Our History

On April 8th, 1851, a Methodist Episcopal preacher organized a class, appointed a leader and designated that any available “residence, barn or school” would be the meeting house of the Newfoundland parish, which he would visit as often as the size of his circuit permitted. Thus began what is now the United Methodist Church at Newfoundland, NJ. 

The circuit, according to the oldest record extant dated March 22, 1851, in the Recording Steward’s record book, consisted of Hamburg, Vernon, New Milford, Snufftown (now Stockholm), Milton, Canisteer, Greenwoods, West Milford, Longwood, Newfoundland, Charlottesburgh, Clinton, Farbers, Macopin, Hanfield (now Hewitt), Williams, Hardystonville, Franklin and Postville, a total of 19 congregations.

In 1856, the amount apportioned to this circuit for the pastor’s salary was $15.00

The congregation met in the schoolhouse on December 22nd, 1866 to elect trustees and prepare for the building of its first church building. 

Under the leadership of Trustee President John W. Bigalow, who donated the timber for the church’s frame, and Peter Decker, secretary, who donated the land, the building was begun in 1867. on Main Street, which is now Route 23 South. The membership was small, till “the people had a mind to work,” and to give, for they were not “a feeble few.” the church was completed and dedicated in 1870 at a cost of $2400, debt free. The first parsonage was built in 1887, again debt free, and was first occupied by Rev. J.C. French. It housed our pastors until 1969.

The first parish hall was erected in 1914 and the new parsonage was completed in 1969 prior to the building of the current church. Construction on the current building began in the fall of 1972 and a Grand March from the old to the new was held in 1973.

Expansion

By 1978, the new space was found to be inadequate for the needs of the congregation and Sunday School, so both Fellowship Hall and the sanctuary were expanded. The mortgage on the sanctuary had been paid off in just six and a half years after completion, so Fellowship Hall expansion was completed by 1980.

However, by 2000, additional space was needed and the new educational wing of the building was completed in 2004.