Greater Park Hill Community

Park Hill United Methodist Church - 5209 Montview Boulevard

Aug 25, 2006

Like many Park Hillers, PHUMC has lived at more than one address in the neighborhood. The original church, which began construction in 1911, was located at the corner of 23rd and Dexter. Yes, when you are sipping a glass of wine at the Cherry Tomato, you?’re in the former Park Hill United sanctuary. Rumor has it that the local chapter of the Anti-Saloon League used to hold meetings in the sanctuary, as well.
Moving forward, the church membership in 1916 was instrumental in helping to establish the public library on Montview and Dexter. PHUMC historian Don Craig told me that the church decided to move to the Montview location in the early 1920s because the noise from the streetcars rumbling down 23rd Avenue was just too distracting during Sunday services. The church leaders sold the original property for $15,000 and purchased 20 lots on Montview Boulevard between Forest and Glencoe Streets. The hardworking and thrifty 260-member congregation constructed the new church, 450-seat sanctuary and gymnasium for $150,000.
The congregation's commitment continued in a very personal way during the years of the Depression, as many borrowed from their own life insurance policies to keep the mortgage on the church paid. This type of devotion is still alive in the members almost one hundred years after the church?’s founding. Park Hill United Methodist is, in turn, a very committed neighbor to the Park Hill community. Considered a progressive member of the Methodist community, PHUMC?’s motto is ?“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.?” Over the years, the church has hosted a noteworthy series of concerts and other musical performances; has been home to the renowned Park Hill Art Club; was early-on considered the most entirely integrated church in the Methodist conference; has a history of sponsoring refugees from Asian, African and European countries; sponsors a blood bank for its members and a food bank for the needy; and hosts Harmony, a GBLT choir. Many in the area are also familiar with the annual pumpkin patch, a Halloween fundraiser for the church's excellent daycare center.
Architecturally, Park Hill United Methodist was built in the Spanish style with blond brick, a tiled roof and a high square tower. A peaceful memorial courtyard, located in the center of the building, holds the ashes of many of the church?’s most influential members. With trees, stone benches, flowering planters and an elegant cobblestone walkway, it is a quiet retreat from the bustling church activities inside.
The original, smaller sanctuary features bright modern stained glass windows and is used for special occasions. The large main sanctuary, which seats over 1,000, was built in 1955 as part of a major addition and renovation to the church complex. Its subtle flying buttresses support the spacious room. The nave and alter are elegant in their simplicity, with the alter illuminated by gentle back lighting The muted and light colors on the walls are a perfect foil for the exquisite stained glass windows on both sides of the arched sides above. Many of these detailed windows were painstakingly moved from the original sanctuary when the new one was constructed. As you tour this large sacred space, linger over these beautiful windows, they tell not only a religious story, but also one of a long-standing and valuable member of the Park Hill community.