed this church and given us a rich heritage to pass on to future generations.  May its ministry and its influence always continue to be for the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom.