About Us
OUR HISTORY
Lakewood UMC is a growing Methodist church in Erie, PA that is dedicated to helping people discover, experience, and know the love and presence of Jesus Christ. Lakewood first originated from the Forest Park Sunday School under the Rev. Gilbert Lloyd in 1922. In November 1932, the church was organized with the name "The Church of Our Savior," and the name later changed to "Lakewood Methodist Episcopal Church," when the first building was erected. The cornerstone was laid on November 8, 1936 and the church basement was used for all church activities until 1948. In May 1948, the Henry Schenk Company began construction of the church building and sanctuary.
The first worship services in the church as we know it today were held on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1949. Ground was broken for a classroom building, Epworth Hall, to be added in October 1954, and the completed west wing addition was consecrated May 1, 1955. Fellowship Hall was finished the same year. The sanctuary was renovated in the spring of 1967 and stained glass windows were installed. Renovations were made to the parsonages and to Epworth Hall in the late 1970's. In the spring and summer of 1984, ground was broken and construction began to extend the east side of the church to create a driveway and wheelchair ramp, and the large front doors and steps of the church were demolished and removed; replaced by the stained glass window in the narthex and the brick garden for flowers and small trees. In 2022, the outdated sanctuary and narthex were remodeled as we looked to the future growth of our church.
To learn more about the history of Lakewood United Methodist Church click here.