The Wesley United Methodist Church (WUMC) was founded as the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church in 1895 when Japanese immigrants began meeting in the Santa Clara Valley in search of a spiritual haven in their newly-adopted country.

At the current site on Fifth Street since 1913, a portion of the original structure has been preserved throughout three significant remodeling projects. The church complex currently consists of a sanctuary, an office unit, and educational buildings.

For most of its history, WUMC has ministered primarily to people of Japanese ancestry, both immigrants and American-born. In 1939 the name of the church was changed to the San Jose Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church; in 1955 it became Wesley Methodist Church; in 1968 it finally settled on its current name. Having celebrated its Centennial Celebration in 1995, WUMC has been a mainstay in the San Jose Japantown community for over 110 years. While remaining true to its Japanese heritage, WUMC now welcomes people of diverse backgrounds into its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-generational church family.

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