Our History
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1898 - Hope Church was established in Ephrata Borough as part of the Evangelical Association. It began in a reconstructed church building that had been dismantled in Palmyra, shipped by rail to Ephrata, and rebuilt on the corner of Washington Avenue and Marshall Street. A ceremony to lay the cornerstone was held in the nearby United Brethren Church due to the rainy weather!
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1926 - The original building was renovated and enlarged with an annex and a basement room at a cost of $10,500.
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1930 - Hope Church burned to the ground; the cause of the fire was uncertain. By the end of that year, a new church was built on the same site.
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1942 - The Evangelical Association merged with the United Brethren Church, creating the Evangelical United Brethren. Hope Church became known as Hope EUB.
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1968 - The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the United Methodist Church. Again, the sign on the church changed - to Hope UMC.
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1983 - Hope UMC moved to a new building at its current location on Rothsville Road.
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1993 - Hope Preschool was established.
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2018 - Hope Preschool celebrated their 25th anniversary in May 2018.
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2021 - Hope Church celebrates their 123rd anniversary on October 31st!
Handbell Choir History
In the spring of 1990 Rev. Barry Wolfe had a vision to begin a handbell choir, and new member Maggie Collogan stepped up to spearhead the fundraising effort to acquire a three-octave set of Schulmerich™ handbells. The congregation met the challenge with enthusiasm, and the bells were purchased within a month. Rev. Wolfe transferred to another church and his replacement, Rev. Steve Morton, continued with the plans. Rev. Morton and Mrs. Collogan organized two choirs: The Genesis Ringers and The Bells of Hope.
In September 1990 the new ministry became a reality. The choirs eventually performed in worship services at least once a month, and we were fortunate to have the foundation leadership of Mrs. Collogan for four years. Today there is one choir, The Bells of Hope, with a dedicated group carrying on the beloved tradition.
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