Our Mission

Our Mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, expressing our love through prayer and service; we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that others may be led to salvation.

Our Dream

We desire to be a growing community of faith that leads you to discover yourself as an undeniable asset of God and this community.

The Elmgrove United Methodist Church was founded in 1828. The church’s original building was a log schoolhouse built on corner of what is now the Elmgrove Rd/Elmore Dr. intersection. This house was where circuit riders stopped to deliver mail and the news of the day. Serving the farming community that existed at that time, the early church was a pivotal place to not only celebrate Christian beliefs, but also to socialize and share a meal. In 1848, the church moved to the corner of Elmgrove and Spencerport Rd, where it served the ever-growing Gates community. In 1904 the church was destroyed by a major fire but was rebuilt the same year with the support of the members and local community. In 1967, the current church was built at 1500 Spencerport Rd, where it remains today. 

In 1973, the fellowship hall was added to the back of the building, and in 1999 the new education wing was built and dedicated. The original church cemetery remains on the corner where the old church once stood. The grave stones reflect the names of many of the well-known families of the Gates community. The bell rung weekly to start our worship service is from the original church on the corner. The Elmgrove United Methodist Church has a long, rich history of community involvement, mission work, outreach and support of local and global ministries. Throughout the church’s long history, it was well known for hosting community teas, luncheons and seasonal dinners. The profits from these events always went to support community charities and global missions. One such project raised enough money to purchase a firetruck, that was then donated to the Red Bird Mission in Appalachia. From hosting blood drives, community concerts and craft shows, supporting the local food cupboard and also a hospice home, vacation Bible school and many other educational programs, our church continues to reach out into our home community.

Our church today is built on the strong foundation of it’s roots in this community. We are proud to be celebrating over 185 years of being an integral part of the rich history of the Town of Gates.