First Building of the First Methodist Church
1 2018-12-09T18:05:34+00:00 Sarah McClure c3ca59acae49b0786c9789492e237e547d9500d8 31 1 The First Methodist Church when it was still known as the Methodist Episcopal Church. This building was built in 1854 and demolished in 1976. The new building was then built on the same property in 1977. plain 2018-12-09T18:05:34+00:00 Sarah McClure c3ca59acae49b0786c9789492e237e547d9500d8This page is referenced by:
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First United Methodist Church
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Though the church came from small beginnings the congregation has grown and become one of the most active churches in Glassboro.
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A Small Start
Before the physical church was built, the congregation gathered in a schoolhouse in 1820. This church schoolhouse was located near the Episcopal Cemetery on North Main Street (39.708065, -75.110242). The church soon grew to forty members. This growing community caused member Johnson Beckett to donate land for a new church. The land was located on Broad St., now known as the intersection of Delsea Drive and McClelland Avenue (39.706709, -75.108232). The church was soon built and named the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church.
Eventually, the old church became too small for the growing community. They bought land from the Stanger family on the corner of Academy and New Streets for a new church. In 1854, a new colonial-style church was built with a large bell tower as the center point.
Changes
In the 1900s the church went through several name changes. They changed their name to the First Methodist Church from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1939. In 1968 they changed their name to the First United Methodist Church which is their name to this day.
The church soon began to have many structural problems and posed a possible danger to the congregation. In 1974 it was decided to build a new church to address the issue. They began building the church in 1976 and the final cornerstone was placed in 1977 marking the beginning of the new church.
Reflections On the First United Methodist Church
Researching this community was enjoyable mostly because my first impression of the church was from talking to both George and June Armstrong. I learned about the many activities the church has an how accommodating it is to its members. For example, one of the rooms in the fellowship house was converted to a coffee room to create a space for socializing and to build more of a sense of community. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised when George described that during the building of the church he was most likely the first person to pray there. Seeing how even in its most early stages these spaces are a center of spirituality and meditation. Going to the church was enjoyable especially going through the Bell park and experiencing the few remnants of the old church. This church is full of life and is still a space of prayer
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