Our History

ROOTED IN TRADITION.

Living Our Faith.

A BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF LAND

Nestled beneath the ancient oaks of St. Simons Island, Wesley Church at Frederica stands as a testament to faith, vision, and community.

Our story begins in 1986, when the A.W. Jones Family and the Sea Island Company generously gave ten acres of land to the South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. The gift included a stipulation that the church would use one acre of the parcel to establish a garden in memory of two historic Christian leaders—John and Charles Wesley, the pioneering brothers who brought the Gospel to the colony of Georgia in 1736.

Like the majestic live oaks surrounding our property today, our church’s roots go deep in the history and tradition of the Wesley brothers who lived and served in this part of St. Simons Island in the eighteenth century. Their brief but meaningful ministry at Fort Frederica remains their only American parish, and the Wesley Gardens now serve as a place of reflection and inspiration in their memory.

A New Congregation

Through the vision and leadership of the members of St.Simons Methodist Church and retired Bishop Frank Robertson, a new congregation was constituted in May of 1987—Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica.
With 117 dedicated members stepping out in faith, the congregation first gathered for worship in borrowed spaces while the foundation of their future building was being laid. By June 1988, the Wesley Gardens were dedicated, and on January 7, 1990, the growing congregation of 333 gathered for the first time within the walls of their new sanctuary, filling it with prayers, songs, and the vibrant spirit of community.

As our church family expanded, so did our vision. In June 2005, we opened the doors of a new, larger sanctuary—one built to accommodate the ever-growing number of worshippers drawn to this sacred place of grace and fellowship.

A Renewed Identity

In 2023, after much prayer and discernment, the congregation voted to embark on a new chapter, disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church and embracing a renewed identity as Wesley Church at Frederica. Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Lucas Ramirez, we continue to be a church rooted in Scripture, dedicated to worship, and committed to sharing the love of Christ with our island community and beyond. Today, Wesley is a vibrant and independent church with Wesleyan roots, tradition, history and theology.

Through every season, God’s faithfulness has been our foundation. And as we look to the future, we stand ready to walk in His calling, always seeking to be a light in this beautiful coastal community.