In 1813, when Ohio was in its infancy, Conrad Dillman preached from cabin to cabin in Green. He connected settlers to each other and their God.

It's not much different today. The church that Dillman planted, Greensburg United Methodist Church, continues to connect families and the community.

"The church is blessed with faithful people," said Rev. Mitch Hennessey, Greensburg United Methodist Church's pastor since 2005. "As in the past we presently have many who made sacrifices so the church could be here — not just for now but in the future."

Greensburg United Methodist Church has a history as old as Green. Dillman, a preacher from Pennsylvania, started the Greensburg Circuit of the Evangelical Church in Ohio. His home, which still stands at 1480 Greensburg Rd., was the center of worship until a church was erected.

With the help of Adam Klinfelter, the first presiding elder, the first permanent organization of Evangelical Association in Greensburg was established. The first Evangelical Church building, erected at 2200 Greensburg Rd., was the first in Ohio.

The church was a hub of activity for Green. By 1855, a seminary was built. The original boarding house, today an apartment building on Greensburg Road near the Massillon Road intersection, still stands.

"The seminary was a school similar to Western Reserve Academy," said Hennessey, a Manchester native.

The church's circuit served the communities of Greentown, McDonaldsville and New Berlin (North Canton today).

By 1889, the church was ready for a larger building. They built at 2200 Greensburg Rd. and remained at that location until 1967.

Greensburg United Methodist Church will celebrate their history Sept. 13 with a dinner catered by Outback Steak House. Their current church building, located at 2161 Greensburg Road, will be 40 years old.

"I grew up next door to the white church," recalled Danny Koontz. "Dad was the custodian and I used to dust the pews. I mowed the lawn and we played a lot of baseball on that lawn. And we broke a lot of windows too. But the church was just a large part of my life."

Betty Gross, who has served as the church organist from more than 50 years, remembers the old church's organ and the coal furnace. "It was cold many mornings."

Gross was an "East Liberty kid" and she learned to play the organ at her East Liberty church. "My father loved music. One day they asked me to substitute for them (the Greensburg congregation)." Little did Gross know she would end up being the church organist and the leader of the handbell choir. "When my husband was in the service, and throughout the years, this church - this congregation - has meant so much to me."

George Ayers, founder of Ayers Insurance Agency, was an "East Liberty kid" just like Gross. "I went to Pleasant valley and I was involved in the young people's church group. I fell in love with a girl at this church (his wife Donna) and I started going here."

Ayers served on the building committee in the early 1960s to build the current church facility. "The building committee was a great bunch of guys," Ayers recalled. "I can't think of any arguments. We had disagreements, but they were minor."

Ayers recalled it took time to find a location for the church 40 years ago. "We were fortunate when this property became available," said Ayers. "Later, when the property next door went up for sheriff's sale, we bought it. It allowed us to expand."

"We needed a new church," recalled Koontz. "The old one had a low basement and there were steel cables installed to keep the walls from falling apart. We simply outgrew the old building."

While it may have been falling apart, Karen Ayers, George and Donna's daughter, fondly remembers confirmation classes in that low basement. "I can remember to this day what I wore for confirmation. I learned so much and had so much fun with that class. I'll never forget confirmation. It has special memories."

As the church grew, the facility has not sit idle. Throughout the week, the building is used by Green Good Neighbors, Boy Scout troops, AARP, MOMS Club, a community men's basketball and softball league, bereavement classes, and an assortment of classes.

"The pattern continues," said Hennessey. "We have a church that was and is concerned about the community, our children and youth. We are a place that wants to make the community better. We connect people."