History

Highland United Methodist Church began in the spring of 1919. According to Mrs. T.W. Murphy's historical sketch dated 1930-31, a small union Sunday School was organized that spring. The idea originated in the minds of a few Christian men and was put into effect shortly after in the Walthall home. The Walthall home, which was surrounded by stately oak trees, was a large, beautiful residence with a wide veranda on both front and side. It was located on the Turnpike (now the Boulevard) on property which now is the Pickwick Shopping Center. In the meeting held on the veranda of the Walthall home, it was agreed that all of those in attendance would join the church. The church would be whatever denomination was represented by the majority of those present. When the count was made, the Methodists had one more member than the Baptists, so the first church in Colonial Heights came to be Methodist.

Mrs. Murphy's historical sketch reported that there were 22 charter members and that 17 others joined by the fall of 1919. However, a recent review of the original register of members revealed that there were in fact 24, and not 17, who joined by December 1919, with the exception of Mrs. T.E. Talbott whose is listed as joining the church on January 5, 1920. So steadily did the attendance grow that ministers from Petersburg and Chester were invited to preach. In November 1919, the Virginia Conference sent Reverend J.G. Unruh to become the pastor.

Services were first held in a tent obtained from a band of gypsies staying in the vicinity. The tent was accidentally burned shortly thereafter and was replaced with a larger one. It was moved twice as the community grew.

When the church construction began, Mr. Jacob Savage of Washington Street Methodist Church and Mr. G.C. Wright of Market Street Church, now Trinity United Methodist Church, offered to raise two dollars for every dollar raised in Colonial Heights. Mr. Savage was elected to supervise the building program. The name Highland was derived from the subdivision on which the site is located. Two lots on Westover Avenue were donated by Watson Realty Company and five additional lots were purchased. The church cornerstone was laid in April 1920, and the Reverend George E. Booker gave the address. For several weeks, the balcony was used for worship services until the main auditorium was ready for occupancy.

The first Sunday School building was salvaged from a Y.M.C.A. building at Camp Lee. The structure was taken down and rebuilt by church volunteers and other friends. The second year saw completion of a parsonage built from material formerly used as the official hostess house at Camp Lee. The Friendship Bible Class donated a bell for the church. The bell came from the Market Street Firehouse in Petersburg.

By the fall of 1947, Highland was in need of more space. A number of Sunday School classrooms were added to the back of the church, and the sanctuary was remodeled extensively . By spring, work had progressed to the point that the church building had to be vacated for about four months. During this time, worship services were held and some Sunday School classes met in the Flora M. Hill School, the Regent Movie Theater, and Arnette's Restaurant.

Other milestones in Highland's history:

In 1958, the Sunday School building that was purchased from Camp Lee was razed and replaced by a modern educational building. The interior of the church was painted and new pulpit furniture purchased.
In 1963, air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary. Property for a large parking lot was acquired by purchasing two houses on Richmond Avenue.
On November 4, 1967, ground was broken for a new parsonage which was built in the Highland Court section of Colonial Heights. The old parsonage remained valuable to the church for future use.
In 1969, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary, the sanctuary was redecorated, and new pews, carpet, and cathedral style lighting fixtures were installed. Individual members pledged the needed money for these extensive improvements before any work was started and no debt was incurred.
In 1973, a new Seville organ was purchased.
Between 1984 and 1989, two vans were purchased, an outside ramp and chair lift to the Fellowship Hall were installed, a new sound system was installed in the sanctuary, and a baby grand piano was purchased.
In 1987, the Building Committee began work for a Fellowship Hall to include seating for 300, a commercial kitchen, an elevator, and a covered access into the building.
In 1994, a bid was accepted for construction of the new Fellowship Hall.
In 1995, the Fellowship Hall cornerstone was laid and the building dedicated.
In 1996, a new steeple was installed.
In 1998, a bell tower was constructed, and the stained glass windows in the sanctuary were restored.
In 2001, the Sanctuary was re-painted, and new carpet was installed.