In April, 1962, at a Commission of Missions meeting at Central Methodist Church in Hampton, Mr. A. W. Brittingham, Sr. suggested that Central sponsor a new church near Sinclair Circle (Armistead and Mercury). In May, 1962, their board approved the idea. Through the combined efforts of Rev. Tongue, Minister of Central Methodist Church, Dr. Bryant, Peninsula District Superintendent, and Bishop Garber, Rev. Ralph Johnson was appointed as associate pastor of Central and was to give one half of his time for door-to-door contacts to begin the new church.
On October 14, 1962, some fifty people began meeting in the Circle Lanes Bowling Alley. We were referred to as the “Holy Bowlers.” Officially we were Wesley Chapel. Charter Sunday was April 7, 1963. In May of 1963 the present site at Tide Mill Lane and North Armistead was purchased from J.S. Selden. In May, l964, ground breaking was celebrated. On opening day, April. 4, l965 Wesley had a beautiful worship area plus five classrooms, a kitchen and an office.
Since that time, we have expanded and included a fellowship hall and we continue to reach out to the community, with a Mother’s Day Out Program, our annual pumpkin patch for the community, and our many outreach and mission ministries. We have been ministering in the Hampton community and beyond for more than 60 years, and we look forward to the next 60+ years of being the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out in love.