This congregation traces its origins to the earliest days of Methodism in America. In March 1771, Joseph Pilmore, one of the first Methodist missionaries from England, preached outdoors at Christiana. When he returned in 1773, he observed the enthusiastic response of local residents to the message and philosophy of John Wesley, and these early efforts led to the organization of a local Methodist society whose first meetings were often held in members' homes. In October 1807, interested persons met at the home of William Wright to organize themselves into a corporate body and plan for the construction of Salem Meeting House. In 1827, Christiana residents who had worshiped at Salem bought a house from S. Johnson, dismantled it, and rebuilt it on land they purchased on the Christiana-Stanton Road, where Rev. James Ayers preached the first sermon in September that year. On July 9, 1857, the trustees of the Christiana Methodist Episcopal Church bought this land from Abraham and Mary Cannon in trust for the erection of a new place of worship. The present church was built that year at a cost of $4,000 from plans prepared by Rev. James Hand and was dedicated by Bishop Levi Scott on January 28, 1858. Civil War casualties are among the oldest graves in the adjoining cemetery.