Where We Have Been

We are a United Methodist congregation, named for John Wesley, the fount of a renewal movement in 18th Century Church of England. A profound heart-renewing experience prompted him to take his preaching outside church buildings to address people where he found them--in open fields, outside of mines, in town centers. His genius for organizing bands of laypersons who encouraged one another in their Christian faith, “going on to perfection,” released the power of disciplined piety and the love of God for personal and social transformation.

In America’s first century, Methodist pastors used to ride on horseback around a “circuit” of preaching places. They were often among the first to greet settlers in new territories. Methodist preacher Jason Lee played a major role in settling Oregon Territory.

The first regular Methodist preacher in Yakima came in 1872, 13 years before the town moved from Union Gap to North Yakima. From an annual session of the Columbia River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held in The Dalles, Oregon, the Rev. George W. Kennedy established a preaching circuit in what is now known as the Upper Yakima Valley. With stops in such settlements as Union Gap (now Yakima), Ahtanum, Tampico, Cowiche, and Wenas, preachers reached out with participants to the people of the upper Valley with the good news of God’s love and grace.

The people who responded to this message have occupied a variety of building locations as the congregation grew with the Yakima area and adjusted to the ever-changing needs of the community. For many years the First Methodist Church was located at the southwest corner of North Naches Avenue and East “A” Street on property that would become a J.C. Penney store in the Yakima Mall. In 1955, its members responded to Yakima’s rapidly growing west side by founding the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church on Wesley’s present location. In 1967 First Church and Wesley Memorial were consolidated into our present congregation. With the 1968 merger of the Methodists and the Evangelical United Brethren, we became Wesley United Methodist Church.

Our present sanctuary was dedicated in 1979. The large stained glass depiction of Christ knocking at the door, which had been a central feature of the former First Church building, continues to welcome people to our sanctuary, office and education building. In our sanctuary a cut-glass window and a carved wooden cross reflect our setting next door to a fruit orchard.

Our people come from neighborhoods near our building at 48th Avenue and Chestnut, from all parts of Yakima, from West Valley, Naches, Selah, and some from the lower Valley. We are people of all ages and many vocations. We have diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. Together we seek to be faithful witnesses to that good news of love and grace we’ve known in Jesus Christ. This Spirit of God has power to renew our lives, our families, and our community.