In 1797, Christian Newcomer, an associate of William Otterbein, preached in the Greencastle area. Several years later, (when Greencastle incorporated) he preached in the actual town. For 20 years, services were held in the homes of the people who followed the United Brethren teaching.

 

In 1816 a service held in Peter Hawbaker’s home produced a number of conversions and the group then began meeting in the schoolhouse. In 1829 a small frame church was built on North Washington Street, site of the present United Methodist Church. The movement grew.

 

In 1889 a major split occurred. The part of the congregation that is now the United Brethren was forbidden (by court injunction) to use the building, so the group of about 40 members started over. They purchased a lot on the corner of Franklin and South Washington Streets and erected a new building. The new church was incorporated under “Radical United Brethren”. The building was remodeled in 1940 but was later outgrown.

 

In 1963 a four acre lot was purchased at the corner of Leitersburg and South Allison Streets. The corner stone was laid in November 1971 as a new building was completed and the congregation moved in. An office addition was added in 1987 and a multipurpose building and remodeling project completed in 1998.