History of Open Hearts Church
The record of the Methodist in the Wright City community has been over 120 years in the
making.

In 1866-67 a small group of Methodist erected a one room white frame building in Wright
City. The Reverend Enoch M. Marvin first led the congregation known as the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. He preached the dedication sermon in the new building that served
the congregation for approximately forty-four years. Reverend Marvin was later elected the
first Bishop from Missouri. In 1920 Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church North moved their
congregation into town. Differences between the two groups dating back to the Civil War
had by now been overcome so that the two congregations could unite. The new Union
Methodist Episcopal Church was built on the corner of Second and Cherry Streets in Wright
City. The congregation, in November of 1992, moved from the corner of Second and Cherry
Streets to eight acres of land and new facilities located on Bell Road north west of down
town. In December 2005 the church voted to be renamed Open Hearts Church.