Historical Wesleyan Church re-opens in Parkersburg, West Virginia

The Historical Wesleyan Church in Parkersburg is re-opening as part of the Homeland Community Church, marking a new chapter for the historic site. The church, located at 14th and Latrobe Street, will host Sunday afternoon services at 3:00 p.m. and will be open throughout the week for community engagement, including activities like playing ping pong and corn hole.

Pastor Brady Stephens of Homeland Community Church explained that the location was chosen to serve the local community, many of whom do not own vehicles and rely on walking to church. “Our interest here is to serve this community those that are in walking distance,” he said.

The re-opening has brought renewed attention to the church’s historical significance. During the cleanup process, campus pastor Melody Smith discovered a pamphlet from the church’s 124th anniversary. It recounted how the Wesleyan Pastor in Parkersburg at the end of the Civil War traveled to Washington DC and requested that Abraham Lincoln donate a civil war barracks for the congregation to worship in.

The documents state that Lincoln responded by telling the pastor to “Go home and tell your people they shall have one of the barracks to worship in.” Smith noted that the church claimed to be the first black church in West Virginia, originally situated on 8th Street downtown in an old civil war barracks before moving to the current location in 1970.

Homeland Community Church acquired the building after the former congregation closed in February. Smith hopes to honor the church’s history by creating a wall in the fellowship hall featuring historical documents and pictures. “I hope to make a wall in the fellowship hall side with some of the historical documents and pictures that we’ve found to just kind of honor that history and where the church came from,” she said.

Stephens emphasized the connection between Melody and the community, noting her compassion and dedication. “Melody has a real compassion, a real burden for this community and she will throw her heart and life into this ministry,” he said. The church aims to use its history as a foundation for future ministry and community impact.

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