Broadway United Methodist Church

Centenary. Broadway. St. John’s. Wesley. The Broadway United Methodist Church in South Boston has seen a few name changes in its time. It’s a story of mergers, relocations, and resilience, echoing the ever-changing landscape of South Boston itself. Our journey begins in 1834 with the First Methodist Society in South Boston. This fledgling congregation, after a few false starts, finally found its footing. They first established themselves on D Street in 1839, becoming the D Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Looking ahead to the centennial of Methodism in 1839, they aptly renamed themselves Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church in 1850. Growth and ambition spurred another move, and in 1870, Centenary took on the name Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church, settling into a new home on, you guessed it, Broadway. But the story doesn’t end there. Another Methodist congregation, Dorchester Street Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1860, joined forces with Broadway in 1886. This merger created St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church, still located on Broadway. The joining of these two congregations speaks to the community spirit of South Boston. The final act of our story brings us to 1918. St. John’s merged with yet another congregation, City Point Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been established in 1883. This union resulted in the church’s current name, Broadway United Methodist Church. So, as you stand before the Broadway United Methodist Church, remember, you’re not just looking at a building. You’re witnessing a testament to the enduring faith and community spirit of South Boston, a legacy built upon the foundations of multiple congregations and embodied in the name Broadway United Methodist Church.