The history of Salem resembles a picture puzzle visualized in six time periods: 1788-1858, 1858-1890, 1890-1922, 1922-1951, 1951-1960, and 1960 to present. All of the early local church records were burned in a farmhouse in the late 1800's.  The Montgomery County Records and the Baltimore Conference Records before 1857 were also destroyed. However, the 1857 circuit records clearly established a congregation at Cedar Grove.

 

     Salem’s history began in the small farming community of Cedar Grove where a hand full of people gather in their neighbors' homes on a weekly basis to worship God.  This small group of worshipers had established a new congregation that would become Salem Methodist Episcopal Church in 1788.  As a new church, Salem became part of the newly formed Frederick Circuit which was established in 1785.  As an offspring of the Frederick Circuit, the Montgomery Circuit was formed in 1858, serving the work of Clarksburg, Hyattstown, Bennett’s Creek, Barnesville, Poolesville, Wesley Grove (which was known as _ Chestnut Grove), Bethesda, and Damascus

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     In the early 1800's, the Salem congregation-became-to large.to continue meeting in members' homes, and decided to hold worship services in the original Cedar Grove School. The Cedar Grove School was a one-room, log cabin structure located on the southwest comer of Davis Mill and Watkins Roads next to the home of William Soper.  The school was known as either the "Locust Level School" or the-''Soper's School".

 

     During the period from 1788 through the late 1800's, Salem planted its permanent roots and much growth and organization occurred.  In 1869, Salem Church received its first property, 3/5 of an acre of land deeded on May 24, 1868 for the construction of a new church.  Several months later, our first church, a one-room, log cabin structure was built on the site where Brownings Pools now stands.  In 1885, an addition was built to the original church, to care for the increase in membership.

 

     In 1890, the Laytonsville Circuit was formed by the Annual Conference. Salem,

Damascus, and Wesley Grove churches were taken from the Montgomery Circuit, and St. Paul's, Mt. Tabor, and Etchinson churches were taken from the Rockville Circuit to form the new appointment.   The parsonage for this area was located in Laytonsville and the ministers would stay with parishioners in the Cedar Grove area when preaching here.

 

     In 1906, Joseph and Harriet Sibley gave seventy-five square perches of land for a cemetery which would be locate behind the church.

 

 

     Our present church was erected in 1907, a one-story, two-bay fame structure located just to the south of the original church, which was destroyed by a fire.  It was built to contain the sanctuary part of our present church which was used for both worship services and the Sunday School.

 

     A parsonage was built on Rockville Pike on mile south of Damascus on land donated by William A Baker.  

 

     Salem remained a part of the Damascus Circuit for the next 29 years and during this time much growth took place, physically as well as spiritually. Between the years of 1922 and 1938, the Ladies Aid Society would serve their famous-church dinners, a tradition that would continue until the mid 1980's, at the Cedar Grove School located on Ridge Road. It was· here in this two-room schoo1, that the congregation would present their plays, pageants, and musicals.  

 

     In June of 1934, The Salem Cemetery Association was created for the perpetual care of the ­ cemetery.  

 

     A new recreational and educational building with a partial basement was built and dedicated on September 18, 1938.  A new heating system was installed, the sanctuary and church grounds beautified, the re-organization of the Sunday School, among other improvements.

 

     In 1940, the unification of churches took place, and Salem became known as Salem Methodist Church. The Ladies Aid Society became known as the Women Society of Christian Service.

 

     The basement under the Social Hall was completed in 1944.  

 

     In the fall of 1948, the electric organ was purchased for the church and the present cemetery fence was erected.  

 

     In 1951, Salem church was made a station as a student appointment church. Our student minister was sent to Salem in June of that year.  During this ministry, the first quarterly conference was held at Salem.   Salem received 112 acres of land, located 1/3 mile north of the church for the building of a new parsonage.  

 

     The parsonage debt was paid off in late 1954.  The congregation excavated under the Sanctuary to finish the basement to provide much needed space for the growing Sunday School.  The Social Hall upstairs was redecorated and partitioned off for classrooms, and a new kitchen was planned and finished in February of 1958.

 

     In June of 1956. the congregation redecorated the sanctuary and a new altar was built. New light fixtures were added to the sanctuary, and landscaping of the grounds took place.  .

 

     In 1960, Salem became a full time appointment church and we received our first full time minister.  During this time a frame was added for a back drop to the altar, a lectern and pulpit were built, and aluminum siding was installed on the exterior of the church.   A bulletin board was erected on the front yard along with the post light donated by the Senior and Junior Methodist Youth Fellowships.  

 

     In June of 1961, there was an increase in church attendance and for the first time Conference apportionments were paid in full. The congregation began to project to the future   and the hopes of building a new church and made the decision to buy property

 

     During the period from 1965 to 1967 the church nursery was organized so more young couples could attend worship service.   The congregation decided to purchase 5-3/4 acres of land located on the comer of Burdette (now Piedmont) and Hawkes Roads for a future building site.

 

     Between 1967 and 1971the flood lights were erected in the church yard and the final steps were taken to purchase the land on the comer of Burdette and Hawkes Roads. The United Brethren Evangelical Church and the Methodist Church merged to form the United Methodist Church.   

 

     The church received  the charillea chimes,  the choir pews, and the Christian  and American flags for the Sanctuary.