Founded on 5 March 1899 during the American Occupation, it was originally named Central Methodist Episcopal Church.

Thereafter, the first Protestant worship service in the Philippines was held on 28 August 1898 and was officiated by Rev.

During the Philippine–American War, the congregation separated itself from the American component, who transferred its services to the YMCA and was organised in 1899.

Its first chapel was completed on December 23, 1901 and was replaced by a structure made of stone in November 1906.

[2] During the Liberation of Manila in 1945, the Central UMC was severely damaged and rendered unusable by the fighting between the combined Filipino and American troops and the Japanese Imperial forces.