A Church That Grew Up With Abingdon
Abingdon United Methodist Church has stood on East Main Street in the heart of Abingdon, Virginia, for more than 140 years, but the congregation's roots reach back much further. Methodists in the area began meeting in homes for study and prayer in 1783, only a few years after the founding of the town. Ordained pastors were scarce, so circuit riders traveled between distant groups of believers. By 1822 the Abingdon congregation had outgrown those home meetings and moved from the Masonic Temple on Valley Street into a building of its own. In 1826 the church became the first in the Holston Conference to receive the appointment of its own pastor. A brick building replaced the small frame meeting house in 1848, and on August 9, 1883, the cornerstone for the present church was laid, packed with memorabilia from the life of the congregation.
That long history is part of a wider Methodist family. The original Methodist Episcopal Church split into several branches under social and theological pressures through the 1800s, and those branches reunited in 1939 into the Methodist Church. In 1968 the United Methodist Church was formed by a merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Abingdon UMC belongs to that worldwide United Methodist family and remains a part of the Holston Conference, part of a global organization with members worshipping in churches on six continents.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Sanctuary
Worship happens at 8:45 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary, and both services are traditional in style. The 11:00 service is also livestreamed each week. Between the two services, at 9:45, Sunday School meets for all ages. Visitors are greeted with the words "We've been expecting you." The building is fully accessible for persons with physical limitations, and the sanctuary has special seating reserved for wheelchairs.
Abingdon UMC practices open communion. Anyone seeking to follow Christ is welcome at the Lord's Table, regardless of church membership. There is no formal dress code; some people wear jeans, others dress up a bit more. What matters most is that visitors feel comfortable joining the worship and the community. For parents with young children who need a quieter option, the Fellowship Hall serves as a designated quiet space and shows the 11:00 livestream on its monitors, so families can stay nearby while still participating in the service.
Where to Park
The church sits at 101 East Main Street in downtown Abingdon. Parking is available in several nearby spots: a Main Street lot with limited spaces, street parking on Main Street and on Church Street SE, and a larger lot across the street at the Barter's Smith Theater. Reserved parking for those with limited mobility is set aside on Church Street. On Sunday mornings visitors are asked to enter through the front doors facing Main Street.
Nursery, Kidstuff, and Students
Children are woven into the life of Abingdon UMC. Nursery care is provided during both worship services for infants and toddlers, with paid nursery staff who lead weekly Bible stories and simple activities. Kidstuff, a children's church program for K through 5th graders, takes place during the 11:00 service and includes skits, singing, storytelling, and a time for children to reflect on the foundational stories of the Christian faith.
Middle school and high school students have their own ministry. Youth meet on Sunday nights at 5:00 PM for small group lessons, community service projects, and special outings. Throughout the year the student ministry also offers retreats, mission trips, and other events. The student ministry team includes a Director of Student Ministries, the Program Director, the Senior Pastor, and a large volunteer base, and works with students from kindergarten through 12th grade to help them grow as Christians at home, at school, in church, and in their communities.
Music in the Sanctuary
Music shapes worship each week at Abingdon UMC. The Sanctuary Choir presents music at the 11:00 service most Sundays and for special events in the life of the church, including Christmas and Easter. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, and the choir is directed by Glenn Patterson and accompanied by Lisa Withers. The choir is open to older youth and adults, and handbells and other ensembles also make music at the church. A Children's Choir meets at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays.
Wednesday Evenings Around the Fellowship Hall
Wednesday nights draw the congregation back to the church for study, music, and fellowship. Bible study meets at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall and is led by the pastor. At the same hour, the Children's Choir gathers, and at 7:00 PM the Sanctuary Choir rehearses. The whole family can find something on a Wednesday evening at Abingdon UMC.
From time to time the church also holds "Wednesdays Without Walls" gatherings in the parking lot, with a meal of hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, potato chips, dessert, and drinks. The evenings are open to the whole community and are a relaxed way to meet the church family.
Adults: Sunday School, UMW, and ENCORE
Several adult Sunday school classes meet at 9:45 on Sunday mornings. United Methodist Women is active in the life of the church, with three circles that meet on the second Tuesday of the month and joint UMW meetings four times a year in February, May, September, and November. UMW supports mission locally and globally, spiritual growth, and life-long friendships. ENCORE is the church's older adult ministry, and it meets once a month for day trips in and around the community for adults who are retirement age and up. On the first and third Thursdays of the month, men gather for a prayer breakfast.
Serving the Community: EFIA, the Soup Kitchen, and Beyond
Service to neighbors is a clear mark of Abingdon UMC. Members partner with Ecumenical Faith in Action (EFIA), gathering every seven weeks at the local food pantry to bag canned goods and hand them out to families in need, while the church also supports EFIA through monthly contributions. On the fourth Wednesday of each month, volunteers from the congregation serve hot meals at the Feeding America Soup Kitchen, and the United Methodist Women prepare food for the needy every Monday. The Benevolent Trust Fund was created by the church to assist individuals who have no other aid available. Through the Good News Jail Ministry, members donate magazines, devotionals, and Bible study materials for distribution to local inmates, and donations can be dropped off at the church office entrance. Twice a year the Social Club hosts a dinner for adults with developmental disabilities in Abingdon, providing a home-cooked meal, a social outlet, and transportation.
Boy Scout Troop 222
Abingdon United Methodist Church has been the chartering organization of BSA Troop 222 for more than 50 years. Scouting at the church is built on the principles of honor, integrity, and responsibility, taught through teamwork, leadership, and self-reliance. The troop meets in a dedicated troop room at the church each Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 PM during the public school year and into the summer. With nearly 60 scouts and 40 leaders, Troop 222 is one of the largest in the Overmountain District and has produced close to 150 Eagle Scouts over its lifetime, with five to ten scouts earning the rank each year.
Online and On Demand
The 11:00 Sunday service is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, and past services are available to watch on demand. Sermon Sunday, the church's weekly podcast, posts the Sunday message from the pastors on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, helping listeners follow along with the lectionary and stay connected as disciples throughout the week. Written "Between Sundays" study notes, with questions for kids and youth, support daily reflection on the readings proclaimed in worship, and additional Bible study and conversation videos are posted on the church's YouTube channel. Giving is available online, by mail, or through an automatic bank draft from a checking or savings account, and offerings are received at both Sunday services.
Building a Welcoming Church Home
Abingdon UMC is in the middle of a capital campaign to renovate the church home both inside and out. The exterior of the historic building is being renewed to create a warm, welcoming presence in the heart of Abingdon, and the interior is being made more accessible, comfortable, and welcoming for everyone who gathers to worship, serve, and grow in faith. The campaign carries a $1.5 million goal, and gifts can be made online or through a pledge card available in the church office.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and can be reached at (276) 628-2321 or at paulseay@abingdonumc.org. The message of Abingdon UMC, drawn from a long Methodist tradition in Abingdon, Virginia, is a simple one: Worship. Love. Share. Live and love like Jesus, in this community and around the world.