Close-up of a printed illustration of a church and trees, possibly on paper or a postcard.

Our roots run deep, and our story is still being written.

Historical marker about Hunt's Church, a Methodist society established in 1773, with a sign from Hunt's Memorial United Methodist Church nearby.

Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church has been part of the Greenspring Valley community for more than 250 years, with roots stretching back to the earliest days of Methodism in America.

Our History

A black and white sketch of a historical scene with a log chapel in Maryland, Sam's Creek, near Hunt, with people gathered around, some sitting and some standing, and surrounded by trees.

Around 1773, Phineas Hunt opened his home to Methodist gatherings and traveling preachers. Among those who preached there was Francis Asbury, one of the most influential leaders of early American Methodism.

Phineas became a class leader for the growing Methodist community, a role he would hold for more than six decades. As more people gathered, the group eventually outgrew the Hunt family home.

It Started in a Home

Each generation leaves its mark and makes room for the next.

A stone church building with a tall steeple topped by a cross, set against a cloudy sky.
Black and white photo of eight women wearing white dresses and large wide-brimmed hats, standing and sitting outdoors in front of a stone building with windows.
A large group of men dressed in formal suits and ties gathered for a photo in front of a brick building with three windows.

Around 1780, Phineas Hunt provided land for a log chapel on the site where Hunt’s Church stands today. In 1786, the congregation officially purchased the property and became Hunt’s Methodist Episcopal Church.

The original chapel was replaced by a larger log building in 1826. In 1874, construction began on the stone church that remains at the heart of our campus today. The sanctuary was completed in 1877.

A Church Takes Root

A group of people, including men and women, in a church or religious setting. One person is playing an acoustic guitar, and another is holding a microphone. Some individuals are holding flowers, and a colorful stained glass window featuring a religious figure, a lamb, and a cross is visible in the background. The scene suggests a religious or musical gathering or celebration.

Growing Through the Years

Generations of people have worshiped, served, celebrated, and grieved together at Hunt’s. The church building itself has changed alongside the congregation—surviving fires, undergoing renovations, and expanding to make room for new ministries.

Fellowship spaces, classrooms, offices, and other additions have been added over the years, but the historic stone church continues to connect today’s congregation with those who gathered here generations ago.

In 2009, Carroll’s-Gill’s United Methodist Church merged with Hunt’s, bringing together the stories and ministries of these historic Methodist communities.

We inherit a story, and together, we write what comes next.

A stone church building with a steeple and tall windows, surrounded by leafless trees. The ground has some text that reads 'HUNT'S M. E. CHURCH SHERWOOD, MD R.H. 44'.
A black and white photo showing a group of children and one adult woman outdoors, with trees and bushes in the background. The children are wearing light-colored dresses or uniforms, and the woman is dressed in light clothing with a hat. The photo has the year '1926' written at the bottom.
A large room filled with many round tables covered with green tablecloths, each surrounded by white folding chairs. The tables are decorated with colorful flower arrangements. The room is decorated with hanging paper lanterns and pom-poms in various colors and sizes on the ceiling. Many people of various ages are sitting at the tables, eating and talking, with some standing and mingling in the background. There are bulletin boards and artwork on the walls, and a balloon arch on one side of the room.

Our Story Continues

More than 250 years after people first gathered in Phineas Hunt’s home, Hunt’s remains a community of worship, service, connection, and faith.

We are grateful for the generations who built this community and for all those who continue to shape what Hunt’s Church will become.

Our history is still being written.