“What does it mean to be good Christians and good neighbors?” Imagine those words echoing through time. They paved the way for the Union United Methodist Church to become a beacon of acceptance.
Welcome to the Union United Methodist Church. It is more than just a building. It’s a testament to love and liberation. It stands as the oldest Black congregation in New England Methodism.
The church’s story began in 1796. A group of African American believers met for study and worship. This was a segregated enclave of a white church. In 1818, they independently formed under Reverend Samuel Snowden. He was a formerly enslaved abolitionist. They called it the Mary Street Meeting House.
As the faith community grew, they built a larger church. This church became a station along the Underground Railroad. The congregation followed Boston’s Black population. They moved from Beacon Hill to Roxbury. Eventually, they settled at their current home on Columbus Avenue in Boston’s South End. They took the name “Union.”
In 1949, the church rebranded as Union UMC. They moved into an 1872 church building. Prominent architect Alexander Rice Esty designed it. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a leading Black educator, spoke at the celebration.
From this location, Union UMC continued its abolition and civil rights work. In 1950, the NAACP convention voted to pursue Brown v. Board of Education. In 2000, they voted to fully welcome LGBTQ individuals. The church became the first historically Black Methodist congregation in the United States to welcome the LGBTQ community.
The Union United Methodist Church remains a majority Black church. It is becoming increasingly multicultural. The congregation advocates for the marginalized. They stand at the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability.
The church offers free space to a food pantry. They also support youth groups and LGBTQ service organizations. The parsonage provides affordable housing for BIPOC seminarians.
Union United Methodist Church received a National Fund grant of $200,000. They raised $500,000 in matching funds. This supported the building’s complete re-roofing and waterproofing. The Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, supports this project. She recognizes Union UMC’s role as a community asset.
In 2023, four United Methodist congregations merged. These were Union, Old West Church, Community UMC, and Glendale UMC. They formed the Union Combined Parish.
Generations of Black Bostonians have walked beneath the arches of Union United Methodist Church. They came to pray and worship. They sang, married, mourned, and broke bread.
In 2016, Union United hosted its first same-sex wedding. This was a landmark moment. It demonstrated the church’s commitment to inclusivity.
The story of Union United Methodist Church is one of resilience, love, and unwavering commitment to justice. It stands as a testament to the power of faith and community. It welcomes all who seek solace, belonging, and a place to call home.