ABOUT DAVIDSONVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The first congregation in Davidsonville worshipped in a two-story wooden structure which had around three sides so the slaves could worship apart from their masters. It stood on property purchased from Thomas and Jane Davidson, which is now the church cemetery and it was known as Mount Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. It was built about 1844 and was in the Severn Circuit with the parsonage located in Millersville.

In 1844, the southern Methodist withdrew from the conference because of slavery and formed the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, leaving the Methodist Episcopal Church largely a northern church opposed to slavery. Therefore, it is interesting to note the installation of the galleries for slaves.

In 1858, the southern Methodist withdrew from the Severn Circuit and was placed in the newly-created South River Circuit, composed of Mt. Tabor, Taylorville (former name of Riva), Piney Grove, and Hope Chapel. The parsonage was to be in Davidsonville and in 1859 Mr. and Mrs. Davidson donated the land on which the parsonage now stands. In 1883 the church was rebuilt on the same location as the first one and the galleries were removed as the blacks had their own church since 1869.

Early in the twentieth century, this church structure was too small and a new church was built in 1924. The memorial stained glass windows record the families who were members at that time: Bassford, Duckett, Suitt, Wood, and Hardy.

In 1934 the South River Circuit consisted of Davidsonville, Edgewater Chapel, Mayo Memorial, and Hope Chapel. In 1952, Mayo withdrew and in 1957, the South River Circuit met for the last time. The Church has progressed in many ways since then. A new church school annex was dedicated in 1964 and in 1973 the new steeple and church extension was dedicated. In 1976, the outdoor chapel was dedicated. The former parsonage has been renovated and is now used for Sunday School classes and other meetings.

The church buildings exist only to give the members an opportunity to serve Christ. As a former minister, Rev. J. Thoburn Bard wrote in a 1934 directory of the South River Circuit, "Jesus said, 'I am among you as he that Serveth!' This is sufficient reason for the existence of our churches. May they serve the physical, moral, and spiritual needs of the communities and by so doing live and grow."

- Norma Carpenter, Church Historian, 1985