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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

The Ann Hope United Methodist Church has had its ups and downs over the past 84 years, but the community of faith remains a vibrant outreach in the Utica Mill Village area. Sunday it marks 80 years in its building.

SENECA — Ann Hope United Methodist Church will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its church building on Sunday with a gala homecoming service. The church is located at 702 Goddard Ave. in the Utica Mill Village. A luncheon will be served at 12:30 p.m.

Ann Hope was originally founded as the Seneca Mill Church in 1924. It was formed out of six Sunday school classes that had been meeting in the YMCA. Pastor H.B. Hardy organized the original church with 44 charter members. It became part of the Seneca Charge, which included Seneca M. E. Church, Seneca M. E. Mill Church, Rock Springs M. E. Church, and Newry M. E. Church, all served by Rev. D. W. Keller.

Seneca M. E. Mill Church numbers grew dramatically, and it soon became apparent they had to move out of the YMCA. J.B. Humbert, manager of the Lonsdale Company, arranged for the Mill Corporation to donate significantly to the construction of the present church building, and the church members responded by naming the church after his two daughters, Ann and Hope.

The church was dedicated on May 6, 1928.

History records turbulent times for Ann Hope Church. Rev R.W. Sameth wrote, in 1934, “We are slowly recovering from a long and bitter industrial strike. Our church was virtually wrecked by this industrial struggle. Many of our church workers were involved.�

Today’s Ann Hope United Methodist Church is a vibrant community of diverse people who firmly believe in the statement made by the founders of the church on the date of dedication: “We accept the entire community as our field, and we pledge ourselves to cooperate with every community organization and effort towards human betterment and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.�

Ann Hope has Sunday school at 9 a.m. and Sunday service at 9:45 a.m. Every Wednesday there is a community dinner at 6:15 p.m., open to the public. A service of praise and communion follows the dinner.