Methodism came to the Woodbury area around 1790 when the Bethel Circuit
was formed at Hurffville. The Methodist Church there is called Bethel
to this day. Preaching became more regular in Woodbury in the early
1790’s, but it was not until 1797 that preaching services were
held there on a regular basis. Joseph Pilmoor preached a sermon in the
Woodbury area in 1770. Reports tell us that he probably preached at
the Gloucester Court House, in Gloucester City. House meetings evolved
into incorporation in 1799 when a Methodist Society of about thirty
families was legally incorporated in Woodbury. A memorial to one of
the early ministers, David Bartine, speaks to the conditions of religion
New Jersey in 1795. During the period of his ministry, the churches
of the most ultra Calvinistic stamp were dominant in the middle and
northern parts of the state, while "the coldest Quakerism held
the lower portion."
Each of the pastors of the Methodist Church in Woodbury has affected
its history. Each of the pastors who served were committed to the spread
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The history of Methodism in Woodbury
reflects that commitment as well as the commitment and service of so
many lay people in the rich history of the church.
The beginning of Methodist meetings in Woodbury was first
centered around house meetings. When the new court house was built in
1787, services were held there frequently. Under the Pastorate of Richard
Swain in 1803, a dwelling house was purchased from Benjamin Cloud and
moved to the corner of Morris and West Streets. |
The first building used as a chruch
for the Methodist of Woodbury. |
Between 1817 and 1827 the Methodists were again
meeting in members’ homes. From 1827 to 1832 they met in the court
house, while a second place of worship was erected and finally dedicated
in 1832. The Building, 46’ x 36’, was situated on South Broad
Street on the southeast corner of South Broad Street and German Street (now East Barber Ave). Throughout the history of the Methodist Church in Woodbury, there have
been many ups and downs, however, the evangelical preaching of Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savor persisted along with the manifestation of that
faith through social actions. The Church has a history of being involved
in the abolition of slavery, temperance, prison reform, youth concerns,
housing and feeding of the poor, and many services to mankind as taught
by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
The Second building used by the Methodist of Woodbury
was located near the present corner of South Broad Street and Barber
Ave.
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Under the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin C. Lippincott Woodbury Methodist Episcopal Church outgrew the building on South Broad
Street and the building committee decided to erect a larger church. Col.
George G. Green, Woodbury’s first millionaire, pledged $2,000.00
to begin this project. Mr. Lippincott persuaded the traction car magnate,
William Kemble, to be "…chiefly instrumental in the erection
of this beautiful new granite church…" The new building was
dedicated on Sunday, February 22, 1891. The old church building was sold
in 1892 to a Rev. Daniel Thackara, a local Methodist Protestant minister,
who converted it into a double dwelling house.
On February 4, 1898, a resolution was passed to change the name of
Woodbury Methodist Episcopal Church to Kemble Memorial Methodist Episcopal
Church of Woodbury in memory of Elizabeth Duffield Kemble the mother
of William Kemble.
In October of 1902 the first church organ was purchased from the W.
W. Kimball Organ Co of Chicago for $3,350.00. The Organ was rebuilt
in 1930. A new organ was installed in 1949, and the chancel renovated
with new choir stalls, altar, lectern, and pulpit. In 1995 this organ
in-turn, was rebuilt and renovated. The renovation made the organ one
of the best in the area and capable of faithfully reproducing the sounds
of many musical styles.
Again under a strong pastorate the church grew. This time, under Rev.
Woodburn J. Sayre, a new Church School Temple was erected to accommodate
the increased enrollment. The new Church School Temple was dedicated
on Sunday, May 1, 1927. It was reported that every department of the
church and Sunday School gave financial support. Even the little folks
of the Beginners and Primary Department, under the leadership of Mr.
And Mrs. William Zippler, "eagerly saved their pennies."
In 1939 three branches of Methodism, Methodist Protestant, Methodist
Episcopal, and Methodist Episcopal South, decided to put their differences
aside and join together under the title of The Methodist Church. Therefore,
Kemble Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church was renamed Kemble Memorial
Methodist Church in January, 1941.
Kemble Memorial Methodist Church continued to grow and serve through
the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. In the spring of 1965, the
Christian Education Building was remodeled to meet the growing needs
of the Sunday School. It was proclaimed "…one of the finest
and most usable Church buildings in South Jersey. "
Again Kemble had to change its name when, in May of 1968, the Evangelical
United Brethren Church merged with the Methodist Church creating the
United Methodist Church. In 1972 the church was officially renamed Kemble
Memorial United Methodist Church.
Throughout the years until the present, Kemble Memorial United Methodist
Church has proven itself a leader in the community in evangelism, and
in service to Jesus Christ and man. No one but God knows what the future
holds for the people who are members of Kemble Memorial United Methodist
Church. However, the goal of this congregation is to continue to draw
more people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through the
preaching of His word and service of His love to others.
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The memorial plaque on the wall of the present building
of the Kemble Memorial United Methodist Church
The rebuilt and renovated
Moller-Peragallo Organ
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