In 1902, we came to the building of the church on the property here.In the first building they included Sunday School rooms, office space and the sanctuary.At that time the sanctuary was circular, the choir being on the right hand side of the pulpit in what is now affectionately called the "penalty box."The pews at that time were rounded.

During the year 1950, the sanctuary was renovated and the chancel was moved from the corner of the room and elevated to its present position under the beautiful "Ascension Window."At this time the educational addition was built which consisted of many classrooms, a ladies' parlor, and small assembly rooms.The back part of the older unit was rearranged to include a spacious fellowship hall and a complete kitchen.Within the sanctuary itself a complete remodeling was designed to make the fifty year old church conform to the modern and beautiful simplicity of the new structure.

A significant achievement of the church during the years 1956-1960 was the raising of funds for the purchase of property north of the church, including the old A & P building and a service station at Hill Street and First North.

June, 1961 found that there was already a feeling of the need for a church in Arnold Hills, a promising, developing residential area.With encouragement, the people responded and purchased a house on Wilder Street to serve as a parsonage and church.The new church, named Trinity, was officially organized with thirty-four members of First Church transferred to form a nucleus congregation with a membership of forty-nine on Charter Sunday.

During 1966-1971, the entire block on which the church is situated became the property of the church.The church purchased and razed the house on the corner of East Second North and Hill Streets, where today there is a beautiful, well-equipped playground for children.In 1968 the service station at Hill and First North, obtained by the church ten years previously, was razed.

In 1974 FUMC launched the boldest venture in its history.With the congregation outgrowing the usefulness of its building, a long, hard look was taken at plans for the future.These plans involved both present and long-range building plans.As a result of these plans, a building program was undertaken resulting in the present Christian Life Center and office complex, completed in 1983.

Construction of Phase II began in the early spring of 1993.The second phase included the installation of an elevator; the construction of eight new classrooms, including a large nursery and library; and the renovation of the old Education Building and sanctuary.The building was brought up to fire code standards by rewiring some of the older sections and a new heating and air system was installed.The congregational seating capacity was increased by 33 %.The old pews were rearranged and 14 new ones were added.The Chancel area was expanded into the music room, increasing the sanctuary's size and enlarging the choir's seating capacity to 41.The biggest and most visible addition to the church's sanctuary was the tracker pipe organ.The estimated cost of "Building for Tomorrow" was $2.6 million, being completely funded by the church through pledges, memorials and fundraising campaigns.