In 1958 a council of ecumenical churches in Illinois decided the east side Bloomington/Normal community was ripe for the planting of a new congregation.  After much negotiating, permission was granted for the new church plant to come from the Central Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.  In 1959, with financial assistance from the “Joseph of Arimathea” fund and other conference funds, a farm house and land was purchased. Dr. William Bennett, District Superintendent, took special care of Calvary through wisdom and guidance in these first months.

Rev. Miley Palmer came to Calvary in June of 1963 and under his pastorate Calvary saw much growth and expansion.  In 1964 Rev. Fred Belchor joined Rev. Palmer when Pleasant Grove Methodist Church was added to the Calvary/Downs Methodist Church charge that Rev. Palmer oversaw.  In June of the following year Calvary was placed on its own charge with Rev. Palmer its lone pastor.

March of 1968 saw a building fund launched called “Our Continuing Adventure of Faith” for remodeling of the sanctuary and to build an education wing.  Construction of the expansion began under the pastorate of Rev. E. Paul Unger who was appointed to Calvary in June of 1969.  The addition was finished in 1970.  In 1978 ground was broken again at Calvary for yet another addition for the growing congregation.  This building expansion included expanded offices, nursery, fellowship hall and preschool. The building expansion was completed in 1979.

In June of 1982 Rev. David Bultemeier was appointed to Calvary when Rev. Hurt was moved to First UMC in Rock Island, IL.    In 1985 the church celebrated its 25 anniversary and the blessings God had poured upon us during that time.  In 1987, to assist Rev. Bultemeier in the growing ministry at Calvary, Rev. John Hauck was appointed to be the first full time associate pastor.  Also in 1987 Calvary was excited to participate in a pulpit exchange program from across the world.  Rev. David Stubbs from New Zealand came to Calvary for several weeks while Rev. Bultemeier pastored his church in New Zealand.

In June of 1989 Rev. Bultemeier was called to serve elsewhere and Rev. Ronald Bogart came to Calvary. He served along with Rev. Hauck until June 1993 when they were both reappointed.  Rev. Thomas Hamilton then came to us as the Directing Pastor and Rev. Debra Melzer as the Associate Pastor. 

In July, 1998 Rev. Hamilton moved on and Rev. Mary Vick Roth was appointed Directing Pastor of Calvary and served until April, 1999.  At that time Rev. Donald Jones was appointed interim Directing Pastor of the church.

Dr. Randall K. Perry, our current Directing Pastor, was appointed to Calvary in June of 1999 along with new Associate Pastor Rev. Jennie Edwards Bertrand.  A second capital campaign to fund a new church facility ended in the fall of that year.  In the winter of 1999 a congregational charge conference approved breaking ground on our current facility and the building was occupied in February 2002.

Calvary has been bursting at the seams since the new facility opened.  Most days and nights the building is filled with activities for adults, youth and children.  Our Sunday morning worship services continue to grow, as does our membership.  The first new member class of 2007 saw forty-six people join Calvary.  To accommodate our growing church family, Calvary purchased an additional 20 acres of land in the spring of 2006.  Rev. Edwards Bertrand left Calvary in June, 2006 to become director of the Wesley Foundation at Illinois State University in Normal.  Rev. Lori A. Harvey came to us in July 2006 as our new Associate Pastor.

In early 2007, Calvary launched a capital campaign, “Let it Shine!”  The goal of this three year spiritual journey is to pay off the debt incurred from purchasing the land and to have seed money in place for a new worship facility. The Calvary family has felt very blessed over the last forty years.  The congregation looks forward to the coming years where, with God’s vision and direction, we will continue to make disciples for Jesus Christ.