In 1803, the year Ohio became a state, Methodism came to the “Western Reserve,” the name by which this area was known. The first Methodist Class formed in the area was at Deerfield by Rev. Henry Shewell and his physician-preacher associate Dr. Shadrack Bostwick from 1803 to 1823. These men carried the Methodist message throughout what is now Portage County.

In what is now Kent, the first home was established in 1805 by John Haymaker. In 1808 the first grist mill was built. Portage County was formed that year and in 1815 Franklin Township was organized by twelve voters – the entire voting population. This was the first township in the county.

The first record of Methodist activities was in 1815 when a class was formed in Franklin Mills. “Class meetings” – weekly gatherings for Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and simple worship — were held in homes of the members. In 1817, Franklin Mills residents constructed a joint school and church on the east side of the Cuyahoga River near the present intersection of Lake and Crain Avenue. It was a one story, one room structure, which was used as a meeting house for all church groups, circuit preachers, and missionaries on alternate Sundays. During fall and winter the building was used as a school. In 1820 it had to be abandoned because of a religious squabble. A certain Deacon Andrews, who had contributed a large part of the money required to erect the building – and who held the keys – objected to a particular preacher who was liked by the other residents. As the squabble over the preaching intensified, he locked everyone out and ultimately repossessed the building, paying back the rest of the donors.

Another building to be used as both a church and a school was erected across the river at about N. Mantua and Stinaff Street. This building stood for many years and was used by all churches until they erected buildings of their own.

In 1822 the Methodists were made a part of the Deerfield circuit, and from then on received regular visits by a circuit rider. Franklin remained a part of the Deerfield circuit under the Ohio district until 1836, when a reorganization assigned the church to the Ravenna circuit of the Erie Conference. In 1874 the East Ohio Conference was formed from the Erie and Pittsburg Conferences, taking the parts that were on the Ohio side, and at the same time Kent was placed in the Akron District.

Circuit riders served the church until 1837, when the congregation received its first resident minister, William Stevens. In 1840, when the town had grown to a population of 400 with four churches, Dr. Thomas Earl (Earl Avenue bears his name) donated land on what is now 227 N. Mantua Street for a new Methodist Church, where a church was constructed that was used until 1893. A residence at 221 N. Mantua was used as the parsonage for many years.

In 1890 a new building committee was named to construct a new church building on W. Main Street, on property that is now the site of the Wild Goats restaurant. The cornerstone was laid in 1891 – the contract had been set for $21,472.07. $7,262.65 was the cost of the brick and stone work and $1,600 was paid to Marvin Kent for the lot. Records show that an association was formed early in the program for payment on the debt. One thousand shares were authorized at $10.95. One of the first acts of the newly formed Ladies Aid Society was to subscribe for 50 shares. At the end of three years this was paid in full and the ladies made other pledges: $583 for furnishing the basement. $900 for aid in paying. By 1901 the Ladies Aid had paid $3,200 on the debt. The church was dedicated in December,1893, and the debt was paid and the mortgage burned on August 21, 1901. In 1908 the first pipe organ was installed.

In the early 1900′s the church purchased the home built on the site of the “old, old” church for a new parsonage. This was used until 1925 when a home was built by A. Coffeen on Pioneer Ave. This was used as a parsonage until the 1960’s, when different housing arrangements were made and ministers bought or rented their own homes.

The 1893 church building went through several expansions. A gym was built in 1916 to accommodate growing youth activities. The space was turned into additional classrooms in 1930.

In the early fifties a feeling developed for a new building program. The Congregational Church and two properties west of it were purchased. Plans were made for an Educational Building at the back of the church. A new organ was purchased in 1954 and the Sanctuary extended to accommodate it. The basement – called “The Black Hole” — was excavated under the sanctuary and church offices and Fellowship Hall #2 were created. Much of the work was done by the Deweese Class and the Class in the Corner. Money was raised by serving dinners.

It was then decided that the church needed too many repairs and had too little property to accommodate expansion and the growing need for parking. A new church site was identified at the city limits, and twenty-two acres of land were purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Mohler on East Main Street. On November 6, 1960 a loyalty dinner was held and the building fund canvass went forward. The second Loyalty Dinner was held November 3, 1963. Financial backing was completed and new church construction moved ahead.

On Sunday, April 5, 1964, ground was broken for the new building, except the Sanctuary which would be added later. On Sunday April 25, 1965, the cornerstones of were laid (on either side the office wing entrance). On the second Sunday of September, 1965, the first services were held in the fellowship hall. The Saturday before everyone worked to get everything ready. The kitchen was not finished until the Monday before Thanksgiving. Rotary was served in the old church until the kitchen was completed. On Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, members cooked a Turkey dinner for MYF (the Methodist Youth Fellowship).

On November 21, 1965, a Consecration Service held. Dr. Howard Mumma, and Dr. Frances Kearns, Bishop were participants.

On October 15, 1972 the congregation approved by a 95.2% vote the plans for a new design for the sanctuary, at a reduced cost of $625,000. Construction began in spring of 1973 and was completed for Easter of 1974. Consecration Celebrations took place from April 28 – May 19, 1974. The old organ was taken from storage, expanded and installed in the new sanctuary. Funding was provided by Fletcher Simpson, who had sat on his mother’s lap at the 1893 building dedication.

The new church facility also incorporated the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist campus ministry. Wesley Foundation was founded at the KSU campus in 1937, and their student center at 511 E. Main Street was dedicated on November 11, 1951. Wendy’s is now on that property. When the church purchased the Mohler property and began construction, the Wesley Foundation joined in the project, selling its old student center and putting forth twenty percent of the initial funding for the new building. A section of the facility on the north side was dedicated to be used by the Wesley Foundation for campus ministry.

The pastor of the church throughout the relocation process was Dr. Carl Pierson, who served as senior pastor from 1958 to 1983. Following his retirement, the fellowship hall of the church was renamed Pierson Hall. His successor was Dr. Jerry Butcher, who served from 1983 to 1992. Rev. Jim Magaw was the senior pastor from 1992 to 1995. Dr. David Palmer came in July of 1995 and continues as the senior pastor today. Various associate pastors and ministers of visitation have also provided key leadership throughout the years.

The mortgage on the building was paid off in 1994. In 1996, the church began an extensive series of building renovations and updates, including a major expansion of the parking lot. In 2000, the congregation renovated the sanctuary – redesigning the chancel area to incorporate two large video projection screens – and started a bus ministry for Sunday bus transportation and for the youth ministry. A bus was purchased and a bus garage constructed.

In 2006, a major building expansion added a gymnasium and two elevators, a ramp, a portico, and rest rooms in order to make the building handicapped accessible.

Throughout the years, the growing congregation was very active beyond its walls in mission in the community. In 1995, the church Missions Committee initiated the formation of the Kent Clothes Closet, which ultimately would become the County Clothing Center. The first planning meetings included representatives from other churches who were invited to be a part of the project. The initial clothing distributions were held in Pierson Hall. Eventually, the Kent Clothes Closet joined efforts with Family and Community Services to create a county-wide Clothing Center that continues to operate on Rt. 59. The congregation has been a strong supporter of many other local missions and also has a major outreach beyond Kent. The church began to support an African missionary in 1996, and since that year has also been a leader in financial support for East Ohio and worldwide United Methodist missions. Youth and adult mission teams head out annually for hands-on mission trips.

The church has held multiple celebrations of ministry throughout the years. In recognition of the 1822 appointment of the first regular Methodist preacher to Franklin Mills, the church held a Centennial Celebration on August 26 and 27, 1922. In considering the church’s Bicentennial Celebration, members reconsidered the church’s history and concluded that since the church is the congregation, and not the pastor, the actual beginning of the church was the 1815 formation of the first Methodist class meeting. Bicentennial celebrations have been set for 2015.