Church History
1850 Methodists living on the west side of the Fox River decide to form a west side congregation
1858 Congregation builds church north on Galena between Lake Street and River Street and name it Second M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church
1868 39 persons transfer from First M.E. Church to strengthen the new church; the merged congregation meets in the old Episcopal Church on Lake Street and Spruce
1871 Congregation builds church on the south side of Galena at Locust and change the name to Galena Street M.E. Church
1884 Swedish Methodist Church organizes; meets in hall on Main Street, later on Broadway
1887 Swedish Methodist Church purchases old German Methodist Church and moves it to Clark and 4th
1892 Swedish Methodist Church sells that church and buys property on Cedar and Locust; changes name to Locust Street Methodist Church
1920 Galena Street M.E. congregation changes its name to Galena Boulevard M.E. Church
1929 Congregation breaks ground for new church on Galena Blvd. and May Street and changes its name to Wesley M.E. Church
1930 Dedication of Education Building and Colwell Memorial Chapel
1942 Congregation sells Galena Blvd. M.E. Church
1948 Congregations of Locust Street Methodist Church and Wesley M.E. Church merge and take Wesley name
1952 Fundraising begins for the sanctuary
1956 Dedication of sanctuary of Wesley M.E. Church
1968 The Methodist church joins Evangelical United Brethren to form the United Methodist Church and Wesley becomes Wesley United Methodist Church
1850 Methodists living on the west side of the Fox River decide to form a west side congregation
1858 Congregation builds church north on Galena between Lake Street and River Street and name it Second M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church
1868 39 persons transfer from First M.E. Church to strengthen the new church; the merged congregation meets in the old Episcopal Church on Lake Street and Spruce
1871 Congregation builds church on the south side of Galena at Locust and change the name to Galena Street M.E. Church
1884 Swedish Methodist Church organizes; meets in hall on Main Street, later on Broadway
1887 Swedish Methodist Church purchases old German Methodist Church and moves it to Clark and 4th
1892 Swedish Methodist Church sells that church and buys property on Cedar and Locust; changes name to Locust Street Methodist Church
1920 Galena Street M.E. congregation changes its name to Galena Boulevard M.E. Church
1929 Congregation breaks ground for new church on Galena Blvd. and May Street and changes its name to Wesley M.E. Church
1930 Dedication of Education Building and Colwell Memorial Chapel
1942 Congregation sells Galena Blvd. M.E. Church
1948 Congregations of Locust Street Methodist Church and Wesley M.E. Church merge and take Wesley name
1952 Fundraising begins for the sanctuary
1956 Dedication of sanctuary of Wesley M.E. Church
1968 The Methodist church joins Evangelical United Brethren to form the United Methodist Church and Wesley becomes Wesley United Methodist Church
