New Hope United Methodist Church is a congregation with a rich history, spreading the gospel in Norwood Park for over a century. It is the decendent of three great congregations: Norwood Park United Methodist Church, Mayfair United Methodist Church, and Bethany Evangelical United Bretheren Church.
Our church building was originally erected for the congregation of Norwood Park Methodist Episcopal Church, founded on August 20, 1894. The cornerstone for the church building was laid on Thanksgiving Day, 1894 and the building was dedicated on July 7, 1895. It is the oldest surviving church structure in Norwood Park.
Several years prior to the denomination-wide merger, Norwood Park Methodist Church merged with Bethany Evangelical United Bretheren Church on October 24, 1965. Bethany EUBC began as the First Evangelical Church of Conrwood Park and could trace its congregations beginnings to circuit riders who visited the area's German farm families in the 1830s. Their first local Bible study class was founded in 1840. Bethany's congregation worshipped in a building on West Clarence Avenue from the 1890s to 1960s, until the merger with Norwood Park Methodist.
New Hope UMC was formed in 2000 when Norwood Park UMC merged with Mayfair UMC, formerly located in the Mayfair neighborhood of Chicago. Mayfair UMC began as Montrose Methodist Episcopal Church, founded on October 10, 1890. The congregation changed the name to Mayfair Methodist Episcopal Church in 1895.
Both Norwood Park and Mayfair churches underwent the same changes as all Methodist churches in the 20th Century as the different branches of our Wesleyan tradition united over time to eventually become the United Methodist Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Methodist Protestant Church merged in 1939 to form the Methodist Church. The Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church.
New Hope UMC continues the traditions all of its predecessors held dear, including service to the community, a spirit of responsibility to our neighbors, and a love of God that helps us share our faith with all who enter our doors.
