Mills Memorial Being Redeveloped
- Chris Hughes
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
The Former Mills Memorial United Methodist Church Enters a Bold New Chapter
If you’ve ever walked down Broad Street and King Street, you’ve probably noticed the tall, historic church building that has stood watch for more than a century. Once filled with hymns and community gatherings, the former Mills Memorial United Methodist Church is now on its way to a completely new life.
The life of a church on the corner of Broad Street and King Street was started in 1901 as Broad Street United Brethren Church. After being deemed unsafe, a new house of worship opened in 1911 under the name Mills Memorial United Brethren in Christ Church. Over the years, as denominations shifted, so did the church’s name. In 1946, it became Mills Memorial Evangelical United Brethren Church following a merger, and in 1968—after another denominational merger and even some court disputes—it was renamed Mills Memorial United Methodist Church. The church remained a cornerstone of the community until it closed its doors for worship in 2021. To dive deeper into the history of this church, visit the “required reading” link at the end of this post.
Fast forward to today, and this landmark is ready for its next chapter. Trivium Development, LLC has announced a $4 million redevelopment project, fueled in part by a $700,000 Vibrant Community Grant from the State of Ohio.
This ambitious project not only honors the church’s nearly 125-year history but also aims to breathe new life into downtown Lancaster, serving the city’s 40,000 residents with fresh opportunities for connection and innovation.
The former church will be transformed into a bold mixed-use facility that serves as a hub for innovation and community engagement. The space will include a co-working hub where entrepreneurs can complete tasks, hold meetings, or collaborate with teams for short-term projects. A makers kitchen will also be part of the development, offering opportunities for food entrepreneurs—whether as a ghost kitchen for delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub, or as a space for restaurants and bakeries to get their start and focus on product creation. In addition, the redevelopment will feature a restaurant and new retail opportunities, though details on exactly what visitors can expect have not yet been released.
Local and state leaders are already buzzing with excitement over this project. Here’s a look at what some of them had to say about this transformative redevelopment: “We are thrilled to bring such an exciting project to Lancaster,” said Tim Spencer, president of Trivium Development. “Revitalizing this historic church into a place for innovation, dining and community gathering is both a privilege and an opportunity to contribute to the city’s momentum. We believe this space will quickly become a centerpiece for Lancaster’s growing downtown.”
“Lancaster is on the rise,” said Lancaster Mayor Don McDaniel. “By transforming this historic landmark into a hub for entrepreneurs and community activity, we are honoring our past while building a vibrant future.”
“The Mills Memorial Church has stood in Lancaster for well over a century, and I commend the community's vision and the partnerships created to renew and transform this historic structure,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “The revitalization of the Mills Memorial church will serve future generations by restoring an important part of Lancaster’s heritage while creating opportunities that will attract jobs and commercial activity downtown.”
Required Reading:
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