Between 1812 and 1817, several families from the eastern states settled along Alum Creek. These settlers welcomed into their homes Methodist circuit riders who ministered to their spiritual needs.

In 1817, a great camp revival meeting was held. Attended by a large number of people, some of whom converted, the event was newsworthy throughout the state. Soon after, demand rose to build a permanent church. A log meeting house was erected in 1818 and served the Methodist community for 20 years.

In 1837, on land donated by Matthew and Abiah Westervelt, a new brick chapel was erected. The new church was located on a piece of land on the west side of the highway leading to what is now Galena. The Church of the Messiah stills occupies that location on State Street.

In 1838, at another successful camp meeting, it was decided to petition the Ohio Methodist Conference to establish an academy. Permission was granted and the Ohio Legislature chartered the Blendon Young Men's Seminary in 1839. Matthew Westervelt donated 25 acres of land, and his brother Peter two acres, for the campus and towns lots to be sold for the support of the Seminary. The academy prepared students for college, business, and teaching. It flourished until the establishment of Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, failing in 1844. In 1846, the grounds and buildings of the seminary were offered to the United Brethren Church in return for assuming its $1,200 debt. In 1847, Otterbein College was established.

In 1854, the Ohio Conference established Westerville from a circuit to a station, with an appointed minister and preaching every Sunday. In 1887, the Methodist Episcopal congregation built a larger church on the same site, adding an education wing in 1923. In 1959, the Westerville Methodist Church built a new sanctuary that is used to this day.

In 1968, across the United States, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged to form the United Methodist Church. The new denomination boasted some 11 million members. Each of the three United Methodist churches in Westerville chose new names significant to the mission of each church; the Westerville Methodist Church became the Church of the Messiah, United Methodist.

The 21st century still finds the Church of the Messiah honoring its original missionary roots. Partnering with two inner-city Columbus churches, New Life UM and The Church of All People, Messiah extends its hand to those needing a helping hand or a spiritual lift. The Minerva Park United Methodist Church became a satellite campus in 2006, broadening even further Messiah's outreach. Giving of expertise, time, gifts, and donations to other ministries in Central Ohio, including the Westerville Area Resource Ministry, is central to Messiah's mission. National and international missionaries are also supported by the congregation, sharing Messiah's vision from Africa to the Caribbean to New Mexico to Hawaii to Cambodia.