about us

Seth Mitchell Whaley came from Whaleyville, MD, a town also named for his family, and bought a farm in the area in 1877.  He was a rich man and bought all the land that was around.  He started a sawmill, which at one time was the largest sawmill on the East Coast. 

In 1884, he founded the Methodist church for the mill workers and others.  The cornerstone was laid on July 24^th, 1884 by the Masonic Lodge No. 99.  The Building Committee and the friends of the church held a festival on the grounds for the benefit of the church and raised $110.92.  The church contracted R. F. Harrell to build the church according to the instructions provided. On November 2, the church was dedicated to the worship of the Almighty God.  The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. R. M. Saunders.  The Rev. Joseph Henry Amiss organized the new church by forming a society with which S. M. Whaley was appointed the leader. Thirty-five people signed their names uniting with the church.  Rev. J. H. Amiss became the first pastor of M.E. Church S, later known as Whaleyville United Methodist Church.

It was originally known as the Methodist Episcopal Church South until 1939 when it combined with the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant Church to become The Methodist Church.  In 1968, the Methodists and the Evangelical United Brethren joined together becoming the United Methodist Church.  In May 2023, the church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church over their continued acceptance of social issues that go against the Bible.  The church is now an independent church now known as Whaleyville Methodist Church.

Whaleyville Methodist Church was originally just the building of the sanctuary.  The church was remodeled in 1905 under the pastorate of Rev. W. G. Parker.  The restrooms at the church where built in 1947, and the Fellowship Hall, originally called the Starks Jette Education Building, was started in 1951 and finished in 1952.  In 1984, they hosted a huge centennial celebration complete with period costumes.  

Whaleyville MC has beautiful, original stained-glass windows architecture.  Many residents enjoy listing to the Carillon bells ringing out from the steeple several times a day playing beautiful hymns.

Today, it is a quaint, country church with a big heart.  It sits in the heart of Whaleyville and continues to grow in love and service to God and the community.