Methodism in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had its beginnings in May 1835, when Reverend John Clark, a circuit rider sponsored by the New York Conference, formed the Milwaukee Mission. A year later a church was formed with Mark Robinson as the first minister and a congregation of over fifty members. In subsequent years that church underwent several location and name changes. In 1837 the church adopted as its name the Methodist Episcopal Church of Milwaukee. Its second building was constructed in 1845 on the northwest corner of West Water and Spring Streets; two years later the church was renamed the Spring Street Methodist Church to distinguish it from other Methodist churches being formed in Milwaukee. In 1870 a new building was constructed on the corner of Spring and Fifth Streets; seven years later the name of the church was changed to the Grand Avenue Methodist Church in order to conform with the renaming of Spring Street as Grand Avenue. The congregation built a new church on Grand Avenue between Tenth and Eleventh Streets in 1908. In 1927 the congregation's name was changed to the First Methodist Church, although the official name was the First Methodist Church of Spring Street Station.
The Wesley Methodist Church had its origins in missionary activities among Milwaukee Methodism. In September 1883 the City Missionary and Church Extension Society purchased a lot on Washington Avenue and in the following year the Washington Avenue Church was dedicated. This congregation was tied to the Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church as eighteen members (out of a total of nineteen members) transferred from the older congregation. Due to increases in membership a larger church was needed within twenty years. This building, which was named the Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church, was dedicated in 1905.
By the 1960s, however, both congregations had begun to suffer a loss of membership due to the movement of many of their members to the suburbs. In June 1969 First Methodist and Wesley Church met this problem by merging, with Ensworth Reisner of First Methodist serving as pastor of the new church. Prior to the merger a portion of the first Methodist building was torn down to accommodate some expressway construction, and ultimately the entire building was razed. As a result the merged church worshipped in the Wesley Church building. In 1981 the Wesley building was destroyed and a new building constructed on the original site, 639 North 25th Street.
Both of these Methodist congregations exhibited considerable interest in their history, and the collection contains several histories and anniversary publications for researchers needing more detailed information.
