Marion Salem is a United Methodist Church in the Mid-Ohio District of the East Ohio Conference. Marion Salem first started in 1838 as Salem Evangelical Church then, through a denominational merger in 1946, became Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church.  Finally, with a second denominational merger, the congregation became known as Marion Salem United Methodist Church on February 2, 1969. The church has survived through two fires.  The first in 1867, and the second in 2000.  The fire in 2000 destroyed the educational wing on the South side of the church, and gutted the sanctuary. The church became known as "The Church on Fire".  After the fire, a new family life center was built on the north end of the building and the sanctuary was remodeled.  Yet, Marion Salem still remains on fire.