Our history
The first known Church in this area was LEBANON UNION CHURCH, built about 1855 and burned by the Northern army in the retreat after the Battle of Bull Run. Prior to the Civil War, Lincolnia was called LEBANON. A Methodist Church was chartered in Lebanon on May 11th, 1864. In 1870, Levi Deming suggested naming the community Lincoln to honor President Lincoln. A post office was established in 1875 and as another Lincoln, Virginia, existed it was renamed Lincolnia. In 1876 a Methodist Church was built on Lincolnia Road on land given by Levi Deming. In 1905 a parsonage was built on Lincolnia Road on land given by Eunice Barnum.
In the early days, our church was on the Fairfax circuit, later it was on the Arlington-Lincolnia Circuit. In 1912 we became a part of the East Fairfax Charge in the Baltimore Conference. Our Minister often served seven churches. We became a two-point circuit in 1942 with Franconia. In 1953 we became a separate Charge with our first full time Minister. After 79 years on Lincolnia Road we had outgrown that space and on May 8, 1955, land was purchased at the corner of Route 236 (Little River Turnpike) and Lincoln Avenue. Opening day services were held in the new Educational building one hundred years after the first church was built in Lebanon in 1855.
In May 1964, we held a four-day celebration of our 100th year. A new sanctuary was built and consecrated May 9, 1965, on our 101st anniversary. In May 1986, the church note was burned, and our sanctuary was dedicated.
In 1968, when the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church merged, we became the “Lincolnia United Methodist Church”.
In the 1970s, besides already being a multi-generational congregation, Lincolnia UMC started becoming multi-ethnic. By the 1990s on any given Sunday, attendees might be from 10-20 nations, including natives of Northern Virginia, various other states in the United States, Sierra Leone, Ghana, the Philippines, Canada, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Korea, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), India, Afghanistan, and several other countries. Because of various transitions over the last several years – and most notably in 2014 when Arlington UMC closed and the West African congregation that had met there joined the Lincolnia congregation.
Our worship services continue to reflect our Wesleyan heritage.
Our Mission & Vision
The Mission of Lincolnia United Methodist Church is to share Christ’s love for all people everywhere.
Our Vision: We are a congregation where all persons are welcomed, nurtured, and sent out as disciples of Jesus Christ.
What to expect when you visit
ALL are welcome at the Sunday morning worship service. It begins at 11:00 a.m. and usually finishes around 12:30 p.m. You will find that currently 90+ percent of worshipers are of West African heritage. Ushers will provide you with a printed order of worship that specifies the scripture readings, hymns, prayers, and other helpful information. The order of worship is also provided on big screens in the sanctuary.