Join us in-person every Sunday at 11am or on Facebook!

About Us

When you come to Nelson United Methodist Church, you can expect to be greeted by friendly faces who are genuinely happy to see you. We are a small church, but a big family with huge hearts ready to welcome new members. Nelson UMC is a place for you to worship. It is a place of joy and it is a place of healing. It is a place that will help you find lifelong friends that will not only be there when you need help, but will also be there to cheer you on when you are on top of your life mountain. It is a place where children will grow up with more support and supervision than they want, but is so greatly needed. It is a place to find comfort, love, and, most importantly, your relationship with the Lord. Come home to Nelson United Methodist Church and help us water the seed generations before us planted, so that we can all grow stronger in our faith.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 18:20

Meet the Team

Reverend Dr. Edwin Clever

Welcome! Here is a little bit about myself:

I was born in Virginia and ended up settling in Virginia. But my childhood was one of moving, a lot, as my dad worked for NASA.

I graduated from high school at Melbourne High School, in Melbourne Florida. I have a BA from the College of William and Mary, a Masters of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary.

I have two grown sons, Chad and Christopher, and two daughters in law, Theresa and Tara. I am blessed with a wonderful family. I also have 2 dogs. Rosie is a retriever mix who is almost 19 years old. And Charlotte is an 11 month old chocolate lab puppy. My mother lives in Yorktown Virginia and I try to check on her as often as possible.

I have 39 years of experience in ministry but also have other hobbies. I enjoy music, working out at a CrossFit Gym, sailing, reading, and playing with the dogs. In addition to a career in ministry, since retirement I have gotten my real estate license, am the Principal Broker at Derbyshire Real Estate, a relief Chaplain at Lynchburg Hospital, and a part time Dog Walker with Petpals Plus.I look forward to getting to know more about you and sharing more of myself with you.

David Solar, Office Assistant

Welcome! I am the church’s office assistant and help with many different jobs every week and assist the Pastor in whatever way that I can. This includes putting together the bulletins, managing office supplies and making sure the building is safe and tidy.

If you want to know where something is, I usually can find it for you! I also send out a weekly newsletter to our shut-ins in our church and family members of church members who can’t get around on their own. I enjoy putting together The Beacon II. I also am responsible for tracking attendance for Sunday services. I would like to invite you to come and be our guest one Sunday – I think you will like it here!

The History of Nelson United Methodist Church

Four Churches Became One

Nelson United Methodist Church was established in 1983 by a merger of four congregations in the Lovingston-Arrington area of Nelson County: Lovingston, Centenary, Montreal, and Elmington. In 1980, the Centenary and Lovingston churches developed a plan of merger and put both buildings up for sale, found four acres of land on Route 29 just south of Lovingston, bought it for $20,000, and began building the new church they decided to call Nelson United Methodist Church. Three years later, in 1983, the new building was completed, and the two congregations became one. Later that year, Montreal Church took place in the merger and so there were three congregations in the new church. Catching the spirit of merger, in 1984, the fourth church, Elmington, decided to join the congregation. And so, the four churches became one, establishing a congregation of roughly 350 members.