The Russell United Methodist Church has a long history of serving first Russellburg, then Russell citizens.

According to church history, the first physical church was built in 1852, on the corner of Fox Hill Road and Akeley Hollow Road, less than a mile east of the Conewango Creek. Before then, services were conducted in private homes.

The church was remodeled in 1903, and again in 1922. In 1940, the Men’s Bible Class excavated a basement beneath the church for a classroom, and in 1954, the basement was enlarged to include a kitchen and dining room.

Behind the church, Wesleyan Hall was built in 1964. In 1970, the parsonage was completely remodeled.

A capital campaign was initiated to finance a ministry center in 2000, but cost estimates increased substantially, and a new architect was hired.

The building committee weighed options and decided to build a single-story facility with both a ministry center and a new sanctuary, but the county zoning board did not approve the plan. The committee reevaluated options and decided to keep the existing sanctuary, and add the ministry to the south side, connecting all of the facilities.

Cost estimates far exceeded the budget. Despite efforts to cut costs, the financial situation in 2008 prevented the church from acquiring the funds needed for construction. In 2012, the building committee met again, following a “town hall” meeting with the congregation and interested parties, to not only begin anew the ministry project, but to reinforce the balcony in the sanctuary.

Repair of the balcony began in March, 2013, and construction of the Ministry Center began in August that same year. On July 22, 2015, an Occupancy Certificate was issued, and on Aug. 2, the church held a Consecration Service, a ribbon cutting and an open house for the new center.