How Summitt Valley
Came to Be

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Summitt Valley United Methodist Church originated in the year 1916. The first service was held in the Summitt School building located on State Route 21. Some objected to holding the services at the school, so a decision was made to build a new church building in the community. A lot located one-fourth of a mile east on Summitt Road was donated for this purpose. After much hard work, the new church was completed and dedicated on December 16, 1916.

Over the years the church grew both spiritually and in numbers. The church had outgrown the building at Summitt Road. On May 20, 1959 a motion was passed at a quarterly conference to purchase four and five-eights acres of land in Summitt for the site of a proposed new church building. A few years later construction of the new church was completed.

The evening of October 30, 1966 was the final service at the old church. This service marked a historic candlelight ceremony. The congregation lit candles from a candle burning on the altar. Everyone exited the church and blew out their candles as they exited the door. A few torches were lit from the candle at the altar. The entire congregation paraded two by two to the site of the new church. Before entering the new church, all of the candles were re-lit by the torches. The candles were placed in a candleholder at the new altar and in the windows. This new building is the site of our church today.

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