The Parkview United Methodist Church, formerly known as Westgate Methodist Church, is truly of the community. In 1941, community residents expressed an interest in having a church in the area, held planning meetings at a neighborhood home, and then held their first service at West High School on December 7th, 1941. Services continued at the high school until 1944 when the current church site was purchased. Members of the congregation started building in 1944, and once the basement was built, services were held in it until the building was complete. On rainy days, parishioners would rush to get a good spot in the basement because if they arrived too late, they would end up with wet shoes and clothes due to flooding. The congregation consecrated the completed church in 1956.
The Neo-Gothic architecture of the Parkview United Methodist Church was designed by Ralph Orr, the same architect of Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church on Broad St. The church is built of native stone with Indiana Limestone trim. The 18 hand-blown lancet glass windows display Jesus Christ’s life from birth through Resurrection. They were produced locally in Westerville at the Heizer Art Glass Studio for $8,000. In addition to these beautiful windows, also note the rose – or round – window which dates back to the 12th century. To fund this addition, congregation members individually sponsored a stained glass pane for the window.
The church bell was installed in 1956 thanks to the contribution of church members Chuck and Louise Nell, and the six-ring pipe organ was installed in 2002. It was purchased from the former Burgess Ave. United Methodist Church; however, in order to move it, the pipe organ needed to be disassembled and reassembled. So, each piece of the organ was numbered to ensure that everything would be in its proper place. And, true to its past, congregation members moved the organ and reassembled it in the church where it still stands today.