OUR HISTORY

The Methodist Church in Waukesha began over 182 years ago when Waukesha was known as Prairieville. From its founding until today, the Methodist Church has been a vital part of Waukesha’s history and faith community. The strength of First United Methodist Church resides not only in its buildings which have survived five fires but also in the people who worship there and the outreach that they provide. The current building, dedicated in 1898, features stone exterior construction, a magnificent bell tower and an impressive soaring sanctuary with stained glass dome. The Schantz pipe organ is the focal point of the chancel.  

Just as the congregation once used the church building as part of the Underground Railroad, today, FUMC continues to use its facilities to minister to the needs of the congregation and the community. In its early days, the Waukesha Food Pantry was housed at FUMC. Current building partners include ACAP, AA, Al-Anon, Healing Hearts of Waukesha County, Children’s Choir of Waukesha, and El Sistema. Collaborating with other downtown churches, FUMC has hosted two “Concerts to Shelter” in support of persons living homelessly, raising over $43,000 in recent years. Just as their predecessors in faith gathered to worship God and to minister to the Prairieville community, FUMC still adheres to Christ’s call to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves.