All About Heathsville UMC

Our Theological Stance

  • Our beliefs are based on Holy Scripture first and foremost.
  • We believe whole heartedly that we are called to love God and Neighbor, and this believe calls us to live lives that put this love into action.
  • We believe in being a nurturing community that seeks to make disciples for the transformation of the world. We believe that we do this not only by preaching and teaching, but by being with and serving others.
  • We believe in the open minds, open doors, open hearts concept as this is how Christ himself lived in community with others.
  • Theologically we might not be in full agreement, but we believe and teach that Christ’s call for the unity of the body is greater than an individual’s desire to be right or prove someone else wrong.
  • We hold that we are incapable of knowing all truths about God and how He interacts or moves in the world and therefore we rely on our faith and the work of the Holy Spirit to guide our Christian living.

For Our Visitors

Frequently Asked Questions

What do United Methodists believe?

As a part of the worldwide United Methodist Church family, we follow a set of Bible-based, God inspired beliefs set forth by our denomination. To learn more about our beliefs, CLICK HERE.

Where should I park? Is there handicapped parking available?

There is ample parking adjacent to the church with identified handicapped parking available. Should the parking lot become filled, patrons can park on the street next to the church.

What should I expect?

We have a traditional worship service on Sundays at 10:00 am. We read responsively, sing hymns, share prayer, and enjoy the pastor’s message. We do not pass a plate for offerings; there is a plate at the entrance for those that tithe or donate to the church. One very special part of our service is when we pass the peace of Christ (which is optional) among those gathered. Each service is approximately one hour long.

At the end of each service, we have an optional fellowship time to enjoy coffee and treats in the fellowship area. On the first Sunday of the month, we share a covered dish luncheon.

Do you serve Communion?

Communion Service is held on the first Sunday of the month. We practice intinction, that is, the participant is given the consecrated bread to dip into the consecrated juice before consumption. Separate wine cups are available for congregants.

What should I wear?

Although there is no written dress code, most worshipers gather in informal or casual attire for church. No one wears shorts or t-shirts to church.

Is there Sunday School?

At this time, Heathsville UMC does not sponsor a Sunday School.

Is there Children's Church or a Nursery?

Children are a welcomed part of our Sunday worship. As such, we do not have a nursery or separate children’s church available at this time.

Is the church available for events (i.e., weddings, funerals, etc.)?

Yes. The church is available for weddings, funerals, and area organizational meetings. Its fellowship hall is used as a gathering place for such organizations as the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club, Northern Neck Beekeepers, and Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as others from time to time.

Please contact the church about holding your event(s) here.

How do I join the church?

Come join us for worship and stay for fellowship. This would be a good time and place to talk with the pastor about becoming a member. Baptism into the church or membership transfer is a relatively painless process to become a member of Heathsville UMC.

Who We Are

Meet Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Gerry Headley

Pastor

 

Rev. Dr. Gerry Headley became pastor of Heathsville United Methodist Church on July 1, 2026, bringing with him a heart for ministry and deep roots in the Northern Neck community. His family’s story has been woven into the life of the region for generations. His great-grandfather, Louis Headley, started Headley’s Railway in 1898, “becoming the first marine railway on the Potomac and below Alexandria capable of hauling large boats.” His grandfather, Gerald Headley Sr., served as a ship’s captain, carrying goods across the Chesapeake Bay between the Northern Neck and Baltimore. His father, Gerald Headley Jr., was born in the family’s Sears and Roebuck home and later married Charlotte Radovich at Heathsville United Methodist Church in 1958, adding another meaningful chapter to the family’s connection with the church.

Gerry was born in Richmond, Virginia, and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1982. He went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force, primarily as a combat search and rescue helicopter pilot flying the venerable Jolly Green Giant helicopter. He also served as a liaison and test project engineer at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and as commander of the Air Force Water Survival School in Pensacola, Florida. After retiring from the Air Force in 2005, Gerry followed a call to pastoral care, completing a Master of Divinity and then a Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He later served for ten and a half years as a hospice chaplain, walking alongside patients and families with compassion, prayer, and presence. In 2019, he “came back” to the Northern Neck to retire, only to find that God still had meaningful work for him to do—as a hospice chaplain with Hospice of Virginia and now as pastor of Heathsville United Methodist Church. When he is not preparing sermons or caring for others, Gerry enjoys woodturning with the Northern Neck Heritage Arts Center and serving as a Master Oyster Gardener with the Tidewater Oyster Growers Association (TOGA). As someone who is both connected by family roots and shaped by years away, Gerry looks forward to welcoming “born heres,” “come heres,” and everyone seeking a church home to worship at Heathsville United Methodist Church.

 

Our Church's History

eathsville United Methodist Church (HUMC) is a historic church with a forward-thinking inclusive congregation. HUMC began as a Methodist Protestant Church in 1868. Their first pastor was a circuit rider by the name of Reverend William E. Payne. In 1890, the church was invited to join the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MEC,S), but refused because of their opposition to the southern church’s earlier stance of slavery. In 1900, the church became a Methodist Episcopal Church in the Northumberland Charge. In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South rejoined to form the Methodist Church. In 1968, the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the United Methodist Church and our church became Heathsville United Methodist Church.

The church was built in 1892 and is situated in the hisstoric district of Heathsville on a triangular lot in the center of town, at the junction of Highway 360 and Rt 201. It has preserved the same wooden ceilings and floor in the original church structure. In 2011, HUMC built a new fellowship hall which supports the church with space for church and community meetings. Currently, AA, the Northern Neck Beekeepers and the local chapter of the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club meet regularly at the church. The new hall also has a kitchen and seating area that can accommodate 150 adults. In 2011 and 2017, the church added new stain glass windows to light the sanctuary. Renovations to the church bell tower were made in 2025.

Our numbers have risen and waned over the years, and while our attendance fell during the Covid outbreak, as it did for most churches and organizations, it has more than recovered and has grown from weekly attendance of around 20 a year ago to the low 30’s, with new attendees appearing often.