About Us
Our Past
It all started with two Methodist churches, Village Church and Hedges Chapel, a long time ago. Founded in 1889, Village Church had a 116-year tradition of “Reaching Out and Raising Up Disciples for Jesus” in Ashville and Pickaway County. Village Church grew through the years with a passion for reaching out to their young people through their children and youth programs and annual Vacation Bible School. Village Church also reached out to families in need with a Free Store with back-to-school clothing and school supplies, and an ongoing support of the Ashville Food Pantry. The church reached out to prisoners via the Kairos and One Community prison ministries. Finally, Village Church reached beyond Ashville, sending missionaries to Russia, the Ukraine, Haiti, and South America. But, the members of Village Church dreamed of more.
Founded in 1840, Hedges Chapel Church had been “United by His Love and Empowered by His Spirit” for more than 160 years in the Ashville community. This spirit led Hedges Chapel to an ongoing ministry with their neighbors at Mann's Trailer Court, providing transportation to worship and assistance to families in need. Hedges Chapel also provided a community After School Kid's Club, and offered back-to-school shopping for area families, as well as a Christmas Adopt-A-Child program. This spirit of giving led the church to participate in the Kairos Prison Ministry Program, the Ashville Food Pantry, and the Community Kitchen and Clothing Center. Finally, this spirit of love enabled Hedges Chapel to send missionaries to Haiti, Honduras, and Panama. But, the members of Hedges Chapel also dreamed of more.
In December 2003, members of Village Church and Hedges Chapel were together at a holiday party. They began sharing each church’s visions for the future. They shared the dreams they both have for new, vital community outreach programs in Ashville and beyond, and they shared their concerns about the many needs they saw in our own community. This unexpected meeting led to what is today known as Village Chapel United Methodist Church.