On This Rock:

Building for Generations.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples a question that still speaks to us today:
“Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is upon this rock, this confession of faith in Jesus Christ, that Christ promises to build His Church. This scripture is the foundation of On This Rock: Building for Generations, our building campaign and shared vision for the future of our church, academy, and preschool.

For more than 200 years, God has worked through generations of faithful disciples at Weddington to share the gospel. As we look to the future, our mission remains the same: to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The facilities we are exploring are not the mission themselves, but tools to help us worship with passion, grow in faith, proclaim the gospel with grace, and humbly serve in love. We invite you to click here to learn more about the vision, the needs of our growing ministries, and the opportunities before us, as His church.
Heritage Video
Where We Are
Make an impact
Where We've Been

The Vision

God is at work at Weddington through our church, academy, and preschool. Our unified vision is to create spaces that support God's mission and ministry for generations to come. Through thoughtful expansion and intentional design, we're preparing a unified campus that welcomes more people, strengthens discipleship and education, fosters community, and equips us to share the love of Christ.
New Education Space

Where We've Been

1824

The Boswell family donated four acres to establish Sandy Ridge Methodist at the crossroads where Weddington Methodist Church stands today. The church was later named for Reuben Weddington, a descendant of the Boswell family.

1824

Church members built the first sanctuary by hand, creating a place for worship and community. Early baptism records from 1837 included both enslaved and free individuals.

1890

A second sanctuary was built alongside Weddington School and a parsonage, expanding opportunities for worship, education, and ministry as the church continued to serve the growing community.

1890

The Weddington School property remained closely connected to the church through generations of change. Repurchased in 1979, the school building was dedicated as the Weddington Community Center in 1984.

1901

Reuben Weddington bequeathed hundreds of acres to the church, an extraordinary act of generosity that helped establish a lasting foundation for future ministry, discipleship, and growth.

1925

The third sanctuary was built of brick at a cost of $8,500. Today, this historic building continues to serve the church through administrative offices and the Sandy Ridge Room.

1972

Under the leadership of Rev. Ernest Stephens, a new Fellowship Hall was built for $145,000, providing much-needed space for the growing congregation to gather, connect, and share in fellowship.

1980

Weddington Christian Preschool was established in the Fellowship Hall, providing a nurturing, Christ-centered environment for young children to learn and grow in faith. Its ministry continues today.

1990

Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Lenny Stadler, the congregation voted to renovate the former Weddington School property for expanded worship, education, and children's ministry, moving "on the hill" in May 1991.

1997

The fourth and current sanctuary was dedicated on March 2, providing expanded worship space to welcome a growing congregation and create new opportunities for worship and discipleship.

2001

Weddington Christian Academy opened in a small building on the church's lower lot, beginning a ministry dedicated to providing quality, Christ-centered education and nurturing students academically and spiritually.

2004

The Family Life Center was built to accommodate continued congregational growth. In 2011, Weddington Christian Academy moved into the facility, expanding opportunities for Christ-centered education and ministry.

2012

Marvin Methodist became part of the Weddington church family, expanding ministry into surrounding communities. Today, the campus houses the Weddington Christian Counseling Center and other ministries of care and support.

2013

Bonds Grove Methodist joined the Weddington church family, expanding opportunities for worship, fellowship, and discipleship. Today, the campus supports Sunday worship, preschool programs, Bible studies, and community gatherings.

2014

Benton Heights Methodist became Weddington's Monroe Campus, expanding outreach through bilingual worship, English language classes, Homework Help, and other ministries serving the surrounding community.

2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, weekly recorded worship services kept the congregation connected. This new approach to ministry grew into a thriving Online Campus, reaching people wherever they are.

2023

The Brazilian congregation joined the Weddington church family, expanding ministry across cultures and communities through weekly Portuguese-language worship, fellowship, and opportunities for spiritual growth.

2024

Weddington Methodist Church affiliated with the Global Methodist Church as membership surpassed 5,000, marking another milestone in the continued growth of its congregation, academy, preschool, and ministries.

Where We Are

2025 – Listening & Discernment

The Vision Team met with Weddington church staff, lay leaders, Weddington Christian Academy and Weddington Christian Preschool leadership, and the Aspen Group to listen, learn, and better understand the challenges and limitations of our current facilities. These conversations helped identify where our spaces are limiting ministry today and what may be needed to support Weddington’s mission and ministry.

March 2026 – Sharing the Vision

The Vision Team invited the congregation and school families to a church-wide meeting to share what had been learned through the listening and visioning process. Together, we explored our current facility needs, the opportunities before us, and how our spaces and campuses can support who God is calling Weddington to be today and for future generations.

April 2026 – Moving Forward Together

Our congregation gathered for a Called Church Conference to consider the vision for Weddington’s future facilities. Following prayer, discussion, questions, the congregation voted to move forward with the next phase of detailed design work in partnership with the Aspen Group. The stories shared during this meeting remind us that this vote is ultimately not just about a building design, but about fulfilling the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ and the vision for the future ministry and mission of His church.  

November 2026 – Detailed Design

We are now in the detailed design phase, continuing our partnership with the Aspen Group to further develop and refine plans for potential future facilities. This work will help us better understand what is possible, what is needed, and how future spaces could support the mission and ministries of Weddington Methodist Church.
As this work continues, we look forward to gathering for another church-wide update to share our progress and the next steps in the process.

Make an Impact Now

We invite you to be part of what God is doing at Weddington Methodist Church. As we prayerfully consider the future of our church and the spaces needed to support ministry for generations to come, there are meaningful ways for everyone to participate. Through prayer, staying informed, asking questions, and sharing in the vision, we can move forward together.

Prayer

Join us in praying for wisdom, discernment, and unification  as we seek God's direction. We ask for prayer over The Aspen group, our leadership teams, staff, and church family.

Stay Engaged

Stay informed and engaged as we share updates on the vision, design process, and next steps. Your participation matters!

Support Financially

Your generosity helps move the vision forward as we prepare for the future. If you would like to financially support this next phase, there are several ways to give:
  • By Check: Mail or deliver a check to the church office. Please include “New Building Fund” in the memo line.
  • Through the Church App: Give securely through the Weddington Methodist Church app.
  • Gifts of Stock: The church can accept gifts of appreciated stock through our brokerage account. Click here for instructions.
For questions about giving or assistance with any of these options, please contact Art Kite, Executive Director of Finance.

Connect with Leadership

Have questions or want to learn more about the vision? We would love opportunities for conversation with our church leadership in smaller settings. You are a vital part of this church family! Please email vision@weddingtonchurch.org with any questions you may have regarding this process.
April's church-wide update is also available here.