In late summer of 1926, (September) a small gathering of people were interested in religious welfare, not only for themselves, but for others as well. They met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hollister on South Central Avenue to discuss the business of organizing a church. The answer seemed to be with the Reverend William E. Jones who had a friend who was a minister in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Many plans were made and an organizing meeting scheduled. After many phone calls and door to door invitation, on Sunday morning, October 7, 1926 forty-two interested persons met at the home of C. H. Compton at 1605 Sullivant Avenue. The Reverend A. B. Cox of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ presided over the meeting. At that meeting a unanimous decision was made to organize into a United Brethren Class under the supervision of the Washington Avenue Church of the United Brethren in Christ with a request to the annual conference to be accepted as a Church of the United Brethren in Christ. They were granted a charter and immediate action was taken to organize under the Church’s discipline. The Reverend W. E. Jones was assigned to the Class as their first Pastor. The Class initially met in various homes of the class members. As the membership increased, this arrangement became inconvenient and a burden, especially during the winter months. The Trustees were given the task of locating a place to build a church building. On November 20, 1926 the trustees reported that they had found suitable property in the Hilltonia sub-division on Columbian Avenue and twp parcels of land were purchased. It was decided that the new church should be called Hilltonia. The following summer at annual conference the request to be given status of a Church was granted, and they became the Hilltonia Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

Lacking sufficient funds to build a church, it was decided to build a house to be used (eventually) as a parsonage. A third lot was purchase next to the original two lots and construction was begun. The interior walls were left out, and on October 9, 1927 the new “Parsonage Church” structure was dedicated for religious services. On that day a building fund for a church building was started. The church met in this “Parsonage Church” for several years. In the early part of 1947 it was decided to build the structure that is now the present church building. In March of 1948 Hilltonia broke ground to start building its permanent church structure. The basement was completed, and on January 16, 1949 the doors of Hilltonia’s new basement church were opened for its first service. The day featured the baptizing of several babies and reception of many new members.

Immediately work was begun toward completing the building that was originally designed to be the parsonage. After a few weeks, it was transformed into a very pleasing and comfortable living space. It still serves as a parsonage for one of our Pastors today.

In April of 1953 work was completed on the church building. Having merged with the Evangelical Church, Hilltonia was now called the Hilltonia Evangelical United Brethren Church. After another merger in 1968 with the Methodist Church, it became the Hilltonia United Methodist Church. In October of 2005 Hilltonia was placed on a Charge with New Horizons United Methodist Church and is served by a team of part-time pastors. The new Charge shares talent and resources as they strive to serve God in the 21st Century.

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