A Brief History of First United Methodist Church
In 1813, exactly seventy-five years after the Aldersgate experience of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, a small group of residents of Williamsport, the name by which the present Monongahela was then known, organized the community’s first Methodist worship.
The beginning of Methodism at Parkinson's Ferry, afterwards Williamsport, was humble but full of promise. For 13 years after its origin, it had no place of worship it could call its own, but met in private dwellings or in rented buildings. It is interesting to note the places where the meetings were held.
In 1813, Mrs. Vanderver, living on the corner of Race Street and Cherry Alley, opened her house for class meetings and preaching. After about three years, the meetings were transferred to an upper room in the home of Robert Bebee on the river bank. They continued there until they outgrew the capacity of the room. Then a log house on Main Street that had been used as a barracks for troops was rented and used as a house of worship. From this the Methodist Society transferred its meetings to the “Old Log Schoolhouse” that long stood on Spring Alley. The fifth place used for holding its meetings was the Old Union Church on the hill. An incident that occurred there aroused in the members and ambition to have a place of their own in which to worship. As a result, in 1826, a private dwelling standing on the bank of the river was purchased, remodeled and fitted as a place of worship. It was occupied for nine years, and then the growth of the society required a larger building.
It is interesting to note, that from 1813 to 1825, the Methodist Society became a congregation and was part of the circuit rider system of the Baltimore Conference which included this area at that time. The congregation was then known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1825, the Pittsburgh conference was formed and a circuit of our own was created with many of the preachers residing in the community. By 1833, the congregation had grown to such a size that it was made a permanent station (that is, with the pastor of its own and no longer a part of a circuit).
In 1834, a new church was started on the corner of Race Street and Chess Streets on a lot donated by William Ihmsen. That building was completed in 1835 and dedicated May of that year by Rev. Charles Cooke. For 32 years, worship was conducted there.
The present building is the third house of worship for the congregation – and the eighth place where it has worshipped. The initial steps toward securing the site and constructing the building were taken in 1864. In 1867, the Simpson Chapel was dedicated in honor of Bishop Matthew Simpson who served as pastor of the church in 1836. The sanctuary was completed and dedicated in 1873. In 1917, the present Education Building was dedicated. In 1919, the Simpson Chapel was rededicated in memory of Bishop Matthew Simpson.
Other renovations have included the McShane Bells, a gift of the late Charles E. Stephens in 1925. New stained-glass windows were placed in the church as memorials to deceased members that same year. In 1963, stained-glass windows were installed in the newly renovated Simpson Chapel; the nursery expanded; and the Pastor's study and church office constructed.
In 1940, The Methodist Episcopal Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church South, and The Methodist Protestant Church merged to form The Methodist Church. The congregation in Monongahela then assumed the name of The First Methodist Church. From 1939 to 1967 the congregation continued to flourish and with the union of The Evangelical United Brethren Church (formed in 1946 as a union of The United Brethren Church and The Evangelical Church) in 1968, the church became The First United Methodist Church.
Incorporated continuously since 1850, the church filed a corporate name change with the State of Pennsylvania and is now known as The First United Methodist Church of Monongahela.
In 2013, the church celebrated 200 years of continuous ministry and mission in the Monongahela Valley, as well as 200 years of an expressed Methodist witness to the love, grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here and now, we are thankful for the faithfulness and strength of conviction of those who have come before us, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Church. The Church has been served by eighty-nine pastors who heard the call of Christ to shepherd the people of God in this church.
May our Lord Jesus continue to richly bless his people, and the congregation of his disciples known as The First United Methodist Church of Monongahela.
In 1813, exactly seventy-five years after the Aldersgate experience of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, a small group of residents of Williamsport, the name by which the present Monongahela was then known, organized the community’s first Methodist worship.
The beginning of Methodism at Parkinson's Ferry, afterwards Williamsport, was humble but full of promise. For 13 years after its origin, it had no place of worship it could call its own, but met in private dwellings or in rented buildings. It is interesting to note the places where the meetings were held.
In 1813, Mrs. Vanderver, living on the corner of Race Street and Cherry Alley, opened her house for class meetings and preaching. After about three years, the meetings were transferred to an upper room in the home of Robert Bebee on the river bank. They continued there until they outgrew the capacity of the room. Then a log house on Main Street that had been used as a barracks for troops was rented and used as a house of worship. From this the Methodist Society transferred its meetings to the “Old Log Schoolhouse” that long stood on Spring Alley. The fifth place used for holding its meetings was the Old Union Church on the hill. An incident that occurred there aroused in the members and ambition to have a place of their own in which to worship. As a result, in 1826, a private dwelling standing on the bank of the river was purchased, remodeled and fitted as a place of worship. It was occupied for nine years, and then the growth of the society required a larger building.
It is interesting to note, that from 1813 to 1825, the Methodist Society became a congregation and was part of the circuit rider system of the Baltimore Conference which included this area at that time. The congregation was then known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1825, the Pittsburgh conference was formed and a circuit of our own was created with many of the preachers residing in the community. By 1833, the congregation had grown to such a size that it was made a permanent station (that is, with the pastor of its own and no longer a part of a circuit).
In 1834, a new church was started on the corner of Race Street and Chess Streets on a lot donated by William Ihmsen. That building was completed in 1835 and dedicated May of that year by Rev. Charles Cooke. For 32 years, worship was conducted there.
The present building is the third house of worship for the congregation – and the eighth place where it has worshipped. The initial steps toward securing the site and constructing the building were taken in 1864. In 1867, the Simpson Chapel was dedicated in honor of Bishop Matthew Simpson who served as pastor of the church in 1836. The sanctuary was completed and dedicated in 1873. In 1917, the present Education Building was dedicated. In 1919, the Simpson Chapel was rededicated in memory of Bishop Matthew Simpson.
Other renovations have included the McShane Bells, a gift of the late Charles E. Stephens in 1925. New stained-glass windows were placed in the church as memorials to deceased members that same year. In 1963, stained-glass windows were installed in the newly renovated Simpson Chapel; the nursery expanded; and the Pastor's study and church office constructed.
In 1940, The Methodist Episcopal Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church South, and The Methodist Protestant Church merged to form The Methodist Church. The congregation in Monongahela then assumed the name of The First Methodist Church. From 1939 to 1967 the congregation continued to flourish and with the union of The Evangelical United Brethren Church (formed in 1946 as a union of The United Brethren Church and The Evangelical Church) in 1968, the church became The First United Methodist Church.
Incorporated continuously since 1850, the church filed a corporate name change with the State of Pennsylvania and is now known as The First United Methodist Church of Monongahela.
In 2013, the church celebrated 200 years of continuous ministry and mission in the Monongahela Valley, as well as 200 years of an expressed Methodist witness to the love, grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here and now, we are thankful for the faithfulness and strength of conviction of those who have come before us, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Church. The Church has been served by eighty-nine pastors who heard the call of Christ to shepherd the people of God in this church.
May our Lord Jesus continue to richly bless his people, and the congregation of his disciples known as The First United Methodist Church of Monongahela.