Our History
Corkran Memorial Methodist Church was formally organized in 1954, and the church building was erected in 1957, but the church had its beginnings years earlier. At that time, Dr. and Mrs. Clarence H. Corkran dreamed of a church on their lovely Moore Park Estate in Temple Hills, Maryland, as a memorial to the Corkran family. They knew that when metropolitan Washington grew outward towed Temple Hills, a church would be needed.
In November, 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Milstead of the St. Barnabas - Temple Hills area made a direct appeal to Dr. George L. Connor, pastor of Congress Heights Methodist Church, where they attended, to consider establishing a sister church in the Temple Hills area. Congress Heights responded by providing part of the support for a pastor for several months. On November 22, 1953, a group of 39 people met at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Corkran to discuss the founding of a new Methodist Church. Under the leadership of Dr. Corkran, at that time a retired Methodist minister and member of historic Baltimore Conference, this group dedicated itself to establishing a new church: Dr. and Mrs. Corkran donated three acres of their estate for this purpose.
Flyers announcing the formation of the new church were distributed in the area, and worship services were held at Mr. and Mrs. Milstead's home on Sunday afternoons. When spring arrived, the new church group returned to the Corkran's home (located where the Recreation Center building below the church is now situated), where they held worship services and Sunday School all summer on their lawn.
In June, 1954, Bishop G. Broomley Oxnam appointed Rev. James L. Matheson as Pastor. He arrived in Temple Hills on June 7, met a week later with 20 interested people, and set up a constituting conference on October 3rd. In September the congregation had moved into the new Temple Hills Elementary School (located just above the Corkran's home) with the intention of erecting a building as soon as possible.
On October 3, 1954, the church was officially organized with 83 charter members. An Official Board of 25 was elected. An architect was hired, and a modified colonial architecture chosen. Groundbreaking took place on December 1, 1956, for the first of three proposed units.
On September 22, 1957, the opening worship service and cornerstone laying ceremony were held. Within the first three years, church membership had passed the 250 mark and Sunday School enrollment was 278. The church became the sponsor of Boy Scout Troop 410. The church also sponsored Temple Hills Kindergarten, which was founded in 1955 and later became Corkran Methodist Preschool. The church membership grew by leaps and bounds because of the new subdivisions, which were filled with young families who produced many baby boomers. An addition to the original church building was made in 1967 to provide Sunday School space. By 1967, an Assistant Minister was hired. Nine ministers have served Corkran as well as seventeen Wesley Seminary Assistants.
The Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches merged in 1968 to become The United Methodist Church, which caused our name to be changed to Corkran Memorial United Methodist Church.
The organ, a Series 135 combination pipe/electric instrument built by the Rodgers Organ Company of Hillsboro, Oregon, was dedicated on November 16, 1980. This organ was moved to the new sanctuary when it was constructed.
Ground breaking for a new sanctuary took place July 7, 1991. The first service in the new building was held at 10:30 a.m. on November 15, 1992. On May 23, 1993, at 4:00 p.m., the Consecration Service was presided over by Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel. Ten charter members attended the Consecration Service.
