Hanscom Park Methodist Episcopal Church was established in the spring of 1886 by Mr. John Dale and his wife, Ellen, and five sons, in their home at 1726 S 28 Street in Omaha. Beginning with 22 charter members, eight of whom were of the Dale family, two lots were purchased for $200 at the corner of Georgia (now 29th Street) and Woolworth Avenues, followed by construction of the church building for an amount of $3,300.
In October 1886, The Reverend Hirst Millard was appointed the first pastor of the church. The church building was dedicated on March 6, 1887. Church membership at the end of the first year was 94.
By the end of five years, the congregation outgrew the building. The original building was moved to 41st and Charles Street, where it still stands today. The new church was built at the original site and dedicated on February 26, 1893, with 1,000 persons attending the dedicatory celebration. The total debt amounted to $40,000. That year Omaha’s economy had taken a sharp downturn with a nationwide depression. Through it all, membership grew to 323, with Sunday School attendance at 430.
By a decision of the international Methodist Union in 1939, the word “Episcopal” was dropped from the church’s name. Our church name became Hanscom Park Methodist Church.
On July 7, 1946, the congregation celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the church. The Rev. Dr. Everett Jackman was pastor and membership was nearly 800.
In 1954, ground was broken for a new educational unit at 29th and Woolworth Avenues, adjacent to the sanctuary, for which over $60,000 was raised in eleven days for the construction and furnishings. The building was dedicated on December 18, 1955.
In 1956, the congregation learned that their buildings were directly in the path designated for the new Interstate Highway, which included their two-year old educational unit and the 63 year old church building. They were told by the Omaha City Planning Director to vacate in 1960 or 1961. The congregation took an option to purchase a two and a quarter acre plot at 45th and Frances Streets. Membership was about 1,100 members and Sunday School enrollment of 800.
Ground breaking at 45th and Frances Street was on November 13, 1960, for the new educational unit to be constructed first. Worship services and Sunday School in the meantime was held across the street at George Norris Junior High School. With the uprooting of the congregation, many people joined other congregations.
It was hoped at this time that a new name would be selected for the church but it was never carried out. Consecration of the new wing was held on October 13, 1961. Ground breaking for the new 500 seat sanctuary was held on March 14, 1954, with dedication of the “Opening of the New Sanctuary” on March 14, 1965. Membership on May 31, 1965, was 1,007.
In 1968, St. Andrews Methodist Church located on the corner of Vinton and Valley Streets and built in 1956, merged with Hanscom Park Methodist Church.
In June 1968, a Plan of Unification was adopted between the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The name accepted was “The United Methodist Church” and the change took place January l, 1969.
Burning of the Mortgage and Dedication of the Sanctuary was celebrated on Sunday, November 6, 1977. Bishop of the Nebraska Conference Monk Bryan and Omaha District Superintendent Jerry McInnis officiated at the burning of the mortgage papers and presented the building for dedication.
In 1982, the Chancel area of the sanctuary was renovated in preparation for the new pipe organ. The floor was covered with oak parquet, the marble altar table was moved to the narthex, and the large neon cross, center front was removed and replaced by a new wooden cross suspended from the ceiling to the center of the sanctuary. The new van Daalen tracker, 16-stop organ with 894 pipes, arrived August 1982. It was built in Holland by Jan vonDaalen, disassembled and shipped to Omaha. It was re-assembled by Mr. von Daalen in the sanctuary. The renovation work and the organ was funded completely by approximately 100 members. The dedication was Sunday, December 19, 1982, with Bishop Monk Bryan, preacher, and also participating was Jerry Elrod, Omaha District Superintendent, and former minister Donald Bredthauer. Special guests were Jan and Adriana van Daalen. Dr. Alan Brandes was the organist for the service, as well as the Dedicatory Recital in the afternoon.
The Centennial celebration of Hanscom Park United Methodist Church 1886-1986 was a year-long celebration of various events, and culminating on April 19 and 20, 1986. Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn was guest preacher, and The Rev. Donald Bredthauer, liturgist.