A Downtown Witness on Jefferson Street
Charlottesville First United Methodist Church stands on the north side of East Jefferson Street, two blocks north of the downtown mall and directly across from Market Street Park. White marble steps lead from the park up to the main sanctuary entrance, a familiar sight for anyone walking through the historic center of Charlottesville. The congregation that locals call Charlottesville First, or CFUMC, has occupied this corner since 1925, when the current sanctuary first opened its doors on November 12 of that year. More than a century later, it remains a working church, an active preschool, and a steady presence in the heart of the city.
Methodism in Charlottesville, from 1834 to 1925
The congregation traces its roots to 1834, when the Methodists of Charlottesville built a brick church on the south side of Water Street between First and West Second Streets. The town itself was then home to about 1,500 people, and Thomas Jefferson had been dead only eight years. That first building, constructed by James Lobbin, seated 350, had a balcony in the rear, and rose to an extremely high pulpit; its tower was once said to look like an upside-down card table. There was no organ, since musical instruments were not generally used in churches at that time.
By 1859, the Methodists had outgrown the original building and laid plans for a second one across the street on the southwest corner of Water and West Second Streets. The cornerstone was set on September 5, 1860, but the upper floor was not finished until 1867, at a cost of $3,900. About twenty years later, the members tore off the roof, rebuilt it with a steeper pitch, replaced the windows, added balconies on three sides, and installed a pipe organ and a choir loft. The result, completed in 1888 under the pastorate of the Rev. William E. Edmunds, was a Gothic-style church that was the pride of the community.
As Charlottesville grew, so did the Methodist footprint. In 1897, the congregation helped launch a frame church on Belmont Avenue with forty charter members. That daughter church later became Hinton Avenue Methodist Church. Wesley Memorial Methodist Church followed in 1957, and Aldersgate Methodist Church in 1964. Each of these new congregations grew out of First Church's ministry and leadership.
The 1925 Sanctuary and a Painting That Has Witnessed It All
By 1913 or 1914, First Church's membership had reached the 1,000 mark and Sunday School enrollment had climbed above 700. In 1916, the congregation considered building Sunday School rooms onto the rear of the old church but never followed through, possibly because the United States' entry into World War I intervened. By September 1918, however, they had chosen a new site on East Jefferson Street, and in October they hired Joseph Hudnut, a New York City architect who would later join the University of Virginia faculty, to design the new facility. Ground was broken on March 12, 1923. The Masonic Grand Lodge of Virginia joined local lodges in laying the cornerstone on March 31, 1924. The Sunday School building and social hall were completed that year, and the sanctuary was finished a year later.
The new First Methodist Church could seat 975 in the sanctuary, 300 in a chapel, and over 1,000 in its education wing, and it included a club room designed specifically for university students. Major renovations followed in 1978 (air conditioning and a social hall refresh) and in 2002 (a $2.75 million overhaul of the preschool, offices, fellowship hall, welcome center, music suite, and elevators).
One work of art has watched over the sanctuary since 1930: a copy of Raphael's Transfiguration, painted by Mrs. Ada Payne Quarles and presented to the church on October 26 of that year. In 1950, a fire that began in the entrance to the Sunday School building swept into the chancel, destroying the organ but sparing the painting. A new organ was built the following year by the M.P. Moller Company, and the chancel was reconfigured to a divided layout in place of the original central pulpit. The Transfiguration was restored again in 2013 by artist Stephanie Newman.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
The congregation gathers each Sunday at 10:00 AM for a single, combined worship service. Visitors can expect a warm welcome, a wide range of music from choral to contemporary, time for prayer, and a sermon from Senior Pastor Alex Joyner. Scripture, lyrics, and announcements appear on media screens, and assisted listening devices are available in the sound booth near the back of the sanctuary for those who are hard of hearing.
Children are always welcome in worship. After a brief children's message at the front of the sanctuary, they may go to children's activities for the remainder of the service or stay with their families. Nursery care is offered for infants through age three from 9:30 to 11:30 each Sunday morning. Sensory aids such as weighted blankets and fidget spinners are kept in the quiet room at the rear of the sanctuary for anyone who needs them.
Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month and is open to everyone who wishes to receive it, regardless of age or church membership. For members or friends who can no longer attend in person, arrangements can be made to receive communion at home by contacting Carolyn McGee or DeAnn Posey.
Music That Spans Generations
Music is woven throughout the life of CFUMC. Music Director Matty Metcalfe leads a program that includes the Worship Choir, which rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary under the direction of Kevin White; the First Hand Bells ensemble; and a Church Band. The music ranges from traditional choral pieces to contemporary Christian songs, and visitors who simply want to sing along are welcomed into the congregation. The church is also home to a Steinway piano and the restored Moller organ.
Wild Church and the Sacred Way
For those who prefer to worship outdoors, the church's Wild Church ministry, known as the Sacred Way, gathers twice a month for what the leaders call holy hikes. Each gathering begins with a short reflection and prayer before the group heads out onto town paths or scenic nature trails. The ministry is open to all ages and all stages of spiritual journey, and some gatherings conclude with a shared meal.
Children, Youth, and the First United Methodist Preschool
Children and youth from birth through twelfth grade are part of the church's life. In addition to nursery care and Sunday School, the children and youth ministries organize family events, seasonal activities, and Vacation Bible School. Youth in grades six through twelve take part in Sunday School after the children's message, and on the first Sunday of each month they read scripture and help serve communion. Confirmation, retreats, and summer service trips such as the Appalachian Service Project round out the program.
The church building also houses the First United Methodist Preschool, directed by Kristen Breslin, which serves families with young children in the downtown area. The preschool shares the church's lower floors, with classrooms on the ground level and the Fellowship Hall above.
A Reconciling Congregation and a Wide Welcome
The congregation's public welcome is wide and explicit. In September 2025, members voted by a 93 percent margin to affiliate with the Reconciling Ministries Network, a coalition of United Methodist churches that work for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the life of the church. Of 156 votes cast, 145 were in favor, nine opposed, and two abstained. Senior Pastor Alex Joyner described the moment as a mission marker, and the church's stated welcome extends to people of every age, race, nationality, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and economic status.
Small Groups, Bible Studies, and Spiritual Life
Beyond Sunday worship, CFUMC runs a variety of small groups and Bible studies for adults. Carolyn McGee, the Director of Spiritual Life, also coordinates a weekly congregational prayer time on Tuesdays at noon via Zoom; anyone with a prayer request can reach out to her directly. The Shepherd Ministry pairs new members with volunteer mentors who walk alongside them for at least their first year of membership, introducing them to people, programs, and service opportunities. The Whole City Podcast, hosted by Pastor Joyner, offers another way to follow along with the congregation's teaching and life.
Serving the City: IMPACT, the Clothing Closet, and More
CFUMC is one of 29 congregations in the IMPACT coalition, which brings together more than 15,000 people across the Charlottesville region to work for social change through collective action. Through IMPACT and its own outreach, the church supports The Haven's work with neighbors experiencing homelessness and partners with Love INC Cville to pick up and deliver furniture for families in need.
The congregation also operates the Hinton Avenue Clothing Closet, which is open on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to noon and serves men and women in the community with clothing, shoes, and accessories. Seasonal drives, such as the September collection of sleeping bags and tents for unsheltered neighbors, are part of the One Thing Ministry.
In March 2023, the former First UMC merged with Hinton Avenue UMC. The combined congregation, now known as Charlottesville First, continues to meet in the Jefferson Street building and is working to fulfill Hinton Avenue's long-held vision of building affordable housing for developmentally disabled adults. The church is part of the Three Notch'd District of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Leadership and Staff
Senior Pastor Alex Joyner came to CFUMC on July 1, 2021. A native of nearby Orange, Virginia, he is a graduate of the University of Virginia and previously served as the United Methodist campus minister at UVA for seven years. He has also held ministry assignments in Texas and England and is the author of several works published through Abingdon Press, including Hard Times Come Again No More: Suffering and Hope. The Rev. John Conway serves as Associate Pastor and oversees congregational care, and the Rev. Devon Maust Earle serves as Fresh Expressions Minister. The full staff includes Carolyn McGee (Director of Spiritual Life), Matty Metcalfe (Director of Music), Lara Upton (Director of Engagement and Discipleship), CJ McCrary (Interim Coordinator for Children and Youth Ministries), and Kristen Breslin (Preschool Director).
Visiting Downtown Charlottesville
Visitors are invited to park in the lot reached from 2nd Street NE, between High Street and Jefferson Street, where handicap parking spaces are available. From that lot, the door on the left side of the portico opens into the Welcome Center, from which visitors can find the Sanctuary, the Chapel, and the Fellowship Hall. The door on the right side of the portico opens to an elevator, where a wheelchair is available for anyone who needs it. The elevator reaches the preschool and Fellowship Hall on the ground floor, the Chapel and Sanctuary on the second floor, and most Sunday School classrooms on the third floor.
Services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and giving is available online through Realm. The church office can be reached at (434) 296-6193 or at office@cvillefirstumc.org.