New Avon Salem United Methodist Church began as the Evangelical Association, organized on May 18, 1896, during a meeting in the Louie Beyer home in New Avon Township. About 40 charter members formed the congregation, and services were conducted in German for many years. A few months after its organization, the congregation built a church on land secured for $1.00 from Gotlib and Rosa Hauptli. Pioneer families at New Avon included Beyer, Bill, Buerger, Dahms, Datwyler, Fritz, Georgius, Grundt, Hauptli, Heath, Lindeman, Luescher, Murset, Reinke, Richert, Stassen, Weber, and Werder, and a remnant of these original families was still attending church there in 2002. The church was marked by true repentence, thorough conversions, and holy living, and its members were known for integrity, honesty, and wholehearted hospitality. Its name changed over time from Evangelical Church in 1896 to Evangelical United Brethren in 1946 and to New Avon Salem United Methodist in 1968.