Our History
Mount Hope United Methodist Church has a history that spans two centuries and is similar to the development of the nation.
The Church in Aston had its beginning in the Colonial era and is continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ in the computer age. Founded in 1807, just 31 years after the formation of the United States, Mount Hope was among the nation's early churches. Many of the founders of Mount Hope lived in the area of the Church before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The area was close to the site of the Battle of the Brandywine in the early period of the American Revolutionary War. Gen. George Washington's Continental Army, which was retreating in defeat from the battle, passed through the area enroute to Philadelphia. Gen. Cornwallis' British forces and mercenary Hession troops camped in the vicinity of the present Church with Washington's forces taking refuge closer to Chester.
The beginning of Mount Hope was associated closely with the development of the Methodist denomination in America. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church in England, called on followers to help establish the movement in America. Francis Asbury, a young preacher, and two others volunteered to go to help the growth of Methodism in America.
Asbury visited the young congregation in Aston on five occasions between 1785 and 1810. They met in the home of Aaron Mattson, organizer of the young church. The house is located on Red Hill Road, northeast of the present Church site. In 1807, Mattson donated an acre of ground nearby for construction of the original church building, known as Mount Chapel.
The growth of the congregation required a larger church building which was constructed during 1898-1899. Therefore, the original small, white stone building was razed and replaced by a larger gray stone church with bell tower.
Residential development in Aston Township during and after World War II changed the area from rural to suburban. The influx of people created tremendous growth in the size of the Mount Hope congregation and Sunday School. All but the bell tower of the 1899 building was torn down and the present sanctuary was consecrated on November 13, 1960 with construction of the new education facilities following. A second floor was added to the education wing in 1971.
The Church is presently in a new period of membership growth under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Dr. Thomas McGill, Senior Pastor. The growth is occurring in both numbers and spiritual fervor. A very special historic event occurred in 2007 when Mount Hope Church observed the 200th anniversary of the building of the first church.
