Unionville, Va. — Bethlehem United Methodist Church, a historic community anchor in Unionville, is facing an unexpected and costly season after major water damage and a sudden HVAC system failure forced the small congregation to halt repairs and redirect all available funds.

According to church member Darlene Thompson, the trouble began a few months ago when the church was checking routine maintenance items and uncovered extensive water damage in the Fellowship Hall. The damage stretched across multiple areas, including the kitchen, bathrooms, pastor’s office, and classroom spaces.

Insurance covered the structural repairs and even left the church with a small amount of additional funds to tackle some long-needed updates. But just as things were beginning to move forward, the Fellowship Hall’s HVAC unit abruptly failed—wiping out every remaining dollar.

“We had to stop everything we were working on,” Thompson said. “All the money we had set aside for repairs had to go straight toward the HVAC so we could continue using the space.”

Bethlehem UMC is known throughout Unionville for its generosity, offering multiple free community events every year:

• Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner
• Easter Celebration
• Trunk-or-Treat
• Upcoming Free Turkey Dinner

With a mostly older congregation and many members unable to attend regularly, fundraising is a challenge. Still, the church continues its mission of serving neighbors—often at no cost.

Recently, Bethlehem UMC held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser with the help of their sister church, which loaned its fellowship hall while Bethlehem’s own space remains under repair. Thompson said the dinner helped, but the church also received some unexpected criticism from a few people for charging a small fee.

“It surprised us,” Thompson said. “Almost everything we do for the community is free. This was simply to help us keep the doors open.”

Bethlehem United Methodist has stood in Unionville for generations, serving as a quiet but steadfast presence. Like many rural historic churches, it now faces aging buildings, limited resources, and repair bills that rise faster than donations can come in.

Thompson said the congregation remains grateful for the support they’ve received—whether through small donations, shared volunteer time, or community encouragement. But more help is needed before repairs can resume.

“Our goal is simple,” she said. “We want to finish the repairs, open our Fellowship Hall again, and continue serving this community the way we always have.”

Jen Bailey

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