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Zion United Methodist Church was founded in 1822
in the village of Crab Neck, Virginia. In 1846, Zion was listed as part of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and remained a member for the next 93
years. In May 1939, the Methodist Church was created, and Zion became part
of this new Protestant union. The Methodist Church became the United
Methodist Church in 1968 when the Methodist Church merged with the
Evangelical United Brethren.
During the Civil War, Zion was used to
house Confederate prisoners and also as a horse stable. When the Federal
Army left, they dismantled the shell of the church building and used the
lumber to build a hospital in Yorktown. The church was rebuilt in 1866.
Crab Neck was renamed Seaford in
1919. The town and the church continued to grow. Zion Church was once
again remodeled and enlarged. It was still a one-room building with ten
Sunday school classes all in one room, but the main body of the church was
extended and both wings were also enlarged. The furniture that was
purchased for the pulpit is still used today as are the chancel chairs and
communion table. Zion's new cast iron bell hung proudly in the belfry.
At the 1951 Annual Conference, Zion
requested to become a station church and have a full-time pastor. Zion's
membership had grown to 480 by 1952. The current parsonage was completed
in early 1954. With Zion's membership increasing, a committee met to
discuss plans for building a new education annex on the half acre of land
adjoining the church. The new building provided ten classrooms, a large
social hall and kitchen, storage, restrooms, and a stage.
In 1979, Zion's congregation was
enthusiastic at the prospect of a new organ and began to raise funds. By
the end of the project, $68,000 had been raised to purchase the new organ,
renovate the sanctuary, and redecorate the choir room to make it into a chapel.
The organ was installed in April 1985 and was first played on Easter
Sunday.
As the size of the congregation
continued to grow, Zion felt the need to expand once more. After many years
of praying and planning, construction began in 2005. With the enthusiastic
support of church members, a commons area was added, the church offices and
Sunday school rooms were renovated, and an elevator was installed making
the entire church building accessible to all members. This project was
joyfully completed in October of 2006.
A history of
Zion, Zion United Methodist Church 175th Anniversary
Edition, was published in 1997 by Zion’s Historical Committee.
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