John Stewart United Methodist Church was organized in 1888 as The Bluefield Church with 12 members; the same year the territory of Virginia, now the East Tennessee Conference became a part of the Washington Conference. By 1897 the membership had grown to 97. The church met in several different locations in the downtown area until purchasing a building on what is now Raleigh Street. The property on Raleigh Street was sold and building began on the lots on Jones Street where John Stewart is located today.

When the congregation moved into the new edifice in 1922, it was the best equipped church building for Blacks in the State of West Virginia. The church included an incredible santuary for worship, class rooms, office, library, kitchen and an assembly hall.

In 1919, the Methodist Church had celebrated the Centenary of Methodist home missionary endeavors, lead by African American missionary John Stewart. He spent much of his time with the Wyandott Indians in Northern Ohio. He became a household name in the Methodist Church throughout America. (Learn more about missionary John Stewart here.)

The Bluefield congregation and pastor wanted to create a lasting tribute to John Stewart and thus named their church John Stewart Memorial Methodist Espiscopal Church. The cornerstone of the church bears the name of the great missionary to the Wyandott Indians.

For years, John Stewart was one of the leading churches in the East Tennessee Conference. The church hosted the Annual Conference in 1922, 1942, 1950 and 1957. John Stewart joined the West Virginia Conference in 1965, transferring from the former Central District Washington Conference.

John Stewart United Methodist Church has always placed a high emphasis on community. Throughout the years, there has been an emphasis on civic responsibility, civil rights, child development, youth, family, and education. During the period referred to by many members as the “golden era” John Stewart had approximately 500 members.