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University United Methodist Church is a thriving Christ-centered community with a strong and continuing presence in Chapel Hill and a tradition of commitment to the University community. We are replenished by God’s love and grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and led by Christ’s example.
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University United Methodist Church is a thriving Christ-centered community with a strong and continuing presence in Chapel Hill and a tradition of commitment to the University community. We are replenished by God’s love and grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and led by Christ’s example. We tend the Church, nurture each other, and care for our neighbors, known and unknown, near and far. Valuing differences, we worship God in many ways, and serve others with joy and compassion.
For more than 150 years, University United Methodist Church has stood on Franklin Street, in the heart of the University of North Carolina campus. We are located between Columbia Street and Henderson Street, diagonally across from the courthouse.
Click here for directions from Google Maps.
Sunday Worship
8:30 a.m. and 10:55 a.m.
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Summer Sunday Worship (June 13-August 15, 2010)
10:00 a.m.
Methodism has been intimately intertwined with the history of North Carolina, Orange County and Chapel Hill since the earliest days. Beginning in 1772, circuit-riding Methodists traveled across the state. Francis Asbury preached in Chapel Hill in 1800.
In 1841, University of North Carolina president David L. Swain invited Charles Force Deems, a Methodist minister in New Jersey, to join the faculty and the Annual Conference assigned him to Chapel Hill. Deems taught classes, preached at evening services in the village chapel and held Methodist services in a home on Rosemary Street. In 1843, the upper room at 157 1/2 East Franklin Street was rented for worship services and the membership numbered 64 whites and eight African-Americans.
In 1850, Samuel Milton Frost, a university student, served as minister. Determined to carry out Deems’ plan to build a church, Frost traveled the state and raised $5,000 for a church building. The church — dedicated in 1853 — still stands on Rosemary Street.
In 1878, anticipating continued growth, the trustees purchased a lot between the university and Franklin Street, the present site of the church. In 1886, construction began on a new church building on the site of the present Education Wing. The building was completed in 1889.
After the turn of the century, increased attendance by university students crowded the church. In 1915, the Reverend Walter Patten proposed the construction of a Sunday School building. However, his idea would have to wait until the end of World War I, at which time Rev. Patten planned and solicited funds for a new church and a Sunday School building. The current sanctuary and corridor classroom wing were completed in April 1926. The construction costs topped $230,000 with members of the local church contributing $34,000.
The upkeep of the Sanctuary was a continuing strain on the congregation. The church was a mission church and as such relied on the Conference and friends across the state for support. (The church remained a mission church until the 1970s.) The growth in UNC enrollment after World War II brought many new members into the church, helping with finances but also overflowing Sunday School classrooms.
In 1957, the 1889 church was razed to make way for the present Education Wing. Construction was completed on the Fellowship Hall and kitchen in 1960; the classrooms were completed in 1961.
In 1968, the church changed its name from University Methodist Church to University United Methodist Church when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with The Methodist Church.
Since its founding, UUMC has been at the physical center of the UNC campus and community. In recent years, the church has experienced extraordinary growth in membership and activity. the fruits of which appear on the pages of this website.
from Don Hayman, Records and History Committee
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Congratulations to you! A wedding is one of the happiest and holiest occasions in life. As you join your lives to establish a Christian home, the church rejoices with you and offers counsel and support. The Christian marriage ceremony is regarded by United Methodists as a sacred occasion when two persons declare before God, their families and friends their desire to be united by the Church in a new covenant relationship. The following policies have been established by the Worship Committee and ministers of University United Methodist Church to help make your wedding a joyous and safe occasion in keeping with the spirit of Christian marriage and Christian worship.
Frequently Asked Questions:

- Who can get married at University United Methodist Church?
We only conduct weddings for those who are members of UUMC.
- I haven't joined, but I attended UUMC while I was a student at UNC. Can I get married at UUMC?
Due to the shear volume of requests of this nature that we receive, we are compelled to check our attendance records for a pattern of consistent participation during one's college years.
- How do I make a reservation for my wedding?
You may call the the church office at 919-929-7191 no earlier than one year in advance of your desired date on the first day of the month in which you wish to get married. The availability of the minister(s), organist, wedding director and custodain will be determined. Your wedding date will not be entered on the official church calendar until you have returned the wedding reservation form. Any changes in rehearsal or wedding times require the bride to notify the church office. The office will get approval for any changes from the minister, organist and wedding director before confirming the change with the bride. (The bride should not make changes with any other person or establishment that may be involved with her wedding until receiving confirmation with the church.) However, final arrangements for the service will be made only after an initial meeting with the minister who is to officiate.
- Can I have communion at my ceremony?
If communion is to be a part of your ceremony, the entire congregation should be invited to participate in communion, and a UUMC minister should preside over this portion of the service.
- What about weddings on holidays?
Weddings will not be scheduled on the following holidays, or the weekends of those holidays.
2010
New Year's Day - January 1-3
Holy Week and Easter - March 28-April 4
Memorial Day - May 28-30
Church Event - June 5
Annual Conference - June 10-12
Labor Day - September 3-5
Thanksgiving - November 26-28
Christmas - December 24-26
New Year's Eve - December 31
2011
New Year's Day - January 1-2
Holy Week and Easter - April 17-24
Memorial Day - May 27-29
Annual Conference - June 9-11 (dates not confirmed)
Labor Day - September 2-4
Thanksgiving - November 25-27
Christmas - December 23-25
New Year's Eve - December 30-31
- How many people will the sanctuary hold?
The sanctuary, which seats 700 people, and Grumman Chapel, which seats 100, are both available. Please remember that wedding rehearsals should begin and end on time because some weekends have more than one wedding scheduled.
- What are the pre-marital counseling requirements?
Before meeting with our ministers, it will be necessary to complete premarital counseling with a counselor approved by the church. Please contact the church office for suggestions for counselors. One of our ministers will preside at the wedding and at least one additional session with the presiding minister will be required to plan the ceremony. However, if the bride and groom wish to invite another minister to officiate or assist, they should make this known to the minister of University Church who will in turn extend the invitation to the guest minister, as is the custom of the United Methodist Church. A UUMC minister must be present at each wedding and participate in some manner and review details of the ceremony with the guest minister prior to the wedding weekend.
- Do I need a wedding director?
It is the policy of University Church that one of our wedding directors must direct each wedding held in either the Chapel or the sanctuary. The wedding director will consult with the couple prior to the wedding, and will be present at both the rehearsal and wedding to coordinate the service. The fee for the wedding director is $200. A second director is required for more than eight attendants on either side. The fee for the second director is $100. The assigned wedding director will call at least three months prior to your date to arrange a meeting with you.
- Does the church provide an organist?
The church organist will play for all weddings, or if unable to do so will arrange a competent substitute. Contact the organist three months prior to your wedding for an appointment. The ministers and the organist are in charge of music for weddings at University Church and the organist will be happy to assist in choosing appropriate music for you. If another organist is desired, their name and credentials must be submitted to the church's organist and Music Committee for approval. If approved, the UUMC organist must still receive the fee as listed under "Financial Arrangements" to be paid at the same time as the other church staff. The UUMC organist will then meet with the guest organist to explain our atypical pipe organ and arrange practice time.
- What appointments do I need to make?
Three months prior to the date of your wedding, you will call the church to get information concerning your assigned minister and organist. You will then need to set up individual appointments with these people. For your convenience, you might try to schedule more than one of these appointments for the same day.
- What kinds of decorations can I use?
Customarily for weddings there are two arrangements of flowers, one on either side of the chancel area. No other flowers or greenery are permitted in the chancel area. No silk flowers may be used in the main floral arrangements in the chancel area. It is suggested that an arrangement be put on the table in the narthex where your guests enter the sanctuary. The chancel wedding flower arrangements are to be left for the Sunday morning services. We will acknowledge the gift in honor of the bridal couple in the Sunday morning bulletin.
Candles should be lit with the church's lighter and extinguished with the snuffer. Except for a unity candelabra, all other types of candelabra are prohibited. If you choose to use a unity candelabra, it is your responsibility to rent it from your florist. There are no decorations in the windows. Aisle runners are not allowed. None of the chancel furniture (including the kneeling
rail) is to be moved. No tacks, tape or wires of any kind may be used. Bows may be secured to the pews by rubber bands or florist clips. A flower girl may spread rose petals (sparingly). Rice and bird seed may not be thrown anywhere in or around the building.
- Can I smoke at the church?
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the church property.
- What are the rules about photography?
Use of video equipment and its placement must be approved by the wedding director. Video cameras may only be used in the balcony area. Photography in the sanctuary or foyer area must be completed 45 minutes before the ceremony. A still shot without flash may be made from the center of the balcony during the service, and a picture with flash may be made in the foyer as the bride enters the sanctuary, and there again as she exits. A photographer can go no farther down the center aisle than five pews from the back; or if people are seated all the way back, then the photographer must stay behind them. No one should sit on the altar railing nor stand or remove the cushions at the kneeling area. Please alert photographers in your family as well as the professional photographer of these requests.
- Who opens up the church and cleans up after the wedding?
Because weddings and rehearsals are held at a time when the church is not normally open, the services of the custodian are essential to unlock the church for all the coming and going as well as to clean afterwards. His services are obtained through the church office. If you are having a reception at the church, please make an appointment with the custodian to discuss your needs.
- When can the bridesmaids and I arrive at the church?
The bride and her party are requested not to arrive at the church more than two hours before the ceremony, i.e., for a 4 p.m. wedding, the bride and party cannot arrive any earlier than 2 p.m.
- How much do I pay those participating in my wedding?
Ministers - The honorarium should be discussed with the minister who is to officiate. Honoraria for clergy should reflect the time spent with the bridal couple in counseling, the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony. A suggested minimum is $250. If a guest minister is used, the UUMC minister should be paid $150 to assist.
Organist - The fee for consultation, rehearsal and the wedding is $210. However, the fee is $175 if you have the organist for the wedding ceremony only. If there is to be extra rehearsal time for soloists or instrumentalists, there will be an extra fee.
Wedding Director - The fee for consultation, rehearsal and the wedding is $200.
Second Wedding Director - The fee to assist the Wedding Director is $100.
Custodian - The fee for the custodian for the rehearsal and the wedding is $175. If there is a rehearsal dinner or reception in the building, there will be an extra fee of $175.
Complete list of fees:
It is requested that all fees be paid on or before the Monday two weeks prior to the wedding weekend. Please make checks payable to each individual.
Minister: (suggested minimum) $250.00
UUMC minister assisting: $150.00
Organist: (Tim Baker)
Rehearsal and wedding $210.00
Wedding only $175.00
Wedding Director: $200.00
Second Wedding Director: $100.00
Custodian: (John Samulski) $175.00
Additional custodial fee for:
Church Rehearsal Dinner $175.00
Church Reception: $175.00

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University United Methodist Church
150 East Franklin Street | Chapel Hill, NC 27514 | PH: 919-929-7191
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