A history of Community United Methodist Church

In 1923, citizens in the Lyon Village area of Arlington were interested in forming a church and Sunday school. With the help of Dr. T.J. Lambert, the Presiding Elder of the Alexandria District of the Virginia United Methodist Church Conference, they sought to find a place to worship. Fred O. Lake offered his basement on Lee Highway, and on October 23, 1923, the first services were held there to a congregation of about 80 people. Known originally as Arlington Methodist, the named changed to Community Methodist in 1928.

As the congregation grew, a more suitable place of worship was needed; and soon a small white frame chapel was built at the site of the present church. It served the congregation for 14 years until 1938. In 1935, a drive to raise funds for a permanent structure began and in 1937 the basement unit of the present church was completed. The sanctuary was built in 1941. Philip H. Forhan, architect of the Washington Cathedral, was hired as a consultant and altered the original plans to include the graceful arches in the sanctuary. By 1944, the membership had grown from 169 to 362. With Sunday school enrollment increasing rapidly, the congregation planned for the construction of a church school building, which was completed in 1951.

The Early Steps Bilingual Preschool and Tender Roots, an interactive parent-child playgroup, are located within the church on a Monday through Friday basis. Community United Methodist Church has witnessed many changes through the years, but the love and devotion of its members to their church and to one another has never changed, as outreach to the community continues. Carl Ripley is the minister.