Our History
Our namesake
«If the Gospel is anything, it is grandly and terribly much. If it is true, it is the best news the world has ever heard. Therefore, it is inconceivable that anyone would hear it and believe it and then fail to proclaim it. «
Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes (1866-1950)
American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bishop Hughes was born on December 7, 1866 in Moundsville, West Virginia, the son of the Reverend Thomas B. and Louisa (Holt) Hughes. He married Isabel Ebbert on June 8, 1892. They had six children: Isabel, Holt, Ebbert, Caroline, Anna Louise and Francis.
He attended West Virginia University beginning in 1887 and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1889 (AB degree) and 1892 (AM degree). He then attended Boston University School of Theology, 1889-92.
Reverend Hughes began preaching in 1886. He was pastor in Newton Center, Massachusetts (1892-96) and in Malden, Massachusetts (1896-1903). In 1903 he became president of DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. His term as president ended in 1909 shortly after he assumed the office of bishop. While a bishop, he served as senior chairman of the Methodist Unification Commission (1938-40), which eventually brought about the reunion of the three major Methodist bodies in the United States in 1939. In retirement, Bishop Hughes was living in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Our history
The first parcel of land purchased by Union Methodist in 1946, followed by the adjoining lot with a 90-year-old farmhouse in 1947. On June 4, 1948, Rev. Harold R. Lanman was appointed pastor of the Wheaton Extension Project.
The first Sunday School session was held on August 1, 1948 in the cottage which also served as the Parish House. The first worship service was held five weeks later on September 12, 1948, in a large tent with an attendance of 300. The church moved to service in the Army Barracks Chapel in 1949; the first service was at Easter of that year. This Chapel was on the site of the present Sanctuary.
We held our inaugural service in our first unit, which is now our gymnasium and Social Hall, on September 13, 1953. The first classes in the Educational Building were held on March 31, 1957. Twenty years later, on September 22, 1985, the Church burned the mortgage, and we dedicated the Church that same day.
Reverend A. Odell Osteen assumed his duties as Hughes’ pastor on June 19, 1960 when Reverend Lanman was transferred to Trinity Methodist Church in Annapolis. Our present sanctuary, our final unit of the master plan, had its first service on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, with Rev. Osteen presiding.
Dr. Edward H. Porter became our third pastor on June 17, 1968, after Rev. Osteen became Superintendent of the Southwest Baltimore District. Rev. Porter served 11 years at Hughes; Dr. Herbert LD Doggettre placed him in June 1979. Dr. Doggett served as pastor until June 1983 when he became Director of Development at Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, MD.
Rev. Edward R. Van Meter II joined Hughes as senior pastor in June 1983. Rev. Van Meter was with us until his untimely death on February 12, 1990 at the age of 47. Rev. Richard D. Hogue was appointed to be our senior pastor shortly thereafter.
On July 1, 1994, Dr. Carl B. Rife became senior pastor after Dr. Hogue left to become a minister at Liberty Grove United Methodist Church. Dr. Rife served as senior pastor until his retirement in July 1999.
Dr. George Ennis joined us in July 1999 and ministered to Hughes until his retirement in July 2008.
Rev. Ken Hawes joined us in July 2008 and ministered to Hughes until June 2019.
Our current minister is Rev. Diana Wingeier-Ray.