Our Early History
1828 A society was formed to build a Methodist church. The frame was completed, but the building was never finished due to the death of most of the active and financially stable members. Many others were also afflicted with illness at the time; the project was abandoned, and the frame was left to rot.
1850 The Society of Powell’s Chapel was organized and began meeting in the Powell Schoolhouse.
1851 William Powell provided a site in a grove of birch trees, and a small wood-framed building was erected. Growth in the community in following decades made it necessary to build a larger facility. That structure was then moved to use as part of the Motz-Cook Grain Co. located near the New York Central Railroad in Brice.
1899 The Chapel that is now located at the center of our church complex was completed and dedicated as Brice Methodist Church. The men sat on the north side, and the women sat on the south side. During those years, we were yoked with Pickerington Methodist and were later part of a 3-point charge with Canal Winchester and Lithopolis. The pastor would ride his horse much of the day each Sunday to bring the good news of the Gospel.
1916 Plans were made to build the annex with a full basement. Excavation was done by local farmers and their horses.
1956 More room was needed, so work began to add a kitchen, nursery, office, and indoor restrooms. It was completed and dedicated in 1958.
1963 The sanctuary was remodeled with new windows, better lighting, pews, a lowered ceiling, and an entrance with closets. An organ was also purchased.
1985 Around this time, the stained-glass windows were designed and installed by donations made after the death of a long-time member. Part-time students and retired ministers had been responsible for leading the congregation at Brice. With the obvious possibility for growth in the community, it was decided a full-time minister was needed. The parsonage was built in Countryview Village in 1985 and was paid in full when Pastor Randy Stearns arrived in June of the same year.
1989 Phase I of a three-phase building project was begun. With this facility, we gained a Fellowship Hall, a large kitchen, and much-needed classroom space. This helped immensely with our "problem" of overcrowding, but two Sunday School classes still continued to meet in local homes for lack of space.
1993 Phase II was implemented. In October, all the additions once made to the original sanctuary were torn down. November brought a "moving experience" when the sanctuary was joined at the southwest corner of the complex, bridging the history of our church and the promise of a Christ-centered future.
1994 Phase II completed and the building is in full use. Many outreach ministries have begun, and membership is growing.
2000 Phase III implemented after a successful building campaign. Construction begins on a new sanctuary and a new education wing.
2001 Phase III completed. The congregation moved into the new Sanctuary on June 24th, and it was consecrated on August 26, 2001.
2002 The West Ohio Conference appointed an Associate Pastor, Drew Young, to oversee Adult Ministries at Brice Church.
2003 On June 30th, the Congregation said goodbye to Sr. Pastor Randy Stearns as he left Brice Church after 18 years of service to become the District Superintendent in the Springfield, Ohio District. On July 1st, the congregation welcomed new Sr. Pastor Dan Jackson and his family.
2004 In April, Brice Church gave birth to a new ministry, the Community of Faith United Methodist Church, formerly Brice Church’s Faith Center. Associate Pastor Drew Young was appointed pastor of the new church, and this congregation continued the ministry that Brice Church started in 2003.
2006 On June 30th, the congregation said goodbye to Sr. Pastor Dan Jackson and his family as they left Ohio and went into ministry in Florida. On July 1st, the congregation welcomed new Sr. Pastor David Wells and his family into the congregation.
1828 A society was formed to build a Methodist church. The frame was completed, but the building was never finished due to the death of most of the active and financially stable members. Many others were also afflicted with illness at the time; the project was abandoned, and the frame was left to rot.
1850 The Society of Powell’s Chapel was organized and began meeting in the Powell Schoolhouse.
1851 William Powell provided a site in a grove of birch trees, and a small wood-framed building was erected. Growth in the community in following decades made it necessary to build a larger facility. That structure was then moved to use as part of the Motz-Cook Grain Co. located near the New York Central Railroad in Brice.
1899 The Chapel that is now located at the center of our church complex was completed and dedicated as Brice Methodist Church. The men sat on the north side, and the women sat on the south side. During those years, we were yoked with Pickerington Methodist and were later part of a 3-point charge with Canal Winchester and Lithopolis. The pastor would ride his horse much of the day each Sunday to bring the good news of the Gospel.
1916 Plans were made to build the annex with a full basement. Excavation was done by local farmers and their horses.
1956 More room was needed, so work began to add a kitchen, nursery, office, and indoor restrooms. It was completed and dedicated in 1958.
1963 The sanctuary was remodeled with new windows, better lighting, pews, a lowered ceiling, and an entrance with closets. An organ was also purchased.
1985 Around this time, the stained-glass windows were designed and installed by donations made after the death of a long-time member. Part-time students and retired ministers had been responsible for leading the congregation at Brice. With the obvious possibility for growth in the community, it was decided a full-time minister was needed. The parsonage was built in Countryview Village in 1985 and was paid in full when Pastor Randy Stearns arrived in June of the same year.
1989 Phase I of a three-phase building project was begun. With this facility, we gained a Fellowship Hall, a large kitchen, and much-needed classroom space. This helped immensely with our "problem" of overcrowding, but two Sunday School classes still continued to meet in local homes for lack of space.
1993 Phase II was implemented. In October, all the additions once made to the original sanctuary were torn down. November brought a "moving experience" when the sanctuary was joined at the southwest corner of the complex, bridging the history of our church and the promise of a Christ-centered future.
1994 Phase II completed and the building is in full use. Many outreach ministries have begun, and membership is growing.
2000 Phase III implemented after a successful building campaign. Construction begins on a new sanctuary and a new education wing.
2001 Phase III completed. The congregation moved into the new Sanctuary on June 24th, and it was consecrated on August 26, 2001.
2002 The West Ohio Conference appointed an Associate Pastor, Drew Young, to oversee Adult Ministries at Brice Church.
2003 On June 30th, the Congregation said goodbye to Sr. Pastor Randy Stearns as he left Brice Church after 18 years of service to become the District Superintendent in the Springfield, Ohio District. On July 1st, the congregation welcomed new Sr. Pastor Dan Jackson and his family.
2004 In April, Brice Church gave birth to a new ministry, the Community of Faith United Methodist Church, formerly Brice Church’s Faith Center. Associate Pastor Drew Young was appointed pastor of the new church, and this congregation continued the ministry that Brice Church started in 2003.
2006 On June 30th, the congregation said goodbye to Sr. Pastor Dan Jackson and his family as they left Ohio and went into ministry in Florida. On July 1st, the congregation welcomed new Sr. Pastor David Wells and his family into the congregation.