The Good Samaritan United Methodist Church began as a vision. TGSUMC is a daughter church of venerable Methodist institutions in the country – the Central United Methodist Church along T.M. Kalaw St., and Knox Memorial UMC along Avenida St., both situated in Manila. Leaders of the Methodist Church in the early 1950s noted government efforts to open new urban centers outside Manila to accommodate the booming population of post-World War II. By 1955, with the assistance of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church in the United States, a cogon-covered lot was purchased in what was then known as the Diliman Estate (now Quezon City). The lot which included an abandoned military Quonset hut, was bought from a certain lawyer, Sauro, whose wife was a deaconess. Even as Rev. Charles Mosebrook of Central Church, who was the Board of Missions’ treasurer, was laying the groundwork for extension work in this portion of the Diliman Estate, a handful of Methodists and evangelicals who had earlier moved to Quezon City, began holding prayer meetings in private homes. The Holy Spirit then moved to bring people and place together.

On a mildly cold morning of Dec. 16, 1956 a handful of faithful met as a formal congregation in a humble military Quonset hut located in the newly-purchased lot to worship, sing praises and honor the triune God. There were a few pieces of sawn lumber to serve as chairs, while two pieces of wood nailed together and fastened up at one end of the hut served as the cross. A freshly cut pathway led to the hut. By mid-morning, the first service was held. This was how our church was born.

In March 1957, the group held an organizational meeting presided by Bishop Jose Valencia where they petitioned concerned authorities to grant their wish to be recognized as a formal congregation, and to be accepted by the Philippines Annual Conference, with the name the Capitol City Methodist Church. By 1959, the Administrative Board headed by its first chairman Hermogenes Cera, Sr. knew that a bigger church edifice had to be constructed to accommodate the growing number of worshippers. This responsibility fell upon his successor, incoming Board Chairman Carlos L. Inductivo, Sr. who (together with Rev. Mosebrook and Rev. Deogracias Angeles) campaigned indefatigably for the church building fund. Mr. Inductivo’s message was simple and direct: give and give until it hurts, for only then would one have given something significant of him/herself. In a few months’ time, a basement (which had literally been a muddy swamp where carabaos bathed) was completed and became the new sanctuary. It was named Mosebrooke Hall in memory of the visionary American pastor. The main sanctuary was completed in 1962 at the cost of P75,000. In the next four years, the church tower would be constructed which would include a prayer room; and a cross added to the altar.

Before the end of the church’s first decade, the Administrative Board under the leadership of Mr. Carlos L. Inductivo, Sr. suggested a change in the name of the church. After some discussion and debate, they decided to rename it The Good Samaritan (United) Methodist Church (TGSUMC).