Historic Salt Lake City church celebrates 120th anniversary

One of Salt Lake City’s historical churches celebrated a major milestone this weekend.

The First United Methodist Church of SLC held celebrations for the 120th anniversary of its church building on Saturday and Sunday. The official anniversary is on May 27; the venerable downtown building was dedicated on that day in 1906.

The building — located at the corner of 2nd South and 2nd East in Salt Lake City — “is both architecturally and historically significant as an important early example of Protestant church activity in the State of Utah,” according to a release from the church.

“One of the oldest surviving Methodist churches in Utah, it played a significant role in the widespread Protestant missionary movement that occurred throughout the American West after the Civil War,” the release continued.

It is the only church in the state designed by Frederic Albert Hale, a prominent Salt Lake City architect from the era.

On Saturday evening, the church held a organ performance with the Wesleyan Heritage Pipe organ. The recital featured Scott R. Mills, Teresa Clawson and Ronnie Bishop, the organists at First United Methodist Church. It included works from Bach, Karg-Elert, Mans and Vierne. There were also two duets performed.

A presentation of church history in the Salt Lake Valley, reflected in architecture was held on Sunday afternoon. The presentation was given by Ken Rockwell, librarian at the University of Utah Marriott Library. It explained the impact of historic church like First United Methodist Church.

The weekend’s celebrations concluded with a rededication worship service on Sunday at 4 p.m. The service was led by the Rev. Kristin Stoneking, bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church and the pastor at First UMC, the Rev. Kelsie Parrish.

Over the last year, the historic building has gone through a number of upgrades and repairs including a modernization of its elevator and the restoration of its historic stained glass windows.

“In celebration of the completion of these undertakings, we as a congregation wish to Praise God for the goodness and gracious preservation of this historic building,” says the release from the church.

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