Seville United Methodist Church was established in 1826 by The Rev. John Hazzard as part of the Black River Circuit — which extended from Lake Erie on the north to Wayne County on the south, and from the Cuyahoga River on the east to the Firelands on the west. If you were writing a Hollywood script about a frontier circuit rider, you couldn’t make up any better name than “John Hazzard.”

Hazzard was interesting in that he had other careers besides preaching. He was also a schoolteacher and farmer. While many circuit riders died in their 30s due to the strain of the work and exposure to the elements, Hazzard spent 65 years in ministry and lived to the age of 90. He’s buried not far from Seville in West Salem’s Hazzard Cemetery.

The Seville Methodist Society met in homes and schoolhouses before constructing a frame building in 1830. It was the first church in the village. Seville itself had been founded by Henry Hosmer of Connecticut in 1816. The cornerstone of today’s brick building was laid in 1859. The church underwent significant expansions and renovations in 1905 and 1951.

In 1968, the Methodist Church and the United Brethren Church merged denominations to form the present-day United Methodist Church. That same year in Seville, the Fellowship Hall addition was constructed, including classrooms, a nursery and commercial kitchen. The project was made possible by a donation of $85,000 from Seville’s Fred and Ida Mae Lowrey. Church members pledged an additional $60,000 over three years. That would total more than $1 million today.

In 1974, a blizzard shut down area highways. Farmers used tractors to ferry stranded travelers to the church for food and shelter. Many members hosted families in their homes. In all, the church served 500 beleaguered travelers in 24 hours.

This church is a vital part of community life in Seville. The building is utilized throughout the week for Scouting events, concerts, meetings, Red Cross blood drives, Seville Historical Society dinners, Seville Kiwanis Club pancake breakfasts, and more.

For almost 200 years, Seville United Methodist Church has been a beacon of God’s grace in the community. It’s a place where children and adults can grow in their faith, and where God’s love is put into action by serving our neighbors in Seville and around the world.