Del Ray United Methodist Church History

Like many New Testament churches, the church congregation had its beginnings in the homes of its founding members. In September of 1893, the congregation held services at the residence of Isaac D. Arnold, which is now located down the street. By Christmas of 1893, the Harmon Wood Realty Company donated a lot of land to the congregation. A small frame building was erected at the church's present location. As membership grew, a new wing was added to the back of the church structure. By 1916, the church structure was expanded to include space for a basement, kitchen, and school. The pastor's home adjacent to the church was completed in 1923. The current sanctuary was completed in 1952, although construction for a new building began in 1942. The fellowship hall in the basement was built in a matter of months. However, World War II delayed further construction activities. The education building was finished in 1962.

During the 1970s, the neighborhood around Del Ray UMC began to change. The rail yards where many of the members of the congregation worked saw a shift in the number of trains being handled, and workers were laid off and retired.  The neighborhood declined a bit, and the congregation at Del Ray UMC also diminished. In spite of the changing community, our congregation members who had built the sanctuary and education building from the 1940s through the 1960s continued to serve God and each other with several worship services on Sunday, mid-week small groups, and active men’s and women’s groups in mission.

In the mid-1980s, Del Ray UMC survived a financial crisis that left the congregation with no funds. Strong leadership from the District and the Bishop coupled with dedicated members of the congregation brought the church back so we could continue celebrating God while rebuilding our faith community. In the mid-1990s, a young energetic pastor brought new life and commitment to our members. In conjunction with economic programs fostered by our city government, the Del Ray community as a whole began to enjoy revitalization of businesses and homes, and Del Ray UMC welcomed new members and families.

This optimism fueled by strong faith and commitment continued into the new millennium. Del Ray UMC continued to offer a traditional Sunday morning service and added an innovative program for young children called PRAYground. This engaging service brought families to us who were new to the church experience, and they added energy and fresh voices to our church community. During this time, our Sunday morning programs included several adult groups, including one focused on parenting concerns, as well as Sunday school for children through elementary school. Our youth had time with each other and also joined groups at other close-by Alexandria churches. The men’s and women’s groups remained strong in missions to the church and to community partners.

The pandemic beginning in March 2020 affected the congregation deeply. With District support and help from members of the congregation, we were able to offer online worship, continuing both Kids Worship and Traditional Worship services. However, our membership dwindled a great deal, and by 2022, we were in danger of being closed because the District perceived that without serious commitment from remaining members, Del Ray UMC could not continue to be viable.  Thanks to our members stepping up in faith with prayers and renewed energy, along with a pastoral transition, we are successfully rebuilding our church community in the post-pandemic world. We continue to embrace evolving approaches to worship, spiritual growth, congregational education and care, small groups, and a deepened commitment to our mission partners. Our United Methodist Men and United Women in Faith groups have been revitalized.

For decades, Del Ray UMC has housed two schools (not related to the church) and continues to make its fellowship hall (Lunceford Hall) available to a variety of community groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, the Alexandria Citizens Band, and scout troops. The fellowship hall also enjoys pancake breakfasts, community dinners, citizen meetings, birthday parties, dance classes, music classes, and other activities that genuinely make Del Ray UMC “the heart of Del Ray.” Our church yard comes alive several times each year with festivals where community members can enjoy seasonal activities and learn how to join us to worship and celebrate.

For more than 130 years, Del Ray United Methodist Church has served the Del Ray community and will continue to be a spark in the heart of Del Ray for many more years.