A church in Darlington is celebrating its 175th year this weekend. The congregation of Darlington United Methodist Church will mark the occasion with a free breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. on Sunday in the church dining hall. The church also will hold tours of its newly decorated education center during this time. Historical artifacts and memorabilia will be displayed, and live music will be provided in the sanctuary up until the start of the celebratory worship service at 10:30 am. The worship service will feature messages from Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Assistant Bishop Dan Schwerin, District Superintendent Scott Carlson, as well as from current and former pastors of the church. The church began in a log schoolhouse on the Jameson Hamilton farm in 1847. Religious services were held there until 1853, when members moved their meetings to a new schoolhouse that was built in Avon Township. A frame church was built in 1855 and this church was moved to its Main Street location on the site of the current church, which was constructed in 1886.
