Centenary Center was originally a Methodist church before the uniting of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist denominations. This church on East King Street dates back to 1827 when the first Methodist Class was held here. The members of this class were John McIlvaine, Rachel Sweeny, Jonathan Forrest, Catherine Bishop and Henry Beltman. Littlestown was a part of the Gettysburg circuit, with the Rev John Bair, presiding elder; The Rev. Samuel Clark , preacher in charge, and the Rev. George Hildt, junior preacher. Services were held in the United Brethren Church. The first church building was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1846. The Rev. Thomas McMullin was preacher in charge and the Rev. Thomas H. Switzer, junior preacher. A lot had been purchased by John McIlvaine's father for $135 and was deeded to his son, who in turn deeded it to the trustees of the church. The complete cost of the building, including furniture, was $700. Among the list of expenses was 1 dozen spit boxes, $2.25; 3 lard lamps, $4.00 each. Levi Smucher was carpenter; E.Swope, the mason; E. Stonesifer, the plasterer, and Andrew McSherry, the painter.

In April, 1876, a new church was begun on the site of the old and in August the cornerstone was laid; dedication day was September 2, 1877. The parsonage was purchased in 1882. The church building was remodeled in 1893, in 1912, an again a few years ago.

Prior to 1877 the Gettysburg church supplied preachers. In 1876 the circuit was divided with the Rev. Owen Hicks as pastor serving here, and it was during his pastorate that the second church was dedicated. The cost was $5000 with no encumbrances at dedication time. On May 31, 1905 the members mourned the sudden loss of their pastor, the Rev. George M. Larned. In1908, the old parsonage was razed and the present one built, at an approximate cost of $2,500.

On July 26, 1920, the Charge received another great loss and school when the pastor, the Rev. Hugh Strain, died. His son, the Rev. Samuel W. Strain, entered the ministry and continued his father's work as pastor of the church.

On November 1, 1925 the Methodist Social Hall was dedicated. The building cost was approximately $7,800 with subscriptions being started by the gift of $750 from the estate of Lizzie Nicks. The social hall was used for high school plays and for basketball games until the Maple Avenue School was built in 1933. It was later used as a cigar factory, sewing factory, a bowling alley, a sewing factory again, for storage, and now is converted into an educational and social, building for use by the members. The senior center got its start here. The community food pantry began in this building. Day care was housed here for a time and at present the Head Start program uses this facility. It has been used by several other groups throughout the years.

In 1991 Centenary United Methodist Church and Barts United Methodist Church came together as one charge and became the first blended congregation, (known as Barts~Centenary United Methodist Church,)in the Central Pennsylvania Conference.