More information about "I'm New"

St. George’s United Methodist Church was established by the Virginia Annual Conference in June, 1961. The new congregation was intended to be part of the ring of new Methodist churches in Fairfax county, and serve, by close proximity, the then future site of George Mason College. St. George’s would bear the name of the patron saint of England and the name of the St. George’s Methodist Church in Philadelphia, the oldest Methodist church structure in continuous use since Revolutionary days.

The first pastor, R. Carl Ennis from Dumfries, Virginia held the first worship service on Sunday, September 3, 1961 at Tallwood School, now Tallwood Hall of George Mason University. Fairfax Methodist Church sponsored the new St. George’s church, helping with volunteers, office facilities, and area churches helped with hymn books and other furnishings.

On Charter Sunday, November 26, 1961, 38 people became members of St. George’s UMC. The adult choir was formed two days later and a junior choir (4th through 6th grade) was formed in early December.

Pastor Ennis declared in late 1964 that he planned to promote relations with the Payne Street Church, a Methodist congregation of African-Americans. The early ‘60s were a time of a heightened awareness of civil rights. After several joint gatherings at Eleven Oaks School where the Payne Street Church held worship services, they disbanded in late 1965 and were invited to affiliate with St. George’s UMC. Donald C. Adams, who was a student at Howard University School of Religion was ministering to the group and wrote this in his final 1964 quarterly conference report:

“I see a chance for spiritual growth and increased membership and a broader clime of Christian service if the Fairfax charge (i.e. Payne Street Church) and St. George’s Methodist charge merge in one spirit of brotherly love.”

About the same time, St. George’s began the process to build a church building of their own. On May 16, 1965, in the presence of the whole congregation, the trustees signed the letter from the bank and held a ground-breaking ceremony that afternoon.

Nine members of Payne Street Church joined St. George’s, and their children enlarged the children’s Sunday School. During 1966, proceeds from the sale of the Payne Street Church helped to build a new St. George’s church building.“However,”  Pastor Ennis offered, “if some of the members select another church,  that church will share in the proceeds as well.”

The first church service in the new St. George’s UMC church building on Roberts Road was held May 22, 1966, followed by a 3:00 p.m. Service of Consecration.

At the beginning, back in 1961, St. George’s started with 12 acres of land running from Roberts Road to the Southeast boundary of the future college campus. Many years later after the first St. George’s church building was built, the land and building were sold in 1979 to George Mason University. The proceeds were used to purchase the current site located at 4910 Ox Road, nearly 5 acres. After some financial struggles and delays, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sunday, April 12, 1981.

A renouned stained glass designer and craftsman in North Carolina created the circular stained-glass window for the new church building. The pastor and one of the board members selected a design that focused on a representation of Christ knocking at the door (adapted from a well-known painting) ringed by 12 “petals” with small symbols of the Christian Church and its Jewish Heritage — cross, Bible, chalice, Holy Spirit as dove, loaves and fish, the fiery chariot, etc.

On November 8, 1982 a cornerstone-laying ceremony was held. Beside the 1982 cornerstone, the cornerstones from the 1966 St. George’s church building and the 1949 Payne Street church’s never-completed structure were placed.

The current St. George’s UMC building held it’s first services and related ceremonies in late June, 1983.

St. George’s United Methodist Church has a thriving membership of families and members, some of whom have been members of the church for decades. Not only does St. George’s welcome all people, its building is used for community activities such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, AA meetings and recitals for musicians, such as the students who attend George Mason University.