History of Union United Methodist Church, Belleville, Illinois
Union United Methodist Church is named after the 1950 union of two congregations,
the English-speaking First Methodist Church and the German-speaking Jackson Street Methodist Church.
Methodism began in Belleville in 1819, when Rev. Jesse Hale, a circuit rider,
started Belleville’s first Methodist Society.
In 1827 the Presbyterians and the Methodists united and organized a Union School.
In 1832 a church later known as the "Old Brick Church" was built on the corner of West
Washington and South Third Streets. In 1849 the First Methodist Church moved to 10 East Washington Street.
In 1876 a vestibule and towers were added.
Rev. John M. Hartmann, who opened the "Belleville Mission of the German Methodist Church",
began the German Methodist congregation in 1842.
In 1850 the German Methodists bought the "Old Brick Church" from the English Methodists.
In 1864 the German congregation moved to 213 South Jackson Street.
On May 16, 1918, the German Methodist Church changed its name to the Jackson Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, and the official language was changed from German to English.
In 1950 the congregations of the First Methodist Church and the Jackson Street
Methodist Church united and formed a new Union Church on the East Main Street
site of Jacob Brosius’ historic “Kronthal” mansion with Dr. W. L. Hanbaum as the first pastor.
In 1955, the sanctuary was completed and the educational building was finished in 1960.
In 1989-90, the sanctuary was redecorated and in 1993 new stained glass windows,
pipe organ and a four-story elevator were added.
In 1998, the Union congregation, under the leadership of Pastor Ed Weston,
embarked on a long-range building program to create a family life center.
In August 2002, the first phase of the building project burned to the ground as the result of arson.
In November 2004, the new family life center was rebuilt and dedicated for ministry in the community.
The congregation of Union United Methodist Church is an active force in the local community and beyond.
Members have helped establish and support other churches throughout the area.
Others have joined the ministry. Union directly supports missionaries abroad and each year sends its
youth and adults on mission trips to other parts of the United States.
Union offers a free sack lunch program and food pantry for the needy.
In 2004 a new Fine Arts program was established to bring various forms of musical art
to the church and community. Union’s music program has earned community distinction both
for the church’s own choir and musicians and for the musicians from the metro-area and
beyond who have participated in events at the church.
The members of Union United Methodist Church will ensure that the church and
congregation continue to be an asset to the community for many years to come.